Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 71.04
Liaison Natalie Hayes
Submission Date Oct. 19, 2023

STARS v2.2

Bentley University
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.00 / 2.00 Natalie Hayes
Associate Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area:
160 Acres

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
Area (double-counting is not allowed)
Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides 0 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed 160 Acres
Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices 0 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 160 Acres

If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:

A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
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Organic program

Percentage of grounds managed organically:
0

If reporting an organic program, provide:

A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
100

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
A brief description of the IPM program:
Bentley has prepared this Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan in response to the Children’s Protection Act and Zone II compliance which requires a written IPM plan. Chemical controls are still a part of this IPM plan; however, considerable effort is made to prevent pest problems by managing the agriculture in such a way as to minimize chemical controls.

The objectives of the integrated pest management program conducted at Bentley College are listed below:
- Reduce student, faculty, staff and general public exposure to pesticides and pesticide residues whenever possible.
- Manage pests that may occur at Bentley to prevent interference with the learning environment of the students.
- Provide the safest playing or athletic surfaces, grounds and recreational turf possible.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Soil testing:
All maintained turf areas are soil tested at least once per growing season. The test allows proper annual monitoring of soil pH and fertility. All fertilizer programs at Bentley College are solely based on the soil test.

Fertilization practices:
A wide range of fertilizers are used in the Bentley College fertility program, including but not limited to organic based product, slow-release formulation, quick-release formulation, liquid product, dry product, lime product and synthetic based product.

Cultural Practices:
Many maintained turf areas receive frequent aeration and overseeding to promote healthy turf cover and minimize weed establishment. Aeration may occur many times per season with a wide array of aeration equipment to maximize proper air and water movement through the soil profile. Turf areas are cut weekly at a height of three inches to ensure a thick turf stand and minimize heat and wear stress. Athletic turf is cut daily to appropriate height based on type of sport and use.

Tree care: Trees on campus are monitored carefully for disease and insect activity by Bentley college employees. Certified tree consultants will be brought in if further inspection is needed.

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
All irrigated turf areas on campus are monitored daily to ensure proper water management. All irrigation systems run automatically; however, all irrigation systems are updated daily to adjust for weather conditions.

A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
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A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Bentley chips its branches and other yard waste on site to reduce GHGs from hauling.

A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
Bentley has installed permeable pavers in strategic locations to minimize runoff and has 1 large rain garden in an area prone to flooding (near Jennison hall)

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program 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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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.