Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 54.75
Liaison Derek Martin
Submission Date March 16, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

California State University, Monterey Bay
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.60 / 4.00 Lacey Raak
Sustainability Director
Campus Planning and Development
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Air & Climate 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Air & Climate?:
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 Air & Climate:
Transportation projects have addressed incorporation of bicycle improvements and a bike counter

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:
---

Energy 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Energy?:
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 Energy:
---

Food & Dining 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Food & Dining?:
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 Food & Dining:
---

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:
Mammology course (BIO 364) researches ground squirrel space use and behavior with undergraduate course. The Return of the Natives project has a 4-acre habitat restoration parcel that the Watershed Institute and the Return to the Native program brings students to collect seeds, grow plants from seed, removes invasive species, and plants seedlings. The soccer team helps to remove ice-plant, which is the most invasive species on campus.

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:
---

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:
ENSTU 376 - Undergraduate course examined parking and transportation patterns on campus. Conducted bike counts and parking spaces on campus to inform placement and need for additional bike racks. The campus recently launched a Sustainable City Year Program which matches a local municipality's project needs with classes across the university's many academic disciplines. Program allows students to apply academic knowledge in real-world contexts, and has regular support from Campus Planning & Development staff. Students have so far produced well-researched, feasible recommendations for improvements to the campus transportation network and that of our City Year partner. CSUMB received a $15,000 grant funding to do a living lab project with respect to transportation. The advantage of this project and the two courses that were modified to accommodate is that they are now offered on alternating semesters each academic year. One course is entitled Sustainability Systems (ENSTU 375) and is taught every fall semester. A student intern is employed by the Campus Planning and Development to focus on alternative transportation. This is funded by the contracts with Monterey/Salinas Transit.

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:
There is a sustainable campus tour in Environmental Policy and Writing for freshman and sophomores every year where waste sorting is covered. There are also tours of the landfill. A student completed a capstone project where she designed a waste sorting game where students played a waste sorting/recycling game and is currently being assessed for effectiveness.

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:
ENSTU 376 Fog collection for oak tree watering on campus.

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:
HOSP473 Spring 2017 developed a campus green event guide.

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:
---

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:
---

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:
PHYS221 solar suitcases to local communities. Working with communities to provide solar power. The student in the class work with local high school to develop.

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:
Kinesiology (Lisa Leiniger) Workplace Walk-off challenge - a competition led by students to encourage staff to increase the number of miles they walk.

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:
Visual and Public Arts - mural and public art instatllations (Dining Commons and 7th and Intergarrison)

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.