Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 67.45
Liaison Benjamin Newton
Submission Date March 3, 2023

STARS v2.2

Central Community College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00
"---" 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:
Earth Month at all three campuses and the Kearney Center. The Earth Month events include a Student Expo in which students have a table display of their hands on projects along with multiple sustainability focused non-profit vendors and renewable energy companies. Tours are given regularly of the pollinator gardens on all three campuses, beehives on campus, fruit orchards, greenhouse, wind turbine, and local solar farms. Attendees on these tours' advance sustainability through increased buy in to local solar and wind projects in all communities, increased job opportunities in the renewable energy and sustainability field, awareness of the importance of the biodiversity of native plants and insects to our crops and on campus gardens, and the importance of native pollinator insects.

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:
We have quarterly Resiliency Committee meetings in 2 different communities facilitated by the Environmental Sustainability office focusing on increased public transportation and local events advancing sustainability initiatives beyond the campus and into community projects such as solar farm tours.
Multiple renewable energy companies and sustainability focused organizations, the community, and non-profits are invited to annual Earth Month events and tours are given of the on-campus wind turbine, solar panels, pollinator and culinary gardens, fruit orchards, greenhouse, and beehives.
The Environmental Sustainability office also hosts many fifth graders and scouts regarding native pollinator plants in our gardens as well as sustainability projects on campus.
In collaboration with the Nebraska State Fair students present hands-on projects in Grand Island to all State Fair attendees across the state.

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 Energy Technology program offers a wind turbine climbing program in which students are certified to climb wind turbines in industry.

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:
Earth Month event at the Kearney Center focuses on the building's sustainable features. Including eGauge (real time energy use), electrochromic windows, daylighting, solatubes, green architecture design, geothermal wells, metal scrim, as well as bioretention rain gardens.

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:
Wind turbine and solar farm tours for the Energy Technology program on the Hastings campus and Kearney solar farm. Also, eGauge real time energy usage.

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:
Sustainability in Hospitality course focusing on all aspects in food and dining. They grow microgreens, herbs, compost, and seek out local foods.

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:
Native pollinator gardens on all 3 campuses and the Ord Center with walking tours. Also, native insect hotels on campus and culinary garden. We have hügelkultur- garden as well as native trees on multiple campuses.

Purchasing 

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:
Hospitality Management working restaurant purchases compostable materials and composts a majority of their food waste in bins on campus.

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:
The Environmental Sustainability office regularly gives tours or our electric vehicle charging stations on all three campuses and the Kearney Center. We demonstrate how to charge electric vehicles as well as the sustainability benefits of charging stations.

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:
Student projects regarding increasing diversion rates, videos, and surveys of recycling habits. Also composting on all three campuses with student led on campus workshops in how to compost food waste.

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:
Environmental Science course samples local on campus waterway for water quality.

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:
Multiple departments and faculty help organize Earth Week events.

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:
Engaging diversity workshop offered. Option to complete your degree at night or 8 week and 10-week sessions for working professionals and students with family and work obligations.

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:
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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:
Earth Week event focusing on walking and biking on campus trails. We have an annual bike ride to the wind turbine event on the Hastings campus.
Also, interactive game rooms on all three campuses as well as intramurals.

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:
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