Overall Rating	Silver - expired
Overall Score	56.42
Liaison	Kate Witte
Submission Date	May 25, 2017
Executive Letter	Download

STARS v2.1

Keene State College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	4.00 / 4.00	Cary Gaunt Director of Campus Sustainability 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:

The Nora Traviss laboratory in the Environmental Studies Department at Keene State College conducts a wide variety of student research on the effects of biodiesel using Keene State's biodiesel fleet for investigative research: https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncer_abstracts/index.cfm/fuseaction/display.abstractDetail/abstract/8628/report/0

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:

The Keene State College LEED Platinum certified TDS (Technology, Design, and Safety) is designed to be a learning lab for the campus community as a whole, and especially the sustainability themed majors it houses: Architecture, Sustainable Product Design and Innovation, and Safety, Occupational Health Applied Sciences. See: http://www.keene.edu/featured/tds/

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:

During the spring of 2014, the Energy Coordinator worked with Dr. Nora Travis’s students on a semester-long, office plug load survey and reduction effort in KSC’s E&G buildings. This was a senior project that concentrated on electric usage in staff and faculty offices in Hale and Parker Buildings, where many folks have their offices. The Energy Office was linked closely to this report to help the students determine their sample size, provide access and interface with KSC staff and faculty, and to review some of the raw data. Students made recommendations for reducing plug loads and did a report and presentation to the general 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:

Keene State College classes routinely support the Eco-Reps, Dining Commons staff, and Sustainability Office in conducting and analyzing the results of food waste audits. See EN-5 for additional information.

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:

In several of the last few semesters, groups of students from the Safety Studies program have done safety assessments of the Grounds crews and their various functions. They have made suggestions for improving working spaces, as well as storage and ergonomic suggestions. Many of those suggestions have been incorporated into the day-to-day routines of the Grounds department. Students in the Athletic Training program also conduct research on the student recycling staff. This includes monitoring their daily tasks using a Fit Bit and questionnaire and then making recommendations on how to improve the program.

Purchasing

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

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?:

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:

As described under the Air and Climate section, the Traviss Laboratory engages student research on Keene State College's bio-diesel maintenance fleet.

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:

The Recycling Office worked with Graphic Design students and and Environmental Studies student to assess and develop better recycling signage Different styles were evaluated and the best design was implemented into the Recycling/Waste Management program.

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:

The Ashuelot River borders the campus and innumerable Environmental Studies and Geography classes conduct research centered on the river.

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:

Senior Management students worked with the Office of Sustainability to conduct extensive surveys and focus groups of Keene State College students on their sustainability priorities. This was an instrumental part of an overall sustainability strategic planning effort.

Diversity & Affordability

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

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Investment & Finance

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

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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:

Students in the American Democracy Project classes have been involved in an array of research to explore the issue of economic inequality, both in our neighborhoods and on the national stage.

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:

KSC is a member of Monadnock 2020, which is a community wide project to make Cheshire County the healthiest community in NH by 2020. This project encourages KSC employees to be physically active using a unique collaboration of students, staff, and faculty. This project utilizes health-focused students that were mentored by exercise science majors. This pilot project introduces motivational strategies and behavior change methods to help create and establish healthier lifestyles.

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)?:

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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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The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.