| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 47.42 |
| Liaison | John Stolz |
| Submission Date | March 1, 2023 |
Duquesne University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Mary Kate
Ranii Program Administrator Center for Environmental Research & Education (CERE) |
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:
Wholemakers, a groundbreaking resource for young adults focused on creation care and integral ecology. Wholemakers is a multi-session Catholic curriculum designed for small groups of young adults to explore and deepen their understanding of creation care and climate action. Developed for young adults, by young adults, this resource weaves together the latest climate science with insights from the Catholic tradition to equip young adults to be the faithful protagonists of the transformation the world needs.
The MBA in Sustainable Business Practices program hosts a Net Zero Energy Energy Management System (EMS) Design Competition every fall in the MGMT 724 Strategic Sustainability and Models course.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:
1. Every year, Duquesne University hosts Community Engagement Scholars, students who work with local non-profit organizations to further their missions and aid students' academic growth.
2. Duquesne University has designated community engagement courses in which students work with community partners as part of the course requirements.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
1. Duquesne is the first university in western Pennsylvania and one of only a few in the state to conduct biennial Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories on the University's carbon footprint. The University has played a leading role in moving other schools in the region to undertake similar studies and to direct the region as a whole toward environmental stewardship. This survey is conducted by graduate students in the University's Center for Environmental Research and Education. This report is published on the University website for the campus and outside communities.
2. Additionally, Duquesne University has a live dashboard in the academic building, Rockwell Hall, measuring and reporting CO2 emissions, energy consumption, chilled water, and steam use, indoor air quality (PM2.5, PM 10, TVOCs, temperature, and humidity), and outdoor air quality sensor to compare indoor vs outdoor air quality as part of efforts to use the building as a living laboratory.
3. Students in the MBA in Sustainable Business Practices are working to increase energy efficiency in campus buildings through their live consulting projects with external clients, research, and design competition. The results of all of these are shared with facilities and used to engage building occupants as we look for ways to improve our buildings on campus.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
1. Students in the MBA in Sustainable Business Practices compete in a living lab/team Net Zero Energy EMS Design Competition. They track Rockwell Hall's building energy, water consumption, indoor air quality, and management, propose ways to make Rockwell more sustainable and efficient, and look at what it will take to make the buildings and their MBA program Net Zero.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
1. Students in the MBA in Sustainable Business Practices are working to increase energy efficiency in campus buildings, especially Rockwell Hall.
2. Students in the Environmental Science undergraduate and Environmental Science and Management graduate and certificate programs conduct regular reports on proposed campus energy reduction projects.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
1. The Sustainable Supply Chain Mgmt class working with food services - to reduce food waste and support systems like biodigesters.
2. Students get involved with the campus produce garden to learn more about food production and compost.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
1. Duquesne University's Ecology Club managed an on-campus butterfly garden, planting and weeding a small section of garden specifically for pollinator species.
2. Students work with the Facilities Department and Center for Environmental Research to install and manage an on-campus produce garden to alleviate storm-water runoff, improve biodiversity, and combat food apartheid in a neighboring neighborhood.
3. Students host invasive Spotted Lanternfly education including specimen collections.
4. 2022, Evergreen Club and other students who signed up, participated in planting 40, 1 quart Cercis Canadensis (redbud) along Trinity hillside adjacent to Crosstown Blvd.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:
Students in the MBA in Sustainable Business Practices compete in a living lab/team competition. They track Rockwell Hall's building energy, water consumption, indoor air quality, management, and purchasing and work to find ways to make Rockwell more sustainable and efficient.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
1. Members of the student-run Evergreen Club, also hosts online tips for reducing one's waste footprint. WASTE IS WHACK.
3. The Center for Environmental Research and Education educates students about compost opportunities on campus and collects materials to compost in their office suite from students, faculty, and staff.
4. A undergraduate sustainable supply chain course taught across three sections each spring does project-based research and this last year they looked at the feasibility of reducing food waste for on-campus dining and the use of anaerobic digesters.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
1. Faculty, staff, and students organize an Annual Water Walk, educating the campus about the global water crisis.
2. PureThirst student group works to educate the campus community about water availability and issues worldwide.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
1. Students are a dedicated part of the University Sustainability Committee.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
1. Schools across the university host DEI committees that are comprised of students, faculty, and staff. These committees host discussions, events, and campus surveys.
2. 15 student organizations work to further issues regarding diversity and affordability.
African Student Union (ASU)
American Sign Language Club
Asian Student Association (ASA)
Black Law Students Association
Black Student Union (BSU)
BSNES Multicultural STEM Group (MSG)
Canes for Change
Center for Migration, Displacement, and Community Studies
Chinese Students and Scholars Association (CSSA)
Council for Exceptional Children
Duquesne South Asian Student Association (SASA)
Ebony Women: Women for Social Change
English as a Second Language Program
Gender Sexuality Alliance (Lambda)
International Students Organization (ISO)
Jewish Law Students Organization
Latin American Student Association (LASA)
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association
Non-Traditional Student Association
Puerto Rican Student Association (PRSA)
Saudi Student Organization
Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
Student Veterans Association (SVA)
The Migration Club
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
Duquesne University's Palumbo School of Business hosts a $1,000,000 socially responsible investment fund that is run by students in the business school.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
1. Duquesne University's Pharmacy students work to provide free health screenings, vaccinations, COVID tests, and more to campus faculty and staff.
2. "Wholemakers, a groundbreaking resource for young adults focused on creation care and integral ecology. Wholemakers is a multi-session Catholic curriculum designed for small groups of young adults to explore and deepen their understanding of creation care and climate action. Developed for young adults, by young adults, this resource weaves together the latest climate science with insights from the Catholic tradition to equip young adults to be the faithful protagonists of transformation the world needs."
Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.