| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 52.10 |
| Liaison | Ciara Tennis |
| Submission Date | Jan. 11, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Eastern Connecticut State University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Stephen
Nathan Environmental Earth Science Professor Environmental Earth Science |
Is the institution utilizing the campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in the following areas?:
| Yes or No | |
| Air & Climate | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes |
| Energy | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes |
| Purchasing | Yes |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | No |
| Diversity & Affordability | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | Yes |
| Investment | No |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Other | No |
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Air & Climate and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A student conducted a green house gas inventory as part of an internship investigating sources of emissions and impacts on air quality and global warming potential of these emissions on campus.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Buildings and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A student monitored room occupancy (I.e., classrooms, offices, kitchenettes, etc.) within several campus buildings as the capstone project of an independent study course. The student presented (a poster) of their findings at a local conference.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Dining Services/Food and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A student has been involved with an internship investigating dining services and the benefits of going tray less. This student worked with the campus' green committee and dining services director to create the go tray less movement which took place in the fall of 2015.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Energy and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A student monitored room occupancy (I.e., classrooms, offices, kitchenettes, etc.) within several campus buildings as the capstone project of an independent study course. The student presented (a poster) of their findings at a local conference.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Grounds and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Students have monitored the impacts of campus building on the campus arboretum. During different building phases students have monitored run-off into the arboretum.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Purchasing and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A student is researching green purchasing policies at other universities and State of CT environmental purchasing laws to help our Fiscal Affairs Office develop a green purchasing policy for Eastern.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Transportation and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A student conducted a green house gas inventory as part of an internship investigating sources of emissions and impacts on air quality and global warming potential of these emissions on campus. As part of the same internship the student conducted a fleet inventory that detailed specific opportunities to improve green house gas emissions for the campus fleet.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Waste and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Students throughout 2015 have been conducting campus waste audits for trash and recycling for academic and dormitory buildings. Their work is being used to influence waste decisions being made on campus.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Water and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Students have conducted many hydrological studies on Eastern's campus investigating different levels of contaminants such as arsenic levels in water. Results have been presented at national conferences.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Coordination, Planning & Governance and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Diversity & Affordability and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Students in the business department have been involved with conducting studies of faculty and staff attitudes toward sustainable behaviors as well as investigating diversity and affordability on campus.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Health, Wellbeing & Work and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Students in the business department have been involved with conducting studies of faculty and staff attitudes toward sustainable behaviors as well as investigating diversity and affordability on campus.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Investment and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Public Engagement and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
At the Institute for Sustainable Energy there has been a credit intern who is a communications major who has been investigating outreach methods for various sustainability initiatives on campus. From radio and TV interviews, to on campus training sessions this intern has been responsible for further public engagement for sustainability.
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory in Other areas and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
The website URL where information about the institution’s campus as a living laboratory program or projects is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The information for this credit was provided by Steve Nathan and includes additional examples from Laura Miller and students based at the Institute for Sustainable Energy for projects that were conducted during 2015.
The information for this credit was provided by Steve Nathan and includes additional examples from Laura Miller and students based at the Institute for Sustainable Energy for projects that were conducted during 2015.
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.