| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 37.30 |
| Liaison | Jennifer Dunseath |
| Submission Date | July 26, 2022 |
Roger Williams University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.80 / 4.00 |
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:
The RWU state-of-the-art wetlab is equipped with flowing sea water directly from the Mount Hope Bay, and we maintain a fully operational saltwater dock/learning platform. Extending 200 feet into Mount Hope Bay, The Learning Platform gives faculty and students direct access to the waters of Mount Hope and Narragansett Bay for water sampling and biological collecting. Utilized by classes and for research, the Platform is the launch site for RWU's two research vessels and houses the pumping house for the Wet Lab's running seawater.
RWU maintains and Marine and Natural sciences outdoor classroom space which was also designed as a collaborative project with the school of architecture for outdoor learning.
Additionally, in the creation of various building projects on campus. We have engaged students in our architecture and construction management programs in the sustainable design and sustainable building choices we make as experiential learning opportunities.
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:
RWU runs various summer camps for the community in marine science and other areas opening our learning resources to area students.
Our campus, further, is a Level I accredited Aboretum (via ArbNