Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.30
Liaison Dianne Anderson
Submission Date Feb. 7, 2020
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

New York University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.60 / 4.00 Nicholas Liu-Sontag
Manager
Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:

In 2017, NYU students collaborated with Environmental Studies Department faculty member Brendan Noakes and the Office of Energy Engineering to identify potential for solar panel installation by developing a renewable energy feasibility assessment for NYU's buildings. This project led NYU's Office of Energy Engineering to develop an RFP for installing solar panels on the project's recommended rooftop. As a result, NYU will be installing its first rooftop solar array on campus. This project led to students learning about renewable energy, developing energy projects in urban environments, and a collaborative learning experience with faculty, staff, and other students. The installation of the solar panels will also contribute to the University's carbon reduction goals.


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:

NYU faculty member Semiha Ergan and PhD students from the Tandon School of Engineering are engaged in a multidisciplinary and collaborative project with NYU's Office of Capital Projects and Facilities focused on improving demand response programs through analysis of building energy data. The project, in collaboration with utilities, universities, and municipalities, aims to optimize demand management practices using real data for applications in diverse settings. The project is phased into 3 years, and will educate the participants as well as their respective organizations on building energy demand while providing demand flexibility solutions.


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:

NYU operates a 13.4 megawatt cogeneration plant, which provides electricity, heat, as well as hot and cold water to numerous buildings across campus. A PhD candidate in the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, in collaboration with the NYU Office of Energy Engineering, is using the cogeneration plant to prepare an energy system model, and may propose recommendations if improvements are realized. Once completed, the project will provide greater understanding of the cogeneration plant's opportunities for improved functioning and efficiency across the buildings served.


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:

NYU's Urban Farm is maintained by a cohort of students enrolled in the Intro to Urban Agriculture class in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development led by professor Laurel Greyson and supported by work from volunteers. The course is continually offered in the Fall, Spring, and Summer terms. The farm is used year-round for teaching and research about urban agriculture in New York City. A consortium of groups led by the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development's Food Studies program and the Silver Towers Tenants Association received a Green Grant to fund the Urban Farm Lab, which is directed by food studies professors Jennifer Berg and Amy Bentley. An Urban Farm Lab Steering Committee incorporates input from NYU community groups. This group of students, stakeholders, and faculty will collaboratively learn and engage in urban farming, developing new opportunities for sustainable food at NYU.


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:

In the Fall of 2017, a Department of Environmental Studies course, co-taught by NYU's Grounds team, led students to develop a project proposal for green infrastructure on NYU campus grounds. Proposals ranged from incorporating green spaces, reducing stormwater runoff, reimagining campus buildings to incorporate runoff mitigation and green design elements, and utilizing runoff retention to mitigate stormwater runoff impacts. These projects aimed to increase the utilization of green infrastructure on NYU grounds and mitigate NYU's impacts on runoff and flooding related to stormwater.


Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:
No

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:
---

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Transportation?:
No

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:
---

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:

In a Department of Environmental Studies Senior Capstone Seminar in the Fall 2017 semester, a group of 10 NYU students created a "Roadmap to Zero Waste" for the University. Their project culminated in a presentation to the NYU Office of Sustainability. Through their learning efforts on this project, students learned about the University's waste stream, options to reduce waste, and developed strategies for NYU to reduce waste. This collaborative project has helped inform the Office of Sustainability's efforts to reduce waste and improve sustainability.


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:

New York City faces a major challenge of combined sewer overflows during rainfall. This is exacerbated by the high amounts of impervious surface across the city. In the Fall 2017 semester, NYU's Department of Environmental Studies students developed proposals to incorporate runoff mitigation strategies and infrastructure on University buildings. These proposals were taken to NYU's Office of Capital Projects and Facilities for consideration. Through this project, students learned about green infrastructure, runoff issues, and the University's opportunities to mitigate the negative impacts of storm runoff. These proposals will help the University plan and develop more responsive infrastructure in the future.


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:

In his inauguration speech, President Andrew Hamilton committed to making NYU among the greenest urban campuses in the nation. Soon after, Cecil Scheib was appointed as Chief Sustainability Officer in January 2018, the Office of Sustainability launched a crowdsourcing campaign called “Sustainability at NYU” in which over 2,300 students, faculty, staff, and administrators contributed 180 ideas. A Sustainability Advisory Group of students and administrators responsible for major operational units as well as representatives from the University Senate was convened in April 2018 to provide input throughout the review process.

To further develop and implement near-term sustainability initiatives, in September 2018, the Office of Sustainability convened a Sustainability Working Group composed of administrators, faculty, and students with direct expertise in five different areas: Teaching & Research, Engagement, Energy, Water & Health, Food & Waste, and Transportation. This process resulted in a complex, multifaceted list of short-term, actionable sustainability outcomes which involve all aspects of University operations. This process engaged students in the University planning process and encouraged learning and leadership among all participants.

The membership of both these groups is below.

SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY GROUP MEMBERS
Chair
Cecil Scheib
Chief Sustainability Officer, Office of the President

Deans
Cheryl Healton
College of Global Public Health

Faculty
Dale Jamieson
Professor, Environmental Studies, Faculty of Arts and Science

Mary Killilea
Clinical Associate Professor, Biology and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Arts and Science

Niyati Parekh
Associate Professor, College of Global Public Health

Richard Wener
Professor, Technology, Culture and Society, Tandon School of Engineering

Rodrigo Zeidan
Associate Professor of Practice of Business and Finance, NYU Shanghai
Center for Business Education and Research, NYU Shanghai

Students
Amy Diawara
President, College of Global Public Health Graduate Student Council

Meicha Hall
NY Global Representative, Student Government Assembly

Adriana Moreno
Chair, SGA Sustainability Committee

Administrators

Dianne Anderson
Director, Office of Sustainability

Yanoula Athanassakis
Assistant Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Office of the Provost

Lynne Brown
Senior Vice President, University Relations & Public Affairs

Linda Chiarelli
Vice President, Office of Capital Projects and Facilities

Lisa Coleman
Senior Vice President for Global Inclusion, Diversity, and Strategic Innovation

Sabrina Ellis
Vice President, Human Resources

Tracey Gardner
Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the President

John O'Connor
Interim Director, Environmental Health & Safety, NYU Abu Dhabi

Len Peters
Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Information Technology

Stephanie Pianka
Senior Vice President, Finance and Budget and Chief Financial Officer

Juan Tie
First Deputy Director, Public Safety

SUSTAINABILITY WORKING GROUP MEMBERS

TEACHING & RESEARCH
Cybele Raver, Co-Chair
Deputy Provost

Tensie Whelan, Co-Chair
Director, Center for Sustainable Business

Jonathan Chin
M.A. Candidate, Steinhardt

John Gershman
Clinical Professor of Public Service

Tom Igoe
Associate Arts Professor

Beth Kienle-Granzo
University Registrar & AVP of Student Information Systems

Mary Leou
Clinical Professor of Environmental Education

Sophie Rifkin
Senior Associate Director, Center for Sustainable Business

ENGAGEMENT
Charlton Mcilwain, Co-Chair
Vice Provost for Faculty Engagement and Development, Office of the Provost

Arlene Peralta, Co-Chair
Senior Director, Community Engagement, University Relations and Public Affairs
Monroe France
Associate Vice President for Global Student Engagement & Inclusive Leadership

Karan Ganta
Tandon School of Engineering, 2020

Bethany Godsoe
Associate Vice President, Career and Leadership Development

Shonna Keogan
Director, Executive Communications

Eric Loffswold
Associate Director, Learning and Org Development

David Pe
Associate Dean of Students, Student Life

Michael Venturiello
Program Administrator, Center for Student Life

Katrina Wyman
Sarah Herring Sorin Professor of Law, NYU School of Law

ENERGY, WATER & HEALTH
Jennifer Gerdes, Co-Chair
Senior Advisor to the Associate Vice Chancellor of Global Programs

Andrew Repoli, Co-Chair
Director, Construction Management

Brian Burke
Director, Energy Engineering

Jack Caravanos
Clinical Professor, Global and Environmental Health

Gabrielle Mendelsohn
Co-President, EarthMatters; College of Arts and Sciences 2019

Melisa Puglisi
Director, Environmental Health and Safety

Bonny Urban
Category Lead, Procurement

FOOD & WASTE
Tom Ellett, Co-Chair
Senior Associate Vice President, Student Affairs

Edie Peckl, Co-Chair
Executive Director, Procurement

Wayne Cook
Procurement Lead

Stephanie Kung
Assistant Director, Environmental Health & Safety

Owen Moore
Associate Vice President, Campus Services

Brad Penuel
Associate Dean, Administration

George Reis
Manager of Grounds and Waste Management

Lila Rimalovski
Gallatin, 2019

Jose Roman
Assistant Vice President, Post-Award Financial Operations

Carlos Zafra
Associate Vice President of Operations, CBS

Lillian Zalta
Assistant Dean

TRANSPORTATION
Chris Bledsoe, Co-Chair
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs; Director of Athletics, Intramurals & Recreation

Natalie Hidalgo, Co-Chair
Associate Vice President, Planning, Policy and Engagement

David Baler
Global Liberal Studies, 2019

Christopher Echeverria
Senior Policy Analyst, Government Affairs

Matt Huck
Assistant Athletic Director, Business Operations and Club Sports

Greg Rivas
Assistant Director, Transportation

Laurie Stallone
Global Travel Manager, Procurement

AREA LIAISONS
Kate Baier
Senior Director, Residential Life

Lily Burns-Hernandez
Assistant Vice Chancellor of Administration and Chief of Staff, NYU Abu Dhabi

Erin Lynch
Associate Vice President, Faculty Housing

Erin Meekhof
Associate Instructor, Arts & Humanities

Harry Meng
Chief of Staff to the Vice Chancellor, NYU Shanghai

Gerard Savoy
Director of Facilities Management

Kristina Zacharias
Associate Director, Facilities and Workplace Services


Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
No

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:
---

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:

The NYU Impact Investment Fund (NIIF) is a unique multidisciplinary experiential student operated fund representing a collaboration between students from the Stern School of Business and Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service with legal support from students in the NYU School of Law. The NYU Impact Investment Fund leverages the diverse expertise of business, public service, and law faculty to support student investors targeting social enterprises in the sectors of financial inclusion, environment, healthcare, aging, education, and food systems. This fund provides students collaborative and practical experience in fund management for social impact. By creating this opportunity, the University is leveraging the breadth of expertise and the diverse areas of knowledge at NYU to educate students about social impact investing. This experiential learning can be applied by students in their professional life to create positive socially impactful investments.

The Fund made its first investment a few months ago into Sapient Industries, which has built the world's first Plug Load Management System for monitoring and controlling the power supplied to each and every device in a building. More information can be found at the following website:

More information about the fund can be found here: https://www.niifonline.com/


Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Public Engagement?:
No

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:
---

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
No

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:
---

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)?:
No

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:
---

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
---

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

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.