Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 70.14
Liaison Aaron Durnbaugh
Submission Date Feb. 27, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

Loyola University Chicago
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Aaron Durnbaugh
Director of Sustainability
Office of Sustainability
"---" 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:
Students have assisted with every Greenhouse Gas Inventory since 2011. Specific outcomes include public presentations on total emissions, athletics department tracking and an in-depth internship program with the Field Museum on campus adaptation to climate change.

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:
Many examples but the most sizable was a project with Argonne Labs, SCB Architects and Elara Engineering to consider Cuneo and Dumbach Hall funded by Dept. of Energy ($500,000). https://issuu.com/solomoncordwellbuenz/docs/dumbach

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:
Students are involved in a variety of energy projects from energy tracking, monitoring and competitions to renewable energy projects including exercise equipment and wind and wave power feasibility. A current initiative is advancing large scale photovoltaic implementation on facility rooftops. In summer of 2016, four students conducted room-level energy audits for over 2 million square feet of facilities to inform an Energy Master Plan.

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:
Solutions to Environmental Problems - Food course has partnered with Aramark Dining track local purchasing, explore certification for on-campus food production and organized the Loyola Farmer's Market (now in its 6th season).

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:
Students have mapped trees and calculated carbon sequestration, edible landscaping, and native landscaping. They have evaluated stormwater performance of the landscape and irrigation water consumption.

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:
Student projects have looked at the purchasing of sustainable certified office supplies and information technology equipment. The outcome was a green IT policy and a modified vendor RFP process.

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:
Student projects include evaluating the impacts of idling shuttle buses, starting and running the on-campus bike shop and rental program, ChainLinks, and a series of transportation workshops on safe bike commuting and public transit utilization.

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:
Students work closely with Facilities and Residence Life to support recycling and composting programs on campus. They provide presentations to student groups and conduct outreach through the dining halls. Worm composting and landscape composting programs are both run by students as is an end of year green move out program, Think Green and Give.

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:
Students have tracked water consumption at Loyola for the last few years and suggested recommendations to facilities and residence life. Loyola received a grant that worked with students in the IES and Psychology to conduct a research project comparing retrofits to behavior change campaign in residence halls leading to multiple publications. A campaign regarding water access and privatization inspired the University to install over 70 water bottle refill stations, a successful campus-wide resolution to ban the sale of bottled water and the University to phase out the sale in all dining services, catering and vending services.

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 United Student Government Association (now Student Government of Loyola Chicago) added a Chief Sustainability Officer in 2012 and a $50,000 sustainability fund (The Green Initiative Fund) was passed by the student body in 12-13 and implemented in 2013. For this year's STARS submission two different courses assisted in the data collection engaging 50+ students.

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:
Students have led the way in increasing diversity resources on campus including Alternative Break Immersions, Social Justice Dinners and a concerted effort around undocumented students access to education. One other outcome is the 'Unity in Diversity' Fund to support diversity and social justice initiatives.

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:
A current Sustainable Investment Policy (SIP) campaign led by the Student Environmental Alliance is advocating for the university to address its endowment. This effort, as well as a complimentary effort by faculty, led to the adoptions of a set of Responsible and Sustainable Investing Principles in the official Investment Policy and Guidelines. The university has taken a number of shareholder actions regarding issues of sustainability, namely mountaintop removal mining, coal power plants, fracking, water access and human rights.

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 student newspaper, The Phoenix, has a regular sustainability section highlighting projects and current issues in sustainability.

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:
Student activities have focused on encouraging healthy living through active transportation and food choices. Other initiatives from nursing students led to walking challenges, outreach around substance abuse and regular outreach to surrounding communities at our seasonal farmers market.

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)?:
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 other areas:
Student efforts have focused on the specific intersection of buildings impact on biodiversity. This has led to modified building operations reducing the number of migratory birds injuring or killing themselves by crashing into our buildings. A number of computer science students have formed a student org that has conducted 'Hack-a-thons' analyzing operational data for trends and sustainability opportunities.

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://www.luc.edu/sustainability/campus/focus_areas/culture/

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.