Creighton University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

As a part of the Energy Technology majors, sophomore students take a Design and Rapid Prototyping class, in which they spend a year on a project on campus.

Students work on, install, maintain, and monitor the on-campus solar and wind power systems. For example: Students in the Energy Technology Program's Energy 131 course focus on installing and maintaining photovoltaic systems called EnergiPlants. The EnergiPlant resembles a roughly 12-foot tall metal flower with a bloom doubling as a wind turbine and four metal leaves embedded with solar panels, all producing about 300 watts of power.

Energy 131 is a retreat course, starting with a weeklong session at the Creighton Retreat Center in Griswold, Iowa. From there, the students meet on weekends for instruction on photovoltaic cells and to begin the construction of the EnergiPlant, a project that comes with a sponsorship from the Omaha Public Power District, a steady partner with Creighton's Energy Technology Program.

An anthropology professor created a community garden with her students on land provided by the university. They are working with a local refugee community, who use the space to garden. The students and faculty are working with the community to determine their needs and provide an appropriate space for their use.

A student, along with faculty and staff, is a member of the Tree Advisory committee, which provides guidance on the planting and maintenance of trees on campus. Because of the work of this committee, Creighton has been awarded the Tree Campus USA designation each year since 2008.

Creighton was part of a purchasing study in 2014-2015.
This study focused on identifying perceptions, attitudes and behaviors of employees who are the decision makers for purchasing office supplies. Creighton was one of five universities to participate in the study. This research was funded by a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant1 where the ultimate outcome of understanding these perceptions and attitudes could possibly lead to recommendation altering policy and purchasing practices. The study was conducted by the Nebraska Business Development Center (NBDC) at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), in conjunction with procurement and sustainability officials at Creighton University.

Results of the surveys clearly show that purchasers of office products are willing to “buy green” and that increased knowledge and pro-environmental behavior were accomplished through messaging. Environmental outcomes were achieved, primarily because Creighton ordered fewer office products than the previous year. One of the primary themes of the messages was to use less.

A student did an independent research project on expanding the electric-vehicle charging infrastructure on campus. This included developing a site plan, determining the finances, and engaging in discussions with campus constituents to determine needs and uses.

Meeting with a Nebraska state legislator, our ERG882 (Energy Technology) students were able to evaluate current sustainable energy laws and propose changes to improve the viability of renewable energy development in our state.

A group of students from the Heider College of Business did a research study on faculty diversity at Creighton. The goal is to help raise awareness regarding low levels of female and minority representation. Creighton University Human Resources, the Office of Equity and Inclusion, and Office of Institutional Research supported the research project by providing advice and helping with data needs.

Starting in 2012, a dedicated team of occupational therapy students have developed the space which is called the Remember your Roots Sensory garden (RyRSG). This area is used as an extension of the class room to: (a) further develop themes in the doctor of Occupational Therapy curriculum, (b) provide an opportunity for students to directly experience how a sensory garden can be utilized clinically with barrier free gardening, and (c) as an inviting area for interdisciplinary interaction, reflection, and rejuvenation. RyRSG has added to the aesthetics of the west side of the Creighton University campus and has provided an outdoor environment that is used by faculty and students, visitors, prospective students and community members as a place of beauty and rejuvenation.