Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 46.17
Liaison Jamey Pavey
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Earlham College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Jamey Pavey
Director of the Integrated Program in Sustainability
Sustainability and Environmental Studies
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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 ENSU 151 Environment, Science, and Sustainability completed a research project focused on emissions from our campus fleet, which will inform future vehicle purchasing decisions.

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:
ENSU 141 and 151 include tours of campus focusing on water conservation and energy aspects of LEED buildings on campus. Additionally student lab projects in these courses regularly focus on operational efficiency of campus buildings and houses.

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:
The computer science department offers applied groups for students to gain credit as they complete applied projects. One of the applied groups, Green Science, has worked with campus electricians to install sub-metering on college residence halls and to create a real-time energy dashboard for the campus. A version of the dashboard is now used for the campus energy wars and encourages campus users to reduce energy use. Students in this group have also designed and constructed a solar charging umbrella/picnic table for installation 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:
An ENSU141 lab project focused on the dining hall and its contribution (or lack thereof) toward building community on campus. Additionally, all students in ENSU141 complete an assignment in which they are tasked with tracking food from a meal back to its source. Finally, the Vegg(IE) Vegan & Intentional Eating Student Organization regularly holds educational events directly tied to food and dining on campus.

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:
In Fall 2016, students in ENSU353 Environmental Applications conducted an assessment of landscaping policies on campus, including a survey of community preferences, resulting in recommendations regarding future landscaping management decisions.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
A working group, including students, faculty, and staff, gathered in 2017-18 to assess vending machine operations on campus. The group conducted a survey to determine concerns and preferences, resulting in recommendations for a new RFP and contract that included more sustainable food options.

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:
The students are encouraged to take school shuttles and utilize the Bike Share. Our school shuttles are driven by student drivers, and they are accessible for anyone needing transportation somewhere. In addition, the Environmental Leadership Program supports a Bicycle Co-operative shop, where students independently manage the shop's working hours, host campus-wide events, and encourage bicycle transportation whenever possible. Students learn mechanic and bicycle maintenance skills, and teach their peers at workshops. Student Sustainability Corps members also cooperate with Public Safety on promotion and logistics associated with the Bike Share. Through these venues, students are encouraged to practice what they are taught in the classroom and reduce their mileage using fossil fuels.

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:
The Student Sustainability Corps Operations Team focuses on understanding and reducing the college's waste stream via reduction, reuse, recycling and composting. Students conduct research on college spending on waste categories and propose solutions for reducing costs and waste. Additionally students measure characteristics of the compost system and incorporate data into decision making as they run the compost system. Students also operate a Free Store and collect donations for local organizations during move out. Students in ENSU141 conduct a waste audit as a lab activity.

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 ENSU141 Environment, Society, and Sustainability broadly studied water systems on campus, while two lab groups conducted more extensive projects focused on potential water saving measures in residence halls and campus houses. Additionally, students and staff in our sustainable agriculture program are constantly experimenting with ways to capture rainwater and minimize the need for irrigation.

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:
Students at Earlham are deeply involved in Coordination, Planning, and Governance as it relates to sustainability on campus. As part of the school's practices and principles, Earlham allows for student representation on all campus committees, and this includes the campus's Sustainability Progress Committee. Two students sit on this committee as full members and have regular input into the workings of sustainability of campus. Additionally, the Environmental Studies Senior Capstone course in Spring 2016 took on the challenge of updating the campus Sustainability Plan. This plan was approved in early 2017.

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:
As noted above, Earlham allows for student representation on all campus committees, and this includes the campus's Diversity Progress Committee. The Diversity Progress Committee (DPC) is responsible for monitoring our progress on the diversity goals and plans, which were outlined in the report of the Diversity Aspiration Group in December 2001, as subsequently approved by the Faculty Meeting, Board of Trustees, and Student Government. In doing so, the DPC should maintain communications with and solicit reports from those groups, offices, and committees identified in the plan as having responsibilities for the particular elements of the plan

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:
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Public Engagement 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to 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:
Environmental Studies Seniors have partnered with the City of Richmond's Parks and Recreation Department in Spring 2017 and Spring 2018 to complete applied community projects. This has resulted in the installation of a sensory playground (design and fundraising done by students) and a revitalization plan for the park at the local reservoir. Through a scholarship and volunteer service program called The Bonner Scholars program, students are granted scholarships to continue their work in service during their time at Earlham. Throughout this service, students have worked with organizations such as Cope Environmental Center, Amigos Latino Center, the Joseph Moore Museum, and many others. 

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:
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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)?:
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:
Technology--Students and faculty in computer science have been researching the energy efficiency of servers on campus in order to determine the most efficient options for the future.

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:
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