Overall Rating	Gold
Overall Score	66.23
Liaison	Jody Jones
Submission Date	March 18, 2024

STARS v2.2

Mount Royal University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status	Score	Responsible Party
	3.20 / 4.00	Jorden Dye Program Admin IES

"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Campus Engagement

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:

Around campus, multiple areas have been developed to increase the sustainability of the campus while providing students and faculty areas to engage. A pollinator pathway program was developed by MRU faculty and grounds the program has focused on making MRU a safe campus for native bee species. Student engagement has been a focus since the creation of the program "The educational component is huge. We're changing people's views of what a landscape should look like," explains Pisicoli. "A manicured lawn has no ecological value.".

Public Engagement

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:

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Air & Climate

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:

Gwen O'Sullivan, Associate Professor in Environmental Science, researches Environmental Forensics specifically related to persistent organic pollutants. She also teaches an Air Quality and Air Pollution Monitoring classes to Mount Royal Students. The Air Pollution Monitoring class combines lectures and laboratories to examine the methods used to monitor pollutants emitted to the atmosphere. Laboratory exercises use these methods to monitor pollutants throughout Mount Royal University campus.

Buildings

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:

Mount Royal University's campus greenhouse is used by students in the Faculty of Science to conduct research regarding plant science. Students use the greenhouse for a variety of reasons including class projects, capstone projects, and research.

Biology classes use the greenhouse to learn about plant science including life cycle and environmental impacts.

Capstone projects and research are chosen by students, often in their third or fourth year of study, projects within the greenhouse include biodiversity and food security issues.

Energy

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:

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Food & Dining

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:

Mount Royal University along with a faculty member in the Nursing department, Sonya Jakubec, at MRU manage the campus's community garden project. This project aims to help educate the community on sustainable food practices. Students volunteer to help take care of the community garden which is located near the East Residence on Campus. Students learn about food security and how to tend to a garden and engage with community members.

Grounds

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:

Purchasing

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:

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Transportation

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:

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Waste

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:

General Education class (GNED 1304) created a platform that used SnapChat videos and a points system to determine what waste goes in each bin. Students would send videos to Mount Royal University's waste collection team (Environmental Services) and they would reply if the student was using the proper waste bin. Students used this information to serve as a test population to determine the level of knowledge related to disposal of items used by students daily.

Water

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:

Ken Cummings, Associate Professor in Environmental Science, teaches a course each year called Water Pollution and Surface Water Analysis. In this course students learn how to conduct water samples and scan for water quality including pH, acidity, alkalinity, residual chlorine, hardness, etc.

Lab exercises include monitoring the pond at Mount Royal University for each quality parameter and assessing the overall health of the water. Data is collected yearly from each class and incorporated in lecture and laboratory material.

Coordination & Planning

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:

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Diversity & Affordability

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:

Students in the Human Resources department completed capstone projects to help promote and foster a health work environment at Mount Royal University. One of the projects assessed employment equity, diversity and inclusion practices at Mount Royal University. This project advances sustainability within the Diversity & Affordability section by giving students real world experience as well as advancing a number of initiatives at Mount Royal University. Findings from these projects have contributed Mount Royal's new recruitment strategy and employee benefits, flexibility, and value.

Investment & Finance

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance?:

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:

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Wellbeing & Work

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:

Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:

Mount Royal University Shannon Kell, PhD (Faculty of Health, Community and Education) in partnership with Facilities Management and Health Campus Team conducted surveys and researched what students think of Mount Royal University's learning spaces and how campus spaces promote and support student well-being. Professor Kell teaches in the Education program and encourages her students to incorporate outdoor time as part of their own classrooms when they graduate. The results of her research will be used to improve the spaces on campus and to inform other institutions for facility planning. www.mru.ca/seek

Optional Fields

Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program 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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