| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 53.49 |
| Liaison | Julia Angstmann |
| Submission Date | Dec. 20, 2021 |
Butler University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Jamie
Valentine Assistant Director CUES Biological Sciences |
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:
A work study student with the Center for Urban Ecology and Sustainability led Butler's Campus Race to Zero Waste campaign including surveying students about recycling, creating a social media campaign about proper recycling, and facilitated a tour of our waste management facility. The student also assessed bin placement across campus and developed new waste station guidelines to increase visibility and decrease recycling contamination including writing a grant to the Green Council for implementation.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:
Every semester 3-5 students conduct research with Indy Wildlife Watch, a program out of the Center for Urban Ecology and Sustainability (CUES), that places cameras across the urban landscape on campus and throughout the city to analyze how human development and vegetation impacts the movement of animal species. In 2020, students developed a citizen science webpage where residents can tag photos of wildlife caught on camera and learn about the research.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
An intern with facilities assisted the campus engineer and the CUES assistant director in data collection and assessment for Butler's GHG emission report. This report collected scope 1,2 and limited scope 3 emissions and was submitted to Second Nature as Butler is a signatory of the President's Carbon Commitment.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
The Bird Window Strike Research Project (for-credit internship through Center for Urban Ecology and Sustainability) provides opportunity for students to research building interventions to reduce bird window strikes. Students met with architects to share research and discuss strategies to design buildings to prevent bird window strikes. A new construction project currently on campus is following the guidelines set out by these students by incorporating bird friendly glass in the design and construction.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
A student assisted the Campus Engineer on a feasibility study to place solar panels on the top floor of the parking garage on campus for renewable energy use in the garage and connected buildings.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
Bon Appetit, Butler's food provider, supported an intern that assisted with food recovery in the dining hall, helped develop two programs for composting, and coordinated with dining staff for the launch of the FEAST Fund, a grant program for food and sustainability projects on campus available to students, faculty, and staff to enhance campus infrastructure and engagement.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
Three students started a pollinator study in spring 2021 where they developed the methodology and began sampling end of May 2021. Students are measuring pollinators and flowering units on the campus farm and the adjacent prairie all within campus grounds to make recommendations on creating more pollinator habitat on campus.
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:
The CUES Assistant Director was awarded a grant by the Butler DEI Innovation fund to support 2-3 students as research assistants to make recommendations for supplier diversity in purchasing. Students are researching best practices from other universities, developing a supplier diversity statement, and reviewing current vendors to make recommendations of new companies that are local, owned by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women, veteran, and other marginalized identities.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
Students in the Sustainability Practicum class on food waste conducted research on campus around composting. Projects from this class included two food waste audits, in-person education and engagement with diners, a social media campaign about composting, surveys about barriers to composting, and writing a grant for composting infrastructure in the dining hall. The grant was accepted and post-consumer composting is planned to be implemented in fall 2021. Due to labor shortages as a result of COVID, our hauler was not able to pick up composting and full implementation in planned for spring 2022.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
A student intern assisted the Campus Engineer in documenting and mapping all the utility shut-offs and where utilities are provided at every facility. The student created maps in CAD for use by the University in developing future building plans.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
The CUES Assistant Director was awarded a grant by the Butler DEI Innovation fund to support 2-3 students as research assistants to make recommendations for supplier diversity in purchasing. Students are researching best practices from other universities, developing a supplier diversity statement, and reviewing current vendors to make recommendations of new companies that are local, owned by BIPOC, LGBTQ+, women, veteran, and other marginalized identities.
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:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
A hands-on gardening course focused on physical well-being takes place on the campus farm. It empowers students to make healthy food choices while learning how gardening can improve well being. Students are challenged to think about where food comes from, how to grow healthy foods at home, and the role gardening can play in a lifetime of well-being.
Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.