Frostburg State University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Multimedia Learning Center, room 186 of the Center for Communications and Information Technology, hosts students, faculty and visitors during Focus Frostburg for a showing of “Dynamic Earth”, which explores the inner workings of Earth’s climate system. With visualizations based on satellite-monitoring data and advanced supercomputer simulations, this cutting-edge production follows a trail of energy that flows from the sun into the interlocking systems that shape Earth’s climate: the atmosphere, oceans and the biosphere.

The recently open Gira building, located in the center of campus, features a rooftop garden, rainwater collection system, and a bio-retention rain garden. A project to plant shale-barren plant species was initiated by a group of students. Grant money provided plants for the green roof and other locations on campus so that students can view these plant species without damaging fragile, natural habitats

Frostburg Dining has made composting one of our biggest commitments. All of the food waste that comes through the dining hall is put into our RocketA900 compost. This piece of machinery is kept at the perfect temperature and turns continuously throughout the day to ensure the necessary microbes are thriving and working to produce a high- quality compost. From start to finish, the process takes about two weeks to achieve the finished product. When the process is finished, batches of our compost are given to Frostburg Grows, a sustainable farming group on campus. From them, we are able to get fresh, local and organic produce that they have grown from our compost. This relationship has made a full circle from farm to table and back to the farm. Students from Introduction to Sustainability courses work with both Frostburg Grows and Dining services on projects related to local, sustainable food-ways and composting.

FSU Renewable Energy Center is committed to promote the use of renewable energy resources available in Western Maryland and the surrounding region by developing educational activities, research projects, industrial partnership, and community outreach programs. Student projects

The campus grounds has received recognition as Tree Campus USA since 2012. Professors within the biology department research sustainability and integration of urban landscape management and design. Students in courses such as Forest Ecology and Management have researched the amount of tree canopy and developed a plan to increase the tree canopy to 40% on campus. Students in the Ethnographic Field Techniques have written and received funding from the Student Sustainability Fee for installation of a rain garden on campus to reduce infiltration into the Chesapeake Bay. The mission of the FSU Arboretum is to provide a growing, sustainable and safe resource for the campus and regional communities to engage in education, research, observation and contemplation while maintaining the natural miniature of the mountains of Appalachia. To this end a management plan has been constructed to meet these goals. 1. The first and foremost part of the management plan is to remove invasive plant species growing in the Arboretum. As the Arboretum has not been well maintained in the past many species of invasive plants (such as Japanese Knotweed) have become a major problem within this vital resource. By removing these alien invaders we can reach one of our goals of maintaining the natural setting of the Appalachia mountains.2. Several different types of planting have been established within the Arboretum to increase the conservation awareness and aesthetic properties of the Arboretum. These planting are limited to native plants in Maryland. The arboretum is extensively used for Plant Taxonomy, Dendrology, Introduction to Ethnobotany and other plant based courses.

Purchasing has been decentralized and made largely paperless. Use of a state issued purchasing card has paper and staff time associated with routine purchasing.

Because of significant elevation differences on campus, efforts to make the campus more bike friendly have had limited success. However, a partnership with the Allegany County Transit System allows students to ride transit buses by showing their FSU student ID. This provides a heavily used alternatives to private cars for student travel near campus, in the local community, and to regional shopping centers.

The University's use of the Blackboard class management system was designed to facilitate online instruction. However, it has proven effective in reducing paper associated with face to face classes as well. The University hopes to make all SUST courses paperless next year.

The University has two carefully designed rain gardens--one associated with a new LEED certified building, and one with an older building. In addition, the University has taken active steps to reduce parking lot run-off into Sand Spring as it crosses campus.

Students in the Parks and Recreation undergraduate and graduate programs focus on coordination and planning. Student research projects often involve

Frostburg State has made substantial strides in this area. The number of international students on campus reached an all-time record for the 2015-2016 academic year, but will likely be exceeded next year. More than one-third of the freshman class will be minority students. The university continues to enroll a notable number of first generation students, and support these students through a variety of centers and programs.

This is an area of some concern. Wellness programs provided by the state do reach many faculty and staff. For students, extensive programing related to drugs and alcohol are provided, with some surveys suggesting a reduction in student alcohol use over the last few years.

FOCUS Frostburg is FSU's annual Day of Learning on sustainability and climate awareness that is free and open to FSU students, faculty, staff, and the community. Students from many departments give both poster and oral presentations of their sustainability related research. This allows community members to learn more about the research occuring at FSU and gives students invaluable opportunity to present and interact in a professional setting. An annual Arbor Day declaration and tree planting gets students, faculty, and community members involved directly in sustainable actions on campus.