Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 30.79
Liaison Rebecca Jones
Submission Date March 2, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Austin College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Kelby Archer
Coordinator
Center for Environmental Studies
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Air & Climate 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Air & Climate?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Air & Climate:
As part of a class project, a group of students submitted a proposal to use praying mantises to control pest populations on campus instead of insecticide.

Buildings  

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Buildings?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Buildings:
As part of a class project, a student submitted a proposal to install a vertical garden on an exterior wall of one of the residence halls. Vertical gardens (also known as "green walls") cut down on building energy usage.

Energy 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Energy?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Energy:
As part of a class project, a student submitted a proposal to expand our annual energy saving competition among the residence halls, AC Unplugged, from an October-only event to a year-round event, which would result in reduced energy consumption.

Food & Dining 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Food & Dining?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Food & Dining:
As part of a class project, a group of students submitted a proposal to collect and compost the coffee grounds from the coffee shop on campus.

Grounds 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Grounds?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Grounds:
As part of a class project, a group of students submitted a proposal to expand the native vegetation on campus into more areas, which would cut down on watering and mowing.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Purchasing:
As part of a class project, a group of students submitted a proposal to switch the notebooks offered in our campus bookstore to 30% post-consumer recycled material. They also proposed to offer a 100% eco-friendly notebook option.

Transportation 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Transportation:
As part of a class project, a group of students submitted a proposal to put an electric vehicle charging station in one of the parking lots on campus.

Waste 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Waste?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Waste:
As part of a class project, a group of students submitted a proposal to levy a bag fee in our campus bookstore, which would cut down on waste.

Water 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Water?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Water:
As part of a class project, a group of students submitted a proposal to install low-flow faucets or aeraters in the sinks of one of the residence halls.

Coordination & Planning 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Coordination & Planning:
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Diversity & Affordability 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
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Investment & Finance 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Investment & Finance?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Investment & Finance:
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Public Engagement 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Public Engagement?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Public Engagement:
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Wellbeing & Work 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
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Other Impact Areas 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to other areas (e.g. arts & culture or technology)?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to other areas:
As part of a class project, a group of students submitted a proposal to install kangaroo-shaped art installations (to match our kangaroo mascot) made out of recycled material along with signage about recycling all across campus.

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://www.austincollege.edu/academics/centers-and-college-wide-programs/center-for-environmental-studies/projects-activities/#impact

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
All of the above listed proposals came from an Environmental Studies course assignment where students propose ways to reduce the environmental impact of Austin College. Students are required to do adequate research (including things like the cost of the project) and also consult with the offices on campus that would be affected by their proposal. The Environmental Studies faculty maintain a library of all proposals submitted since 1997. Around 30 student proposals have been adopted by the college in that time. The above proposals were all made in the last three years.

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