| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 68.35 |
| Liaison | Jessica Bast |
| Submission Date | Aug. 9, 2022 |
North Carolina State University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Jessica
Bast Sustainability Program Coordinator University Sustainability Office |
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:
Two interns through the University Sustainability Office's Campus as a Classroom program are focused on outreach and engagement. One intern in particular is focused on updating the various certification programs available to students and employees (i.e. Sustainable Event Certification, Sustainable Workplace Certification, and Sustainable Student Organization). These programs are helping to further engage the campus community at all levels.
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:
Two interns through the University Sustainability Office's Campus as a Classroom program are focused on outreach and engagement. One intern in particular is updating NC State's campus sustainability map and creating an accompanying StoryMap using ArcGIS. Although this map and StoryMap can be used to engage the campus community, the hope is that prospective students and the surrounding community can use these tools to explore the sustainability features of NC State's Raleigh campus.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
Two interns through the University Sustainability Office's Campus as a Classroom program focused on completing NC State's greenhouse gas emissions inventory. To complete the inventory, students worked with campus partners to collect data to later be entered into SIMAP to complete the calculations.
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:
The College of Design's LEED Lab course tasks students with evaluating a campus building’s sustainability performance and identifying ways to decrease environmental impact and costs. The fall 2020 course focused on D.H. Hill Jr. Library through a partnership with NC State University Libraries and the Facilities Division. Students in the course identify the gaps between the current state of operations and the desired state of achieving a LEED Operations + Maintenance green building certification. On the last day of class, students presented their sustainability recommendations, which include ways to boost alternative transportation to the building, improve waste diversion rates, and evaluate energy efficiency and indoor air quality.
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:
The NC State Stewards, a student leadership organization focused on sustainability, coordinates and energy saving competitions between various on-campus residence halls every year.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
The campus operates an Agroecology Education Farm, which serves as a hands on educational experience where students help grow produce that is in turn served in campus dining facilities.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
Through the University Sustainability Office's Campus as a Classroom internship program, one student was paired with Grounds and Buildings Services to complete an analysis of past and current initiatives, as well as make recommendations for future programs and efforts done by the Grounds and Buildings services team. One area of focus is the use of electric landscaping equipment and vehicles used by Grounds.
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:
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:
As part of the University Sustainability Office's Campus as a Classroom program, one student was partnered with a staff in the Energy Management office to conduct an electric vehicle study. As part of the study, this student conducted research on Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) in the passenger car and low-speed vehicle categories, analyzed how NC State uses vehicles and present BEV options for suitable use cases, and compared the emissions, cost, and maintenance implications of BEVs and combustion engine vehicles.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
As part of the University Sustainability Office's Campus as a Classroom program, two students are working with a professor in the Biological Sciences department to analyze the microbial composition of compost piles at different stages from NC State's compost facility. In doing so, they are collecting data that will be used to help optimize the composting process at NC State's facility.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
The NC State Stewards, a student leadership organization focused on sustainability, coordinates and water saving competitions between various on-campus residence halls every year.
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:
NC State's current Sustainability Strategic Plan is set to expire in 2022. The two Climate Data and Reporting interns through the Sustainability Office's Campus as a Classroom program developed recommendations for the next plan, with a focus on initiatives to reduce Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
The Office of Institutional Equity and the offices under its umbrella have several student opportunities for students to advance sustainability in relation to diversity. In particular, the African American Cultural Center, Multicultural Student Affairs, and the Women's Center all have graduate assistant positions to allow students to contribute to planning events and other programming, conference coordination, and developing resources that serve the campus community.
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:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
NC State's Agroecology Education Farm coordinates cooking demonstrations to teach and engage the university community in cooking meals using locally-grown produce that are nutritious and beneficial to human health.
Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program 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.