Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 54.23
Liaison Jeff Jeremiason
Submission Date Nov. 30, 2021

STARS v2.2

Gustavus Adolphus College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Jeff Jeremiason
Co-Director of the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation, Professor of Environmental Studies and Chemistry
Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation
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Campus Engagement

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:
ENV-399 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies: A student project is being conducted to create an employee environmental sustainability training for current and new employees. The video they are creating will mirror a similar format as a composting training video created over the summer by student interns. The compost training video coincided with the placement of compost bins in all dormitory rooms and expanded compost containers placed in dormitories and other targeted campus buildings.

Public Engagement 

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:
ENV-399 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies: An earlier student project created a Discover the Outdoors Day which is a day for the public, focused on families with young children, to come out to explore the arboretum and participate in outdoor activities. A 2019 project focused on planning this event. The event utilizes campus student groups to engage and educate fellow students and the public with hands-on and other activities related to learning about the outdoors and environmental protections.

Air & Climate 

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:
ART-244 Art and Climate Change was taught in Spring 2020. Students in the class created and displayed large art pieces in the campus center related to climate impacts. A primary purpose of the class was to raise awareness of the immediate impacts being felt from a changed climate.

Buildings  

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
ENV-399 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies: A group of students was included in LEED certification meetings for a planned expansion of the primary athletic facility at Gustavus. The students had separate meetings with the project architects, learned about how LEED points could be earned and where further points could be gained. The students posted some of their findings on campus TVs in the cafeteria and high traffic areas.

Energy 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
ENV-399 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies: This student project is examining electricity use in individual buildings as collected by electricity monitors and specifically examining electricity declines related to COVID shutdowns. Project goals include identifying base load of buildings when there are no occupants and examining the efficiency of dormitories on a per student basis.

Food & Dining 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
ENV-244 Local Food Production and ENV399 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies student group projects: The Local Food Production class helps prepare our student garden, Big Hill Farm, for the summer student farmers and utilizes the associated greenhouse to grow microgreens and hydroponic lettuce as part of the class.

Grounds 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
ENV-244 Local Food Production: This student project measured carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in the industrial composter at Gustavus. The students identified excess nitrogen in the compost that was leading to poor final compost product. Adding carbon-rich leaves and wood chips has decreased unwanted smells and will hopefully lead to a product that will be used on campus grounds.

Purchasing 

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

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

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:
ENV-399 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies: Multiple projects in the last 3 years have promoted biking and creating a biking-friendly campus. These projects have led to the purchase of e-bikes, a bike reuse program, multiple bike repair stations, new bike racks in new locations, and a shed for bike storage.

Waste 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
ENV-399 Senior Seminar in Environmental Studies: A goal set by Gustavus is to become a Zero Waste campus originated with projects done in this class and several group projects related to composting and examining cardboard, recycling, and solid waste generation have been completed. A current project is planning a year-end rummage sale during move out days, surveying the campus on use of newly placed compost bins in dorms, and promoting composting at off-campus student housing.

Water 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
In ENV120 Geochemistry of the Environment, students collect tap water and water from local lakes, streams, and rivers to analyze for hardness, chloride, and phosphorus as a laboratory project. The City of St Peter provides water to Gustavus and has a reverse osmosis plant which is discussed in the lab. Road salt and phosphorus fertilizers are discussed in relation to chloride and phosphorus measurements.

Coordination & Planning 

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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Diversity & Affordability 

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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Investment & Finance 

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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Wellbeing & Work 

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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Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
https://weekly.blog.gustavus.edu/2021/05/03/12-campus-organizations-collaborate-to-put-on-discover-the-outdoors-event/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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