Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.20
Liaison Gary Cocke
Submission Date March 1, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Baylor University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Smith Getterman
Assistant Director of Sustainability and Special Projects
Office of Sustainability
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Air & Climate 

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

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Buildings?:
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 Buildings:
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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:
Students in the Engineering department work on semester long projects related to solar energy: solar powered cars, solar powered water wells, and a small solar array for the Engineering building, are all projects born out of the various classes taken by engineering students and led by research done by engineering faculty.

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:
Baylor Dining Services offers internships for students specifically seeking to learn more about food waste and diversion. Interns work closely with the BDS Environmental Manager and University Sustainability Committee throughout their internship. The intern has been integral to the success of the newly minted Weigh the Waste program which was instituted this academic year to account for and curtail student food waste in residence halls.

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:
Students in intro freshmen writing courses often select composting, the pros and cons, and it's potential impact on Baylor's campus grounds as a topic for research and writing. Students in an upper level entrepreneurship course have selected composting as their capstone research project for the semester and explored the possibilities of integrating it into university grounds operations.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:
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 Purchasing:
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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:
Students in the Environmental Science department are working with faculty on biodiesel conversion projects with the goal to convert some on campus university transportation to biodiesel fueled vehicles. Students within the School of Engineering work on a variety of alternative energy research projects throughout the year, including solar powered vehicles and water wells.

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:
Students participated in the US EPA Food Recovery Challenge and achieved a quantifiable reduction in food waste. Students participated in Weigh the Waste event in campus dining halls, achieving measurable reductions in food 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:
Numerous students and professors base their scholarship and research on water related issues, especially those effecting the campus and surrounding communities. Research from students and faculty have focused on the Brazos river, the effect of pharmaceuticals found freshwater streams on that ecosystems habitat, and Lake Waco contamination and ecosystem issues.

Coordination & Planning 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
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 Coordination & Planning:
The Office of Sustainability offers internships to students that requires at least two academic papers by the end of its duration covering the internship itself and a piece of new campus sustainability related research and/or capstone project presentation on a topic that specifically relates to the coordination, planning, and implementation of sustainability initiatives on campus.

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?:
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 Public Engagement:
The Baylor Community Garden provides educational opportunities to the university and local organizations on how to maintain gardens and encourage healthy lifestyles. A special focus is placed on integrating sustainable water-use technologies and organic garden training.The Baylor Community Garden also serves as a location for Campus Kitchen to grow and donate produce to help relieve local hunger. Members of the graduate housing communities have access to individual growing plots, and may enjoy the recreational green space, grill, and host events in the garden.

Wellbeing & Work 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
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 Wellbeing & Work:
The Department of HHPR is focused on diverse aspects of health, activity, recreation, and quality of life. The internship experience conducted within the HHPR Department is designed to provide students an opportunity to both observe and participate in actual professional positions within the organization to which they are assigned. The purpose of the internship is to provide each student opportunities to experience the professional work settings that are appropriate for their preparation and career aspirations. The students considering an internship experience will have an upper level classification and have completed the majority of his/her course work in his/her field of study. These students are working on their undergraduate degrees in the areas of Health Sciences, Community Health, or Exercise Physiology and will be doing observations with any additional practical experiences the agency deems feasible. The internship is to create an educational experience that • increases the student's knowledge base and enhances the perceptions of the career track and organization; • stimulates inquiry; • provides a practical experience that can contribute to the student's professional future.

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:
Student record label Uproar Records hosts Project Greenway, a green/recycled fashion show, every Spring semester. Students from all disciplines participate and attend. Show brings more awareness to campus sustainability through creative integration of the arts and multiple academic disciplines.

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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