Luther College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Students in Environmental Studies 485 (Senior Seminar) have conducted surveys and worked on strategies to engage the campus community around issues of climate change and sustainability. In addition, campus engagement projects are included in both Environmental Studies 185 (EmPowering the Future) and Philosophy 140 (Environmental Philosophy).

Students in ENVS 250, Sustainability, Systems, and Solutions, in Spring 2021, worked on a project with the City of Decorah to engage the public around community composting. They conducted a survey of community residents and completed a pilot project. Their results were presented to the City Sustainability Commission with recommendations for how to further engage the community to achieve a municipal composting system.

ENVS 485 students studied Luther’s Climate Action Plan with a focus on different paths for the transition away from fossil fuels. Environmental Studies students are working with Professor Laura Peterson to study the carbon sequestration potential of campus natural areas as well as to understand air pollution issues in Decorah.

Four ENVS 250 students presented a report on their research and recommendations on aspects of sustainable procurement, which include office supplies, custodial and paper products and electronics for campus buildings. Three students in Environmental Philosophy conducted a study of accessibility of campus buildings and presented recommendations for improvements to make all campus buildings more inclusive of students with limited mobility.

Sustainability Educators in the Center for Sustainable Communities and Green Teams in six resident halls work with students on energy education and ways to reduce energy usage in the dorms.

Three students serve on the Energy & Water Task Force of Luther College's Sustainability Council. The Energy and Water Task Group has been monitoring Luther’s carbon emissions and working on a proposal to shift the campus off of natural gas as its heating fuel.

Students in both Environmental Philosophy and ENVS 250 have researched various aspects of sustainability in campus dining and developed recommendations for ways to reduce the impact of food purchases as well as reducing food waste.

Eight to ten students are hired every year as Garden Crew workers to help plan, plant, and manage the campus farm. All food from the campus farm is sold to Sodexo to be served in the cafeteria.

Luther College Dining Services has a student group, Food Council, that meets weekly to discuss how to make positive change in our campus food systems.

Two Luther students serve on the Sustainable Foods task group of the Sustainability Council. This group is tracking percentages of local food as well as diner preferences and awareness of local food.

Students in several biology and environmental studies courses do research projects related to sustainability of the Luther College campus. Biology 250, Restoration and Conservation Biology, does campus projects that focus on invasive species and ecological restoration projects every spring.

The Land Stewardship program hires up to eight student interns each year to assist with projects from trail maintenance and development to invasive species management.

Two students serve on the Land Stewardship Committee. The Land Use Committee is concerned with issues related to the use and management of Luther's 1000 acres and comes together to make decisions and review proposals related to central campus and natural areas.

Four sophomore Sustainability Scholars developed a project to restore a pollinator garden on campus through burning and planting.

Students in ENVS 250 have worked with Facilities Management and the Center for Sustainable Communities on purchasing related to the college fleet. They have modeled and presented different scenarios for incorporating electric vehicles into the college fleet.

Students connected to the Center for Sustainable Communities have assisted with research on recycled paper, comparing different options for the percent of recycled content in copier paper. This information was shared with the Document Center and the Sustainability Council to assist with purchasing decisions.

Students in ENVS 250 have completed projects that focused on Electric Vehicle charging and EVs in the Luther fleet. In addition to looking at EVs at Luther, 250 students also completed an analysis of the EV charging system in Northeast Iowa where Luther is the largest employer.
ENVS students annually calculate the carbon footprint of January off-campus travel and report that to the Center for Global Learning. Students in Environmental Philosophy have analyzed scenarios for reducing emissions from study away travel.

Students in Environmental Philosophy researched the possibility of reducing single use plastics and plastic straws in campus eating establishments. They explored the feasibility of various alternatives including financial incentives and alternatives to single use plastics.

Sustainability Educators in the Center for Sustainable Communities and Green Teams in six residence halls work with students on waste education and ways to increase recycling and composting and reduce waste on campus.

While students are involved in activities related to water at Luther College, these aren't part of organized formal academic research. Here is how students are involved:

Three students serve on the Energy & Water Task Force of Luther College's Sustainability Council. The Energy and Water Task Group promotes sustainability by looking at Luther's energy and water usage and seeking ways to reduce the use of these resources.

While students are involved in coordination and planning activities at Luther College, these aren't part of organized formal academic research. Here is how students are involved:

Students participated in the development of a new vision statement for the Center for Sustainable Communities.

Additionally, students serve on both the Sustainability Council and its sub-committees (or task groups). There is also one student leader appointed as the Sustainability Representative on Student Senate.

Numerous classes and student groups have worked on diversity issues on campus. Specific courses include “The Color of Change” and “Systems of Power.”

Anthropology professor Anita Carrasco received a research award from Luther's Center for Ethics and Public Engagement focused on Latinx experiences on campus--several students worked with her on the project.

Also, Scott Hurley Charlotte Ann Kunkel are part of a Face grant (ACM) focused on diversity mapping--or student belonging re: Luther campus spaces--they have 6 students working with them on that project. There is often a senior paper or two in Sociology on diversity. And in spring 2021, they had many projects on disability and/or sexuality in a course taught by Kunkel (featuring lectures titled "Medicalizing Normal" and "Queering Sexualities").

While students are involved in investment and finance activities at Luther College, these aren't part of organized formal academic research. Here is how students are involved:

Three students serve on the Responsible Investment Advisory Committee to provide an avenue for discussing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investment practices for the Luther College endowment.

Students in the Health Program program are working with the Human Resources office to research options for improving the wellbeing of faculty, staff, and students on campus.

Social Work 185 is designed to introduce students to current theories, research and practice in the field of crisis intervention with interpersonal violence, with specific focus on the area of family violence. Crisis intervention strategies with respect to people who have been physically, sexually, and emotionally abused will be covered in this course. An introduction to assessment and intervention skills for working with individuals and families from diverse backgrounds will be emphasized. This includes interventions with family members, as well as community level interventions that are culturally appropriate. This course will prepare students to serve as volunteers on the crisis line for the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Resource Center.