Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 42.59
Liaison Catherine Lockhart
Submission Date June 30, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Lawrence University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Jeff Clark
Professor
Geology
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Is the institution utilizing the campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in the following areas?:
Yes or No
Air & Climate Yes
Buildings ---
Dining Services/Food Yes
Energy Yes
Grounds Yes
Purchasing ---
Transportation Yes
Waste Yes
Water Yes
Coordination, Planning & Governance Yes
Diversity & Affordability Yes
Health, Wellbeing & Work Yes
Investment Yes
Public Engagement Yes
Other ---

A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Air & Climate and the positive outcomes associated with the work:

Student independent study on carbon accounting helped us establish our baseline CO2 emissions.


A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Buildings and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Dining Services/Food and the positive outcomes associated with the work:

Bon Appetit, the Lawrence University Dining Service Company, uses fresh produce directly from the Sustainable Lawrence University Garden that is all student run through a combination of student volunteers and a course on Sustainable Agriculture offered every other year.


A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Energy and the positive outcomes associated with the work:

The solar panels are on top of student dorms and the energy meters show how much energy students are using. Student independent study projects brought one array to campus and also a wind turbine. Data is used in Environmental Science and Physics courses.


A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Grounds and the positive outcomes associated with the work:

There is a riverwalk that was initiated by students a long the Fox River with signs talking about the history of the river and its people. This was designed and implemented by students in an offering of our Symposium on Environmental Topics class. That same topics class also explored and ultimately developed a 1/4 acre organic garden on campus that is now largely maintained by a student group. Fresh produce is included in dining services meals and we take all kitchen waste for composting.


A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Purchasing and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Transportation and the positive outcomes associated with the work:

The enterprise car encourages sharing of rides as do the bikes in the front of our Warch Campus Center. Both programs grew out of independent studies and coursework.


A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Waste and the positive outcomes associated with the work:

Pre-consumer waste is composted by students in the garden and post-consumer waste is donated to local food pantries by the student run club called Lawrence University Food recovery. We have also run course on solid waste management through which we explored what is in our waste (how much could be recycled or composted) and how to better manage it.


A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Water and the positive outcomes associated with the work:

There are no plastic water bottles sold on campus, so you see many people with reusable water bottles. This is part of a student government initiative which also grew out of an independent study project.


A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Coordination, Planning & Governance and the positive outcomes associated with the work:

The Environmental Responsibility Committee (ERC) is a group of students that oversee all the other environmentally focused groups on campus and represent them at the general council meetings of our students government. The leader of ERC is appointed by the student government called Lawrence University Community Council. Students also serve on the physical planning committee and curriculum committees.


A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Diversity & Affordability and the positive outcomes associated with the work:

The Diversity Center aims to "ensure a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students, specifically students from diverse backgrounds, to be able to thrive at Lawrence University personally, socially, and academically. This will be achieved through education, conversation, and celebration that embrace culture and identity in oneself and others." We recently hired a new Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion who has provided a number of interactive fora for discussion of diversity issues.


A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Health, Wellbeing & Work and the positive outcomes associated with the work:

The Wellness Center at Lawrence "combines student Health and Counseling Services with recreational, leisure, fitness and wellness programs, making this a one-stop resource center."


A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Investment and the positive outcomes associated with the work:

Every student is required to pay a $5 sustainability that goes towards a fund that can only be invested into projects that are sustainability focused. Students administer the fund, vet proposals and decide how to invest the money.


A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Public Engagement and the positive outcomes associated with the work:

Environmental Studies major requirement includes 50 hours of public engagement outside of classwork. We also bring 3-4 speakers a year to share their perspective on sustainability topics as par of our annual Environmental Symposium.


A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory in Other areas and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
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The website URL where information about the institution’s campus as a living laboratory program or projects is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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