Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 65.38
Liaison Jeremy King
Submission Date Feb. 28, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Denison University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Jeremy King
Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Office of the President
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Air & Climate 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to air quality and climate change. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on climate related issues on campus. Students in Data Analytics 301 have taken Campus Sustainability as their core project for the past two semesters. In one of those semesters, students focused on calculating Denison's complete carbon footprint and developed predictive modeling of future emissions and mechanisms for addressing those emissions. A result of their work included a number of outreach components that help spread awareness of both Denison's climate commitment and our efforts to date regarding our carbon footprint. In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often work with students to study certain aspects related to this topic on campus.

Buildings  

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to buildings and efficiency. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on building related issues on campus. Denison also has the Denison Homestead which is a living-learning laboratory for students that utilizes a number of sustainable building techniques. The work at the Homestead has allowed students and the campus as a whole to experience sustainability building and its value. In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often advise students who are studying certain aspects related to this topic on campus.

Energy 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to energy and energy efficiency. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on energy related issues on campus. Students in Data Analytics 301 have taken Campus Sustainability as their core project for the past two semesters. In one of those semesters, students analyzed Denison's energy usage and did predictive modeling for future use and how Denison can curb emissions and better track data. Their work was instrumental in helping Denison better budget for its annual utility spend and identified areas where our energy-efficiency efforts could be better served. Students in two ENVS classes were part of a design/build for a new solar array on the stadium concession stand. Students actually did the physical install of the array. This array is one of the most visible on campus and helps to showcase Denison's commitment to carbon neutrality. In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often advise students who are studying certain aspects related to this topic on campus.

Food & Dining 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
Bon Appetit works with students and faculty who study food related issues on campus. Recent student projects have included developing an on campus CSA, analyzing local food procurement and using the Real Food calculator, doing a mushroom room growing pilot, and assisting with Denison's Sustainability Agriculture class. All of these projects reinforce the Denison's efforts to adopt locally-sourced and sustainable food choices for its dining locations and help to reinforce the importance of these options among our student body.

Grounds 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to grounds. Specifically, students in our ENVS, Biology and Geosciences programs are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on their in our 350-acre biological reserve. Denison has both an on campus arboretum and multiple "no-mow" or "grow" zones on campus that are also used by students and faculty alike for educational purposes. These projects have helped reinforce the value of natural areas on our main campus. A couple of years ago students in a studio art sculpture class combined with students in an Ecology class to create bee hotels that were distributed across campus. Bee populations were then studied with respect to the use of the hotels.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:
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 Purchasing:
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Transportation 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
Over the last couple of years two students have engaged in transportation related studies. One student evaluated bike share programs for the college and the other student did work on identifying commuting incentives that would encourage the reduction of SOVs on campus and increase the number of EVs.

Waste 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
Many in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to waste and recycling. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on waste and recycling related issues on campus. In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often employ students to study certain aspects related to this topic on campus.

Water 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to water and water quality. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on water related issues on campus. In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often employ students to study certain aspects related to this topic on campus.

Coordination & Planning 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
Denison has a system of shared governance. Our student government is one such example of this. In addition students serve on nearly all campus governance committees including the Campus Sustainability Committee. This committee is responsible for developing, implementing and evaluating the campus sustainability plan.

Diversity & Affordability 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
Denison has gone through great effort over the last 20 years to increase diversity on campus both among its students and its faculty. Diversity is at the core of who we are as a community and many of our courses and associated research opportunities encourage students to explore issues of diversity and affordability on campus and beyond. The Office of Multicultural Student Affairs provides opportunities for many of our students to work on and study issues of diversity and affordability as well.

Investment & Finance 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to air quality and climate change. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on investment related issues on campus. In addition, many students in our Economics Department choose to study sustainable investment and the college's investment strategy.

Public Engagement 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Public Engagement?:
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 Public Engagement:
Denison's mission is to inspire and educate our students to become autonomous thinkers, discerning moral agents and active citizens of a democratic society. Through an emphasis on active learning, we engage students in the liberal arts, which fosters self-determination and demonstrates the transformative power of education. We envision our students' lives as based upon rational choice, a firm belief in human dignity and compassion unlimited by cultural, racial, sexual, religious or economic barriers, and directed toward an engagement with the central issues of our time. To this end, many of our courses and associated research opportunities encourage students to explore issues of public engagement on our campus and beyond.

Wellbeing & Work 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
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 Wellbeing & Work:
Students in multiple degree programs conduct individual and/or course-related research related to air quality and climate change. Specifically, students in our ENVS program are required to do senior research/projects and many focus on climate related issues on campus. In addition, the Office of Sustainability and Facilities Services often employ students to study certain aspects related to this topic on campus.

Other Impact Areas 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to other areas (e.g. arts & culture or technology)?:
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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:
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Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Denison maintains an internal password protected website where most of this information resides. Public access web pages have limited information on this topic.

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