Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 38.32
Liaison Rachelanne Knoll
Submission Date March 30, 2018
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Eastern Kentucky University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Debbie Namugayi
Sustainability Manager
Office of Sustainability
"---" 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:
EKU's Science Building features two solar arrays which are used for comparative studies on the impact that angle plays in maximizing the photoelectric effect. Students in the ENV200: The Global Sustainable Future general education course are required to calculate their carbon footprint as it relates to their living/learning experience 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:
EKU also uses the Science Building, which is a LEED Gold certified building, as a tool in other ways. The University conducts numerous tours of the building and provides an online tool that highlights the sustainability features of the building. Students in several classes, including ENV200: The Global Sustainable Future, a general education course, are required to take the tour and discuss which attributes aimed at improving sustainability could be implemented at their home residence.

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:
EKU's Science Building features two solar arrays which are used for comparative studies on the photoelectric effect by student in the chemistry department.

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:
EKU's farm has partnered with the Agriculture Department to utilize sheep in the management of invasive weed species on campus. This method helps manage weeds without the need for pesticides. The sheep are then used for wool and ultimately for meat locally. EKU's farm also grows food products that are used in on campus dining.

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:
EKU has partnered with the American Chestnut Foundation to cultivate an orchard of hybridized Chinese/American Chestnuts that will be used in the re-population efforts of the American Chestnut throughout North America. Students are involved in planting and management efforts at least once per semester as a part of several courses, including wildlife management.

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:
The #EKULocal Festival is an annual event hosted by the Office of Sustainability and led by its Student Sustainability Coordinators to bring small local businesses and businesses selling sustainably sourced products on EKU's campus in a festival atmosphere. Students are educated about the importance that shopping locally has on the environment and local economy.

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 ENV 500 Co-op in Sustainability has developed, coordinated, and provided analysis of EKU's annual Transportation Sustainability Survey that helps quantify greenhouse gas emissions associated with commuting to campus and also evaluates alternative transportation programs.

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:
EKU Housing, RHCs and RAs in residence halls are working to evaluate recycling behaviors in residence halls through a Recycling Compliance Audit system. A Recycling Compliance % score is calculated by floor, waste stream, and building for comparison and competition with other floors and halls.

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:
EKU's Science Building houses a constructed wetland that collects rain water from the roof and conveys it through a series of upwells into a simulated wetland that channels along the outside of the building. Students in various degree programs collect and sample stormwater at various points throughout the wetland system to evaluate water quality before and after bioremediation.

Coordination & Planning 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
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 Coordination & Planning:
---

Diversity & Affordability 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
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 Diversity & Affordability:
---

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:
---

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:
---

Wellbeing & Work 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
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 Wellbeing & Work:
EKU utilizes students in its Community Gardens to help maintain crops and promote environmentally sound gardening practices. Students are also heavily utilized in managing on campus farmer's market throughout the summer and fall, also promoting healthy food choices by offering free samples of local & healthy foods. http://wellness.eku.edu/community-garden http://wellness.eku.edu/farmers-market

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)?:
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 other areas:
---

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives 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.