| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 75.65 |
| Liaison | Maddie LoDico |
| Submission Date | Dec. 12, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Colby College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Kevin
Bright Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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Is the institution utilizing the campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in the following areas?:
| Yes or No | |
| Air & Climate | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes |
| Energy | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes |
| Purchasing | Yes |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | Yes |
| Diversity & Affordability | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | Yes |
| Investment | Yes |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Other | Yes |
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Air & Climate and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
The College has incorporated air and climate into student work through ecology classes and senior capstones, which focus on climate and air quality at the college. One example is an independent study on greenhouse gas emissions, which helped lead to the creation of the College's first greenhouse gas inventory. Another example is the field trip to our biomass plant, where students learn about air emissions standards and stack filtration systems. Additionally, many classes learn about plant growth, abundance, and diversity over time.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Buildings and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
The College has incorporated buildings into student work in several ways, one of which is energy monitoring in the Green Dorm. Residents of the Green Dorm monitored their energy consumption and worked together to help reduce it. Another exampleare case studies on campus LEED certified buildings and a LEED for Green Associate course.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Dining Services/Food and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
There is a broad range of student work leading to positive outcomes related to Dining Services and Food. Aside from having an organic farm on campus, there are several activism groups working with Dining Services, involving food waste, trayless dining, sustainable fish, composting, and cooking lessons.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Energy and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
There is a long history of student work leading to positive outcomes related to energy. For example, several student theses helped lead to the construction of a biomass plant. Additionally, students have been involved with a dorm energy challenge and a reduction in fuel consumption from our fleet. A third example is a GIS class that analyzed the ideal placement of solar panels on Colby's campus.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Grounds and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
An example of student work related to grounds is the creation of a tree tour across campus. Students were also instrumental in the development of our campus IPM plan. Another example of student work leading to positive outcomes in Colby's grounds is a class study on biodiversity around the artificial ponds on campus.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Purchasing and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Our EcoRep program is the best example of student work in the College's purchasing habits. Student EcoReps have ongoing projects to alter our purchasing practices towards more environmentally sustainable options.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Transportation and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Some examples of student work leading to positive outcomes in the area of transportation are: a group of students who conducted independent studies looking at the fuel consumption and sustainability of our fleet, which was instrumental in helping us acquire our first electric vehicle and accounting for transportation in our greenhouse gas inventory.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Waste and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Clubs and departments across campus have conducted several waste audits and have helped us improve our recycling and composting.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Water and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Student work has led to several positive outcomes related to water, inlcuding the following examples. Students have studied the lead levels in our water fountains, have looked at water consumption across campus, and have studied phosphorus and nitrogen levels in the Arboretum stream. One highlight of student work leading to positive changes with the school's water is the "Take Back the Tap" campaign, which led to a ban of bottled water on campus. Another example is students who studied the water quality of Johnson Pond and artificial wetlands on campus.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Coordination, Planning & Governance and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
One shining example of coordination, planning and governance relates to the Environmental Advisory Group, a collection of administrators, faculty and students who collaborate on campus environmental issues. This past year students of the Environmental Advisory Group were instrumental in recycling changes at the Campus Center, assisting with Campus Events during Earth Week, and pushing to start a Sustainability Action Plan process.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Diversity & Affordability and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Several classes in the Education and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Departments have researched diversity at Colby among students, faculty and staff, such as equal pay among faculty, and our admissions policies with regards to underrepresented groups.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Health, Wellbeing & Work and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A few examples of student work leading to positive outcomes in the area of health, wellbeing, and work are: an Environmental Studies professor who focuses on environmental health and pesticides in her classes and has her students study health and wellbeing at the College. Additionally, students learn about Green Building Standards and LEED, which prioritizes air quality and human health.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Investment and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
There is a student club on campus called CARE, Colby Alliance for Renewable Energy, working on divestment of fossil fuel companies at Colby. Although they have not yet accomplished their primary goal, they have had meetings with the Administration and Trustees and have started an ongoing conversation on campus regarding sustainable investing. CARE has helped move us towards greater transparency with regards to the College investments.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Public Engagement and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
One of the methods student engage in public engagement is the Environmental Studies senior capstone, which has a civic engagement component at the local, national, and/or international levels. Every ES major is required to take the senior capstone course. There are several other classes and porgrams on campus that involve student work related to public engagment such as the Goldfarb Center.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory in Other areas and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A few other examples of student work leading to positive outcomes include: Colby students and professors who conduct research on the Belgrade Lakes through our multidisciplinary National Science Foundation grant. This research has influenced local and regional lakefront stewardship practices, and provided the community with critical data regarding the health of the Belgrade Lakes.
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The website URL where information about the institution’s campus as a living laboratory program or projects is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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