| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 60.65 |
| Liaison | Michael Amadori |
| Submission Date | March 5, 2021 |
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Michael
Amadori Sustainability Manager Office of Sustainability |
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:
Topic: Sustainable Apparel Sourcing at the Campus Bookstore (2017)
Course/Program: Sustainable Living and Learning Community (FSEM 078)
Description: A complete inventory and audit of the clothing sold at the campus store is being conducted, including research on vendors and clothing companies. The project will help identify alternative vendor choices to ensure fair labor practices and environmentally sound manufacturing of clothes that the store sells. Currently, the store provides caps, gowns, and other apparel made of 100% recycled materials and works with brands, including Alta Garcia, that follow Fair Labor practices.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:
Topic: Rethink Castle Street (2018)
Course/Program: Sustainable Community Development (ENV 402)
Description: Students analyzed the assets of and challenges in the Castle Street Corridor, they sought feedback from residents and community leaders and these recommendations ultimately shaped their designs to increase gathering spaces and spur revitalization, improve pedestrian safety and accessibility to downtown, galvanize community pride and boost both environmental awareness and civic engagement.
https://www.hws.edu/academics/pdf/accessible_communities.pdf
Topic: Geneva Foundry Zone StoryMap (2017)
Course/Program: Senior Integrative Experience (ENV 300)
Description: A team of students work with the local community about a contaminated area of land in Geneva, NY known as the Foundry Zone. The project helped educate local residents about the historical background for the contamination, possible arsenic and lead issues in their surrounding neighborhood, provided answers/updates to the remediation efforts, and suggestions for how to get healthy food. Their final report is available for public reference
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
Topic: Installation of energy saving devices on vending machines (2019)
Course/Program: Campus Sustainability (ENV 110)
Description: The class worked on a semester-long project to implement an energy saving measure on campus. First, vending machines had kill-a-watt meters installed over a 4-week period to determine energy use. Based on location, foot traffic, and energy used the number of machines was narrowed down and Vending Misers were installed which turned off the machines based on a motion sensor. The kill-a-watt meters were used for an additional 4-weeks to calculate savings. Finally, a financial payback analysis was performed.
Topic: Heat Recovery Ventilators and Air Source Heat Pump Options for Campus Buildings (Spring 2017)
Course/Program: Sustainable Living and Learning Community (FSEM 078)
Description: Students are examining the technology, cost, and installation considerations for thermal efficiency projects, such as HRVs and air source heat pumps. The research was completed and an action plan for specifically targeted buildings will be developed and proposed to the Facilities Department.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
Topic: Real Food Inventory (2015-2019)
Course/Program: Real Food Inventory Internship
Description: The HWS Real Food Inventory intern supported, managed, and administered the Real Food Challenge at HWS by conducting the RFC Calculator. The student, through calculation and analysis, determined the current status of procurement and sourcing of food on campus. This student also developed recommendations and strategies for increasing the percentage of local, healthy, fair, and sustainably sourced food by HWS and Sodexo Dining in the future.
Topic: Food Waste Reduction (2018)
Course/Program: Sustainability Living and Learning Community (FSEM 078)
Description: The team looked at food waste behaviors in the dining hall and had conversations with the dining hall manager that resulted in posters as an attempt to help students eliminate food waste. These posters were almost statistically significant in showing a reduction in food waste. A longer testing period and increased data collection are necessary to fully evaluate the impact.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
Topic: Henry Hanley Biological Field Preserve (Annually)
Course/Program: Biology and Geoscience Courses
Description: The Colleges' 108-acre wildlife refuge close to nearby Cayuga Lake offers students an area for ecological studies. The area has been developed and preserved as a wildlife sanctuary. The preserve, located about 20 miles from campus, has over 40 ponds, a deciduous forest, cultivated fields, old fields, swamps, a stream, and numerous other habitats. It is inhabited by waterfowl, a deer herd, beaver, muskrats, coyotes, foxes, and many birds, reptiles and amphibians. The Richard Ryan Field Laboratory building was opened on the preserve in 1994 and provides a location for lecture and laboratory activities.
https://www2.hws.edu/establishing-the-dr-richard-a-ryan-endowed-fund/
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
Topic: Campus EV replacement (2019)
Course/Program: Campus Sustainability (ENV 110)
Description: A student group worked on a project proposal to replace HWS grounds trucks, campus safety cars, and passenger vans with electric models to reduce carbon emissions on campus and to provide more sustainable transportation. Cost of purchase and cost of operation were used to determine payback timeframe and savings.
Topic: Electric Car Promotional Initiative (2017)
Course/Program: Sustainable Living and Learning Community (FSEM 078)
Description: A team of students sought to reduce fossil fuel impacts as a result of faculty/staff transportation during daily commute by promoting the use of electric cars. This would be done through a multifaceted initiative that includes educating faculty and staff on the impact that electric cars has on the environment. By providing subsidies for purchasing these vehicles. And increasing accessibility to charging stations on campus.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
Topic: Waste Sorting and Student Outreach (2020)
Course/Program: Sustainability Interns and EcoReps
Description: Interns were responsible for hosting tabling events where students could practice their skills in sorting and managing waste. Students were also guided in weekly events to demonstrate proper trash sorting skills. To help educate the public, students were quizzed on their recycling and compost skills with correct answers revealed at the end to increase awareness and education levels regarding waste management. A follow up online quiz was sent to all participants as a way to gauge learning before and after participation.
Topic: Waste Sorting at HWS Dining Facilities (2017)
Course/Program: Sustainable Living and Learning Community (FSEM 078)
Description: This team focused on waste sorting on campus. They conducted an observational study, focused on behavior change research and messaging, and designed napkin dispenser inserts to promote improved waste sorting through education. Several waste audits were performed in public areas of campus to raise awareness about what we were doing and why.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
Topic: Year of Water (2019-2020)
Course/Program: Finger Lakes Institute
Description: A year-long initiative to celebrate the work that has been done to protect the Seneca Lake watershed. A variety of interdisciplinary events, both on campus and in the community, promote the importance of water and Seneca Lake to the region. Several courses from a variety of departments altered their curriculum to have a focus of water throughout the year.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
Topic: Cooper's Woods (2020)
Course/Program: Senior Integrated Experience (ENV 400)
Description: Through a donation in Summer 2020, 27 acres of land adjacent to the Colleges' arts campus was recently acquired. This land was examined over a semester-long project to develop a plan for use of the land. Ideas include opening a network of trails to develop an area for outdoor recreation for the public in addition to research on the surrounding wildlife. This plan is outlined in a storymap (link below) taught the students the steps for analyzing baseline conditions, coordinating with the local municipality as well as neighbors on ideas and regulations, and planning future land use opportunities. The dynamics and difficulties of coordinating and planning a large-scale project with many stakeholders was present throughout this project.
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/75c3c8265614414b99119ea703a47174
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
Topic: Mosaic NY (Spring 2014 - present)
Course/Program: Department of Theatre
Description: Mosaic NY is Hobart and William Smith Colleges’ ongoing social justice theatre company. The group draws on the lives and experiences of the individuals in the company as source material for its productions. The collaborative theatre project, as written in its mission statement, “is devoted to creating and performing works of theatre that promote dialogue, develop community, celebrate diversity, and encourage the active pursuit of social justice. Mosaic NY believes that theatre provides an ideal forum for exploring diversity and social justice by engaging audiences and performers in an empathetic and imaginative exploration of shared narrative.”
http://www.hws.edu/academics/theatre/mosaic.aspx
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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