Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 58.15
Liaison Lacey Raak
Submission Date Feb. 21, 2021

STARS v2.2

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

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Lacey Raak
Sustainability Director
Campus Planning and Development
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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:

ENSTU 350: Research Methods in Environmental Studies:
Overview of qualitative and quantitative research methods that environmental professionals use in understanding complex problems, drafting research proposals, and analyzing and presenting rigorous, reliable information. Students will engage in comprehensive explorations of social aspects of environmental topics and will understand the central role that information and research play in enacting appropriate change in natural and built environments with diverse populations.

HOSP 481 - Sustainable Event Management
Involves an in-depth investigation of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by business managers in the event management industry from a sustainable perspective. Relevant business theories are applied to topics, including reducing the carbon footprint of the event, selection of venues, transportation, and vendors.


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:

ENSTU 365: Critical Pedagogy in Environmental Education.
Explores strategies for supporting equitable educational opportunities and access to natural environments for all. Through an examination of both the means (formal, informal education, place-based learning, and participatory practice) and the locations (schools, after-school programs, parks, and public spaces), this course examines approaches to education, enabling policies and frameworks for participation, and methodologies that can facilitate learning among diverse students and community members.

ENSTU 472: Projects in Environmental Education:
Project-based class with a regional environmental education partner. Projects will place students in learning environments where students will focus on sustainability and environmental topics. Projects will vary from year to year.


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 collection of water from fog offers a unique opportunity to engage with an environmental feature endemic to the Monterey area (fog). Worldwide, numerous countries capitalize upon the presence of fog to produce potable water in regions that receive little rainfall. In some cases entire communities utilize fog water to meet their basic needs (Henderson et al. and Edwards et al.). Indeed, such deployments exist in Chile, Guatemala, Israel, Yemen, Eritrea, Morocco, Spain, and many other countries throughout the world. A simple mesh mounted properly on a square frame provides a surface for the fog water to coalesce. Once the droplets reach a suitable size, their weight causes them to fall off and collect in a trough below. From a single square meter of vertically-mounted mesh up to several gallons of water have been produced in a single day under foggy conditions with sufficient wind. Actual amounts collected are very location dependent and under foggy conditions are more typically about a liter.

Besides potentially providing a means of capture of usable water, which can serve multiple purposes, this technique provides a much more quantitative in situ means of assessing the presence of fog. The fog collected is a function both of the density of water in the air as well as the wind speed and direction. When the wind directs fog into the mesh, maximal fog water accrues. As wind speed increases, typically so does the amount of fog water collected.


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:

ENSTU 350: Research Methods in Environmental Studies:
Overview of qualitative and quantitative research methods that environmental professionals use in understanding complex problems, drafting research proposals, and analyzing and presenting rigorous, reliable information. Students will engage in comprehensive explorations of social aspects of environmental topics and will understand the central role that information and research play in enacting appropriate change in natural and built environments with diverse populations.

In Fall 2020 Sustainability and Hospitality Management course utilized the Student Center as a case study to integrate sustainability as an event venue.


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:
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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 in Dr. Atzori’s Sustainable Event Management course volunteer with local organizations. In September, they volunteered for the Jazz Festival, at Corral De Tierra, and at the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Poppy Hills. An upcoming volunteer opportunity is November’s American Red Cross Farm to Table event.

This course also completes a ‘Sustainability Initiative Project’. Students are analyzing the sustainability practices of the Intercontinental The Clement to determine what the facility is currently doing and what can be done as a facility. The student teams each focus on one aspect of sustainability (i.e. water, waste, energy). The students will produce a written report that will constitute the outcome of their project and the report will be shared with the Intercontinental The Clement of the semester.

Hospitality Capstone students are working with Dametra Fresh and the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCCVB). One capstone group is doing a study of franchise expansion for the fast casual concept of Dametra Fresh. The other group is studying sustainable tourism marketing initiatives for MCCVB.

Professionally, they’re making contributions to their field through research and furthering their own education with professional certifications. Angel presented his paper “Factors in Tourists’ Food Decision Processes” at the iCHRIE Annual Conference. Roberta’s paper, “The Sustainable Tourist Experience: Antecedents, Components, and Consequences,” was accepted at the October EuroCHRIE Conference.

Dr. González qualified as a Certified Hospitality Educator (CHE®) through the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). This program is the only professional development opportunity designed for postsecondary hospitality educators. Educators with this certification are able to strengthen students' critical thinking and motivation to learn, share ideas with fellow educators, and receive recognition for their teaching abilities from students, colleagues, and the industry.


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:

Mammology course (BIO 364) researches ground squirrel space use and behavior with undergraduate course.

Natural History of CA Wildlife (Bio360) foraging experiments on campus with ground squirrels.

ENSTU 350: Research Methods in Environmental Studies:
Overview of qualitative and quantitative research methods that environmental professionals use in understanding complex problems, drafting research proposals, and analyzing and presenting rigorous, reliable information. Students will engage in comprehensive explorations of social aspects of environmental topics and will understand the central role that information and research play in enacting appropriate change in natural and built environments with diverse populations.

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.


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

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

HOSP 481 - Sustainable Event Management
Involves an in-depth investigation of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by business managers in the event management industry from a sustainable perspective. Relevant business theories are applied to topics, including reducing the carbon footprint of the event, selection of venues, transportation, and vendors.


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:

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.


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:

HOSP 481 - Sustainable Event Management
Involves an in-depth investigation of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by business managers in the event management industry from a sustainable perspective. Relevant business theories are applied to topics, including reducing the carbon footprint of the event, selection of venues, transportation, and vendors.


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:

ENSTU 376 Fog collection for oak tree watering on campus.


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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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:

Undergraduate researchers in the course RSCH 294 working on a project that looks at diversity and affordability in terms of how well does representation in mentored undergraduate research and course-based undergraduate research reflect the diversity of the larger student population. We are also specifically looking at working, low-income and care-taker students to see if offering research opportunities in class or funded out-of-class opportunities makes participating more feasible/affordable.


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:
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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:

Work Place Walk-Off Challenge was held in 2019. Supported by Kinesiology course, this challenge was a campus-wide opportunity to have staff track steps and work towards increasing physical exercise. Student measured impacts and led info sessions for participants.


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:
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