Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.54
Liaison Elaine Durr
Submission Date Feb. 19, 2020

STARS v2.2

Elon University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 4.00 Elaine Durr
Senior Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
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Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:

In the course Eco-Art, students create art installations around campus to engage the campus community on a variety of sustainability-related issues, such as food waste, air and water pollution, endangered species, climate change impacts, and energy issues. Projects occur in greenhouses, in campus buildings, at the weekly college coffee gathering, among other spaces.


Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:

In the Environmental Studies Senior Seminar course student groups work with community partners on projects connected to sustainability. A few examples are:
-One group worked with multiple community partners to further knowledge of seed breeding, crop diversity and pollinator gardens in North Carolina. The project included conducting interviews of local seed breeders, producing short documentaries, researching heirloom crops to be introduced to North Carolina as the climate begins to change and installing a pollinator garden at a nearby charter school.
-One group worked with a nearby municipality to assess the health of a river post removal of a building from the floodplain.
-One group created an online farmland inventory for the county to connect local businesses and consumers to organically-sourced food.
-One group worked with staff at a park in a nearby town to assess erosion problems and possible solutions. A test site was developed with installed compost blankets, berms and socks.

Students enrolled in Green Design and Sustainable Futures and Sustainable Design Technologies were actively engaged in the design-build process for Blawesome, a socially responsible small business located in a nearby county that specializes in cultivating and delivering locally and organically grown bouquets of flowers throughout three central North Carolina communities. The project was developed sensibly and sensitively with respect to the natural environment, as well as to the specific programmatic needs. Placement and orientation of the structures, infrastructure and agricultural fields were studied carefully in situ. Lumber from clearing was harvested, seasoned and utilized in the construction of the farmhouse, barn and greenhouse. The structures intentionally interact with the site and are built from a slow material palette consisting of concrete, steel and wood.


Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:

In an Environmental Economics course, a student group researched carbon offset strategies for the university's study abroad travel.


Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
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Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
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Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
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Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
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Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:

In an Environmental Economics course a student group researched sustainable procurement and vendor strategies to make recommendations to expand the university's work in this area.


Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:

A student group in an Environmental Economics course researched bike sharing and bike rental programs to make a recommendation to enhance sustainable transportation options on campus.


Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
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Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
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Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
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Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
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Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
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Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
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Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program 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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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.