| Overall Rating | Bronze - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 29.05 |
| Liaison | Elizabeth Masuen |
| Submission Date | March 31, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Metropolitan Community College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.00 / 4.00 |
Sally
Hopley Coordinator of Sustainable Practices Campus Planning and Sustainability |
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 | No |
| Buildings | No |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes |
| Energy | No |
| Grounds | Yes |
| Purchasing | No |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | No |
| Diversity & Affordability | No |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | No |
| Investment | No |
| Public Engagement | No |
| Other | No |
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:
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:
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:
Our Dining Services/Food is highlighted by our Institute for the Culinary Arts which houses our culinary and hospitality program as well as our Sage Student Bistro. The bistro is open to the public during the academic year to provide hospitality students a chance to interact in a real restaurant setting while our culinary students prepare the meals. This has been a great collaboration with the programs and has been very well received by the public for offering quality meals at reasonable prices and great service.
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:
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:
MCC's Fort Omaha Campus is part of the Statewide Nebraska Arboretum program. The arboretum designation is a great benefit to our horticulture students as they are able to find a wide variety of specimens to study and incorporate into their work. This has also allowed the students with ample opportunities to host informational walking tours, Ambassadors for Earth Day, and really gives them a chance to learn more about the different species in depth and share that knowledge with the surrounding community.
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:
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:
MCC has a location primarily focused on transportation, our Automotive Technology Center (ATC) and the students have been actively using campus fleet vehicles as learning tools. Through a grant, ATC students were able to convert some of our standard vehicles to CNG vehicles. We have since increased our use of and purchase of additional CNG vehicles based on their project.
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:
Both our Horticulture and Culinary programs use a compost station built by horticulture students. The compost station is used by culinary students to dispose of kitchen waste that was created during lectures or meal prep for Sage Student Bistro. The horticulture students can then use the compost for our garden beds. Having this closed-loop cycle encourages students to consider the cost and environmental benefits in a way that is not part of their typical program. In addition, it also assists in teaching our students the benefits of knowing where food comes from and the growing process - something the culinary and hospitality students can share with diners at the Sage Student Bistro.
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:
MCC has a green roof rain shelter and bioretention garden that was built in partnership with the City of Omaha. The green roof rain shelter allows students to learn about water collection and reusing in the garden areas. The bioretention garden provides students the opportunity to see the current bioretention garden and develop ways for improvement for other potential sites on campus and within the community. It provides hands on learning, including plantings, and best management practices to our students which they can then implement into their course projects occurring within the community and work outside of the classroom.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
The website URL where information about the institution’s campus as a living laboratory program or projects is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.