Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.33
Liaison Scott Doyle
Submission Date Nov. 25, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Ithaca College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Rebecca Evans
Campus Sustainability Coordinator
Office of Energy Management and Sustainability
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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:
ENVS courses monitor the campuses energy use and associated greenhouse gas inventory to study contribution and effects to climate change. Total natural gas usage for dormitories are used to calculate the amount of greenhouse gases that were emitted into the atmosphere.

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:
ENVS classes monitor energy use from buildings are used to find greenhouse gas emissions. The Center for Natural Sciences is also used to study heating efficiency and insulation. Digital temperature sensors are used in different parts of the building to find where heat is lost and to observe how different materials conduct heat and how that effects the building's temperature and envelope.

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:
The Environmental Science and Technology course utilizes energy submeters to educate students on phantom load, as well as general energy themes. The Office of Energy Management & Sustainability also provides the College's Circle Apartments with illustrative energy bills, inclusive of electricity and natural usage, in addition to the carbon emissions associated with monthly use in each apartment.

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:
Faculty in the Environmental Studies and Sciences (ENVS) departments research sustainable food systems in on-campus dining halls. Both hydroponic and aquaponic systems grow herbs and other produce to supply the campus dining halls and student meals. Faculty also use the on-campus permaculture garden and four organic gardens to support their courses and provide experiential learning.

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:
Faculty in the ENVS department offer courses and research focused on land management and invasive species monitoring and mitigation. Students learn sustainable land management practices, how to identify and properly remove invasive species, and appropriate ways to re-introduce native species, such as the American Chestnut. Other courses examine the campus's management of wetlands and alternative land-use techniques.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:
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 Purchasing:
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Transportation 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Transportation?:
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 Transportation:
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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:
ENVS classes do a survey of waste. Classes examine trash and recycling locations across campus to see what and how students are discarding their waste. Compost generation is also studied and students take trips to the local composting facility to learn about the breakdown and recycling of nutrients.

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:
ENVS classes experiments with using water from storm drains to grow radishes. Conductivity was monitored for a year to find a baseline and average high and low levels. Plants were then grown with water with several conductivity levels to see effects on growth. Other classes also measure conductivity and pollutants in water from storm drains at several points from across campus.

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:
The Sustainability in 3D Design art course surveys buildings on and off-campus to examine impacts on livability, accessibility, and movement, as well as general themes in architecture and design.

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:
Introduction to Culture and Communications uses modern movies, videos, and readings to help students identify their own inherent biases. Students are unaware at the beginning of the course, but throughout the semester, learn that they are their own case-studies.

Investment & Finance 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Investment & Finance?:
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 Investment & Finance:
The Thomson One software, available in the School of Business Trading Room, gives students all the tools necessary to interpret, analyze, and monitor equities, options, futures, commodities, and other valuable market information. Such sophisticated software allows our faculty to teach courses that give you hands-on experience in securities trading and a deeper understanding of financial markets and trends. And with courses such as the Real Time Portfolio Management class, students gain investment experience by managing an actual stock portfolio using real dollars.

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 course "Civic Engagement Seminar" evaluated food pantries on other college campuses and developed a plan to open a food pantry on the IC campus. Once open, the students then experimented with different marketing methods.

Wellbeing & Work 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
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 Wellbeing & Work:
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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:
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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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