Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 48.76
Liaison James Speer
Submission Date Feb. 26, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

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

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 James Speer
Professor
Earth and Environmental Sciences
"---" 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:
Every Spring semester we have our ENVI 460: Conservation and Sustainability class with over 30 students study ISU and develop individual research projects on many different aspects of campus and community sustainability. We use ISU and the Wabash Valley as a living laboratory where our research projects work to improve the quality of life in the local community. We also have guest speakers from many facilities departments speak in the class and the class usually talks to them about sustainability on campus related to their projects which leads to real changes on campus. Other classes also take on sustainability aspects of campus to be studied each semester. These are some of the example titles of projects from the ENVI460 class in this category: Indoor air pollution Light Pollution

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:
These are some of the example titles of projects from the ENVI460 class in this category: White board versus chalk board cost benefit ISU Flight School carbon footprint analysis LED Lighting Technologies for ISU Volatile Organic Compound’s effects and the education of the community Tiny houses HVAC Sustainability: Solar-Assisted Air-Conditioning Waste Building Materials Greenroof versus solar panels on a grocery/housing project Qualitative and quantitative research on eco villages around the globe

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:
These are some of the example titles of projects from the ENVI460 class in this category: Ryves Neighborhood energy audits Ryves Hall solar panels Oil spill location and causes Energy cap to reduce energy use in residence halls Residence hall energy savings and behavior Solar powered campus Fracking and the environment ISU Geothermal Electricity Use at ISU: A Correlation Between Electricity Use and Population Size Methane Production at ISU by Anaerobic Digestion Renewables in Costa Rica and possibly other countries Wind speed around Campus. How much energy could we produce and is it economical? Lifecycle of Coal versus Natural Gas The effect of energy production on wildlife Average Terre Haute houses power consumption and finding green energy sources that can be applied to it. Our students have examined the possibility of installing a solar array on campus over multiple years. Their work has helped to inform facilities and the administration about the possibility of bringing more alternative energy to campus.

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:
These are some of the example titles of projects from the ENVI460 class in this category: Going trayless Garbology Food waste at Sycamore Towers

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:
These are some of the example titles of projects from the ENVI460 class in this category: Sustainable Water Systems and Their Effect on Storm Water Drainage Soil testing in a grid across the ecovillage site Effect of outdoor recreation on the appreciation of nature Trash in parks Students from this course and other Environmental courses utilize the ISU Community Garden to collect information about ground chemicals, invasive species, and various other related issues.

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:
These are some of the example titles of projects from the ENVI460 class in this category: Normalize reusables ISU Fluorescent versus LED cost benefit of transition An applied marketing course partnered with the Office of Sustainability and the FMA student organization to create a detailed marketing strategy for a re-use store on campus.

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:
These are some of the example titles of projects from the ENVI460 class in this category: Bicycle Friendly Campus Environmental impact of travel Gas, Hybrid, Pure Electric, and Hydrogen Concept, Vehicles Asphalt pavement versus concrete, previous pavement, and solar roadways SPIN Bike data from Fall 2017 A student project started the conversation that lead to our current Enterprise Car Share program on campus that is succeeding well.

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:
These are some of the example titles of projects from the ENVI460 class in this category: Recycling in the residence halls Garbology Paper towel versus hand towel driers Recycling at the Village Quarter Recycling at ISU and in apartments Recycling in their frat house with survey of people about recycling The Office of Sustainability also partners with a Nutrition & Dietics class to collect waste from the dining halls during specific periods and weigh it. The class utilizes this information to produce a research project at the end of the semester.

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:
These are some of the example titles of projects from the ENVI460 class in this category: Economic and environmental sustainability using the Wabash River in Terre Haute Grey water use at the Towers Water chemistry and nutrients in fish farming with Greener Scenes Aquaponics water evaporation

Coordination & Planning 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
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 Coordination & Planning:
These are some of the example titles of projects from the ENVI460 class in this category: A Content Analysis of Sustainability Articles by the ISU Office of Communications and Marketing Recycled benches on campus or possibly recycled glass Bottle policies to improve recoverable recyclables in Michigan compared to Indiana We have had a number of students examine sustainability marketing at ISU which helps to inform the Office of Sustainability about how well they are reaching the students and public with their message. Our students have provided input for sustainability planning at ISU, have developed an activism club on campus, and have also protested some actions by the administration that were not sustainable.

Diversity & Affordability 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
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 Diversity & Affordability:
These are some of the example titles of projects from the ENVI460 class in this category: Conservation and poverty Gender differences in recycling in residence halls

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:
Business Cafe Alternative financing situations. How much a sustainable farm would cost to operate.

Public Engagement 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Public Engagement?:
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 Public Engagement:
The intersections between sustainability curriculum, horticulture, nutrition, and cultural competence are practiced each day at Indiana State University in the Community Garden. The leading problem of student-led gardens is that the vast majority of students leave through the summer months and cannot commit time or effort to the garden when it needs the most tending as crops come into fruition. The ISU garden does not have a substantial lull in numbers through the summer months as its primary constituents are community members. This scenario creates an added benefit that as the garden successfully functions throughout the year on its own but allows students to obtain experiential learning through working, volunteering, or through school projects that can be utilized in the spring and fall semesters when the student populace is back at the university. The ISU Community Garden concept has a third benefit in that students, faculty and staff who come to work, visit, or learn also get to connect with the larger community through conversation and interactions between diverse populations. ENVI 460 Topics: EcoVillage ecological footprint analysis with thoughts on ecotourism Early childhood education and gardens

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:
These are some of the example titles of projects from the ENVI460 class in this category: Environmental effect on psychological wellbeing Greening prisons Fitness and sustainability Alkaline hydrolysis: A Green Alternative to Cremation Meditation and Environmental Concern Rain barrels on campus In patient and nursing home care and waste

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:
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Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
https://catalog.indstate.edu/preview_course_nopop.php?catoid=24&coid=66667

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