| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 52.21 |
| Liaison | David Husemoller |
| Submission Date | June 7, 2017 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
College of Lake County
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
David
Husemoller Sustainability Manager Facilities |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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:
CLC students are involved in a variety of projects on campus that impact air quality. Students have been involved with planning and planting a butterfly garden, designing other native landscaping and also 2 green roofs. By removing turf grass and planting these gardens, students are helping our grounds crew to reduce the use of air-polluting landscape machinery and to increase the sequestration of carbon on campus. Interpretative signage is being planned that will further explain the benefits of sustainable landscaping. Students are also learning about geothermal exchange systems for heating and cooling, which dramatically increases efficiency and improves our air quality.
Buildings
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 Buildings:
CLC is in the midst of building out its Sustainable Master Plan, including new and renovated buildings designed to meet LEED Gold and Platinum standards. Instructors are encouraged to use this construction in their teaching engineering, architecture, HVAC , economics etc.
Energy
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 Energy:
CLC is installing two geothermal heating/cooling systems. Students have gone out to the work site this summer to meet with crews digging 500 ft deep wells. HVAC students will be involved with the contractor as the new system is installed, replacing our outdated system for our oldest standing buildings. Students will be able to monitor the process of geothermal heating and cooling, as they do currently with our older existing systems. CLC has also installed solar thermal panels on 7 buildings to utilize the energy of the sun to reduce our dependence on natural gas for water heating.
Food & Dining
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 Food & Dining:
CLC has the Cafe Willow and a student-run restaurant called the Prairie. Culinary students cook and serve the food and manage the reservations in the Prairie. Both the Cafe and Prairie contract with CLC's Learning Farm to feature greens and vegetables that are grown on campus. The campus officially opened its apiary with 7 hives in the fall 2016. It is anticipated that dining services will be able utilize and sell its own honey.
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:
As described above, students studying horticulture and environmental biology have been involved with designing and installing native plant gardens and green roofs. We have had success in encouraging student volunteers to cut and remove buckthorn, participate in prescribed burns of prairie and wetlands. Students learn about natural areas management and fire safety. Student workers are paid to work with our grounds crew on maintenance management tasks, including performing maintenance on the campus green roofs.
Purchasing
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 Purchasing:
Students at a Sustainability Forum provided their recommendations about they felt CLC could be more sustainable. Chief among their recommendations was the banning the purchase and use of polystyrene in dining services. They also recommended the purchase of more local and organic food choices. Business services amended its purchasing policy to allow for consideration of bids that may cost more but have environmental/sustainability benefits.
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:
CLC serves as the hub for the public bus system in Lake County. Students interact with the busses which park by our main entrance. CLC also offers bike racks and connections with the countywide bike path system. Information about these sustainable transportation options with information in the hallways. Students at the Sustainability Forum made the recommendation that those who carpool or drive high efficiency vehicles be given preferential parking. This recommendation will go forward to the Campus Environment and Operations committee.
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:
Students participate in the recycling program on campus. Waste stations identify options for "Recycling" and "Landfill." In January 2017, a third option to compost food scraps is available for patrons to the Cafe. Students have signed up to serve as mentors to patrons of the Cafe to help them to sort their compost from recycling and landfill trash. The First Generation Club has held "Recycling Games" events on several occasions in the past year, to teach people about what items are recyclable. CLC is observing America Recycles Day on November 15 with a variety of student and community member sponsored education activities.
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:
Willow Lake is a man-made detention pond adjacent to the buildings of our Grayslake Campus. Willow Lake serves as a living laboratory in a literal sense for biology classes that study water quality and test for microinvertibrates. Horticulture students study the use of rain barrels at the student farm for irrigation of crops, saving municipal water supplies. Newly installed native landscaping and water saving faucets both serve to save water and provide material for student learning.
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:
Students are working with staff and faculty to increase rates of recycling and reduce spoilage of recycling with inappropriate items in the recycling bins. Students are assisting with staff and faculty to enhance signage for recycling, trash and compost, with the goal of making choices easier and more intuitive. Students are also involved with annual waste audits that help us to measure success. Students returning from the 2016 AASHE conference are interested in developing and administering a survey of fellow students to gauge where they are in their understanding of sustainability in order to provide additional education in extracurricular events.
Diversity & Affordability
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 Diversity & Affordability:
CLC serves a diverse population of race, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation and gender identification. The college has identified Diversity as one of its priority goals. The college's Diversity Council plays a prominent role on campus with enhancing policies, contracting speakers and entertainers, and supporting student clubs.
As a community college, CLC stands out as an excellent value for college education. CLC reaches out to our diverse high schools across its district to promote awareness of this opportunity.
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:
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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:
CLC received a grant to fund the development of interpretative signage for the college's Sustainability Trail. Signage will help students, faculty/staff, and community members visiting campus to learn about sustainable features on campus. Community members are frequently invited to visit campus for special events. Events such as the Community Partners for Sustainability and the Lake County Green engage community members directly about sustainability efforts.
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:
Along with Sustainability and Diversity, the college has identified Wellness as one of its strategic priorities, each with a council providing guidance and oversight of the college governance system. Employees of the college are constantly being offered wellness initiatives to improve the sense of well being among faculty and staff. Faculty, staff, and students are involved with the development of the Sustainability Trail, which will include elements of wellness and interpretive signage to help visitors to the trail to be mindful of self-care. Students provide free massages during finals and other times of the year.
Other Impact Areas
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:
The Sustainability Trail is indeed a multi-disciplinary project that planning to advance sustainability across areas of biology, engineering, auto repair, wellness, transportation, art and more in the coming year.
Optional Fields
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.