Overall Rating	Silver - expired
Overall Score	48.87
Liaison	Amy Parrish
Submission Date	July 16, 2021

STARS v2.2

Boise State University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	4.00 / 4.00	Shay Gillette Laboratories Manager Department of Biological Sciences

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Campus Engagement

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:

Campus Engagement
Sustainability Club garden - Sustainability Club students plant and maintain a vegetable garden which provides free food to students and community members. Contact Kat Davis - katdavis655@boisestate.edu for more information.
Sustainability Club tours - students lead other students and community members through the various sustainability measures throughout campus. Contact Kat Davis - katdavis655@boisestate.edu for more information.
The Biology Teaching Greenhouse provides opportunities for student interns to learn about plant propagation, care and greenhouse management. In addition, the Biology Club grows plants for an annual fundraiser on campus. Contact Tami Cox (tamicox@boisestate.edu) for more information.
https://www.boisestate.edu/biology/2019/11/14/the-teaching-greenhouse-gets-a-great-team-of-student-interns/
Art for the Earth Event features upcycled art on display for Earth Day.
https://www.boisestate.edu/sustainability/earth-week-2019/art-for-the-earth/

Public Engagement

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:

Cycle Learning Center offers students, faculty and staff incentives for bike commuting such as free tune ups and coupons after various mileage goals are met. Contact Gabe Finklestein (gabefinklestein@boisestate.edu) for more information.
https://www.boisestate.edu/clc/

The GeoScience Outreach team consists of faculty, undergraduates and graduate students that do STEM events on campus and in the community. Demonstrations include topics such as Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change, types of energy and renewable energy. Contact Jen Pierce (jenpierce@boisestate.edu) for more information. https://www.boisestate.edu/earth/for-the-community/outreach-2/

Environmental Studies students looked at integrating the Boise State Bee Club with the local beekeeping community. Students looked at attendance at various beekeeping meetings students to work with more experienced beekeepers.
https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-environmental/experiential-learning/capstone-projects/boise-bee-project-connecting-boise-state-students-to-the-treasure-valley-beekeeping-community/

Air & Climate

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:

The GeoScience Outreach team consists of faculty, undergraduates and graduate students that do STEM events on campus and in the community. Demonstrations include topics such as Greenhouse Gas and Climate Change, types of energy and renewable energy. Contact Jen Pierce (jenpierce@boisestate.edu) for more information.
https://www.boisestate.edu/earth/for-the-community/outreach-2/

Hazard and Climate Resilience Institute
Community Resilience refers to the capacity of a community or region to adapt to change and thrive despite the chronic stresses (access to resources, climate change) and acute shocks (flooding, wildfire, pandemic) they may experience (GRCN). Promoting community resilience requires collaboration across many levels of society and professional disciplines. The HCRI provides a platform to connect researchers, students, and community partners to collaboratively address community resilience research and practical needs. https://www.boisestate.edu/research-hcri/

Buildings

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:

Boise State Campus Sustainability offers Sustainability Tours for students, faculty, staff, and community members to learn more about sustainable projects and operations on campus. Specialized tours for classes interested in sustainability in operations take classes through the Micron Business and Economics Building to discuss building operations and design to reduce energy, water, and waste.
https://www.boisestate.edu/sustainability/energy/sustainability-tour/

Energy

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:

Boise State Campus Sustainability offers Sustainability Tours for students, faculty, staff, and community members to learn more about sustainable projects and operations on campus. Specialized tours for classes interested in energy efficiency and renewable energy go on class tours through the Micron Business and Economics Building, the Rec Center, and across campus tours to learn about our solar energy, geothermal energy, LEDs and design features to optimize energy use.
https://www.boisestate.edu/sustainability/energy/sustainability-tour/

Food & Dining

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:

Students from the College of Innovation and Design created the Bronco BEAM app that allows organizers of catered events to send alerts to interested students and employees when there is excess food; food is free and placed in accessible locations. Not only does this provide food to those who may be in need, it diverts usable food otherwise destined for the landfill.
https://www.boisestate.edu/news/2019/11/07/new-app-will-help-end-food-waste-on-campus-and-feed-hungry-students/

The Service Learning group for Environmental Studies helps to organize Scrape Your Plate Day where students collect consumer food waste at the Boise River Cafe on campus, and learn about food waste and sustainable behavior change.

