Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 52.46
Liaison Andrew DeMelia
Submission Date May 11, 2022

STARS v2.2

Bryant University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.40 / 4.00 Gaytha Langlois
Chair, Science & Technology Department
Science & Technology Department
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:
Student interns and assistants are directly involved with Campus Facilities tracking sustainability progress on campus, and encouraging student participation in sustainability efforts, including the Campus Garden Project (2021) and the Bryant University Walking Trail (2020). Additionally, each year the Dining Service (Sodexo) sponsors and works with the Bryant University Sustainability Communication Intern on a variety of campus projects.

Student research topics address energy consumption, food waste, and recycling programs at the university, as well as protection programs for campus ecosystems and community outreach programs. Some examples are indicated below:

Next Steps for Zero Waste at Bryant University:
http://bryantuniversitynextstepsforzero.weebly.com

Outreach programs for kids:
http://biodiversityeducationforkids.weebly.com/index.html
http://teamredtidefuelcells.weebly.com

Making small businesses sustainable:
http://wustainsmallbiz.tripod.com/index.html

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:
Role Play in Innovation for Global Energy Challenges class – students recreate the decision making of the Portsmouth Town Council in dealing with a wind turbine installation that has failed. Invited faculty from multiple departments attend the role play and offer suggestions relating to policy, economics, financing, and management issues.
(Course: Innovation for Global Energy Challenges)

In the Energy Management Strategies Laboratory class students calculate the rooftop solar potential of different locations on campus and in the nearby community, and practice setting up marketing communication for community solar projects.
(Course: Energy Management Strategies Laboratory)

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?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
The purpose of this project is to look at small wind energy applications and the use at the Bryant University Campus. We conducted research to find the most feasible option for wind turbines, and also collected data on campus to decide where the most beneficial locations would be to place these wind turbines.

http://nathancrepeau.wix.com/smallwindenergy

Also, see Directed Study paper by Paul Morana to identify best locations on campus for wind turbines.

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:
A team of students provided both an analysis of the buildings on campus and what Bryant can do to improve them using a cost-benefit analysis. Students provide quotes based on prevailing market prices as well examine how going green will further improve the infrastructure. They identify policies university students and staff want in place and look at firms capable of providing these improvements, and in the end decide what the university should implement as the school's green construction initiatives.
http://greenbuildingsbryant.weebly.com/

Energy 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
Example: “No Light Left Behind” Project); A small grant was procured in Fall 2013, but completed in 2015 “No Light Left Behind” in which a student researched solar lighting for Bryant’s campus, working with Facilities’ staff to determine a needs assessment, locational analysis, and vendor options. The solar panel was installed and has been in place ever since. See links below:

http://www.nwfecoleaders.org/projects/home/43

https://bryantcareer.wordpress.com/2013/07/18/jessicas-no- light-left- behind-fellowship/

http://jnorat.wix.com/teamsymbiosis

Additionally, an Environmental Sciences major completed a project assessing rooftop solar potential for two buildings on campus (including drafting a proposal to Bryant University Administration for adoption of the project).

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?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
An Honors Capstone Project focused on management of food wastes at Bryant University and resulted in project report accessible at http://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/honors_science/15/

“Black, Gold, and Green: Food Waste Management at Bryant University”

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:
In order to have a sustainable impact on Bryant University’s campus, a team of students set out to develop an ecological interpretation program for the institution’s walking trails. Collectively, we have created a series of informational signs to place along these trails in the back of campus to teach those who wander them the importance of our environment. Each of these signs highlights a particular habitat, plant, animal, or historical landmark that a person would encounter walking along the trails. More specifically, we have included signs explaining environmental characteristics of the cemetery on campus, Metasequoia trees, primary succession through lichens and moss, the wooded swamp habitat, and various plant life. This project has been continued across three semesters and the first steps will were implemented in Fall 2020, with additional signage and mapping in 2021. One additional sign will be set in place in 2022.

http://ballinchongo10.wix.com/bryantwalkingtrail#!project/c1tey

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:
An Honors Capstone project evaluated purchasing of new vehicles for the Campus Management department; the report is available here:
https://digitalcommons.bryant.edu/honors_science/8/

Transportation 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:
No

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

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:
Over the course of a semester a team of students studied the disposal of cell phones on the Bryant University Campus. The goal is to reduce waste and increase recycling efforts. With the mass quantity of mobile phones, high turnover rates, and increasing student population, proper disposal is essential. The students created a survey to further their knowledge on the types of mobile phones used, how often students buy a new phone, and what they do with their old ones. They also posed questions to determine how important students think it is to recycle. From this, they have made decisions on what is the best way to approach this conflict, and help raise awareness on the Bryant University campus.
http://ecologicalcellphonefootprint.weebly.com/

Water 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
As part of the overall efforts to improve sustainability, campus water use is being monitored.

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?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
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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?:
No

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

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?:
No

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

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:
Students in ecology and environmental classes have designed and proposed new signage to expand the impact of walking and running trails on campus and provide interpretive information for observers. This would enhance the opportunity for students, faculty and staff to gain a better understanding of the ecology of the campus, and to develop stress reduction processes. This project has been ongoing since 2011.
http://bryantwalkingtrails.wix.com/ecology1
http://kmurrone.wix.com/bryantwalkingtrails#

Alumni tours are now regularly incorporated into programming for Alumni celebrations.

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:
2019 Climate Change Workshop-Brochure.pdf

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
All of the topics noted above are good choices for future student research projects across many university courses. The Sustainability website could serve as a location for marketing for such opportunities, and the Internship Office could include these possibilities on their website.

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.