Grounds

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:

Boise State Campus Sustainability offers Sustainability Tours for students, faculty, staff, and community members to learn more about sustainable projects and operations on campus. Campus-wide sustainability tours provide an opportunity
to discuss landscaping initiatives such as the eco-turf, landscape composting, and efforts to reduce snow-melt additives on campus. https://www.boisestate.edu/sustainability/energy/sustainability-tour/

The Environmental Studies Water Conservation course utilizes campus grounds and the proximity to the Boise River to discuss the importance of utilizing non-toxic additives in our campus soil and to reduce litter to improve water quality.

Purchasing

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:

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Transportation

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:

Boise State Cycle Learning Center offers classes on bike commuting and bike maintenance. Contact Gabe Finklestein (gabefinklestein@boisestate.edu) for more information.
https://www.boisestate.edu/clc/

Waste

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:

Students in the University Foundations Talking Trash do campus waste audits as part of their final projects. Contact Mari Rice maririce@boisestate.edu for more information.
Service Learning students in the Introductory to Environmental Studies courses participate with Campus Sustainability as recycling volunteers, going to major events on campus to help divert waste from the landfill, reduce contamination in the recycling, and learn about waste systems and sustainable behavior change opportunities which they then connect back to their course for a final project.

Water

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:

Dr. Pete Koetsier takes students to local waterways and does fish and macroinvertebrate surveys to assess water quality and stream health in his Stream Ecology, Aquatic Entomology, and Fisheries Biology classes. Contact pkoet@boisestate.edu for more information.

Coordination & Planning

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:

Environmental Studies students capstone project - Sustainability Reporting and Practices Across BSU by Calen Beaudoin, Jonathan Rodriguez, Jennifer Lightfoot looked at sustainability in the College of Business and Economics. https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-environmental/experiential-learning/capstone-projects/sustainability-reporting-practices-across-bsu/

Boise State’s Path to Carbon Neutrality: A Climate Action Plan - Capstone project by Morgan Brummond. Contact John Gardner or Jen Pierce for more information. https://www.boisestate.edu/undergraduate-research/2020/04/22/22-boise-states-path-to-carbon-neutrality-a-climate-action-plan/

Diversity & Affordability

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:

The Idaho Policy Institute launched the Housing Vertically Integrated Project “Housing for All”: Students engage with course faculty, practitioners, the public, and policy makers in an effort to clearly define and address housing issues in Idaho’s Treasure Valley. Contact Ben Larsen benjaminlarsen@boisestate.edu for more information. https://www.boisestate.edu/sps-ipi/2020/10/28/vip-class-presents-at-boise-neighborhood-interactive/

Students have assisted the Idaho Policy Institute in providing data analysis and evaluation for the establishment of New Path Community Housing, Boise’s first permanent supportive housing apartment complex that houses residents previously experiencing chronic homelessness. Contact Ben Larsen benjaminlarsen@boisestate.edu for more information.

Through the Blue Sky Institute, graduate assistants assist in the outward facing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programming. GA’s engage with external & internal stakeholders developing programming aimed to increase DEI thinking and practices in Idaho.
https://www.boisestate.edu/bsi/

The Inclusive Excellence Student Council is an arm of the Associated Students of Boise State University who are committed to having Boise State University be an inclusive place for academic success for all students. This branch of the University student government seeks to be the voice and advocate for Boise State’s underrepresented student population.
https://www.boisestate.edu/asbsu/inclusive-excellence-student-council-2/

Investment & Finance

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance?:

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:

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Wellbeing & Work

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:

BroncoFit offers internships and volunteer opportunities. The peer educators (interns) work on outreach and events for the campus community in all aspects of wellbeing, including sustainability. https://www.boisestate.edu/broncofit/ (Holly Levin can answer questions - HollyLevin@boisestate.edu).

Optional Fields

Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory 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:

Information in this report was gathered from conversations with Boise State University faculty and staff as well as by gleaning the university website for program information. The reporting year is 2020 so projects listed in the document are either ongoing or occurred between 2017 and 2020.

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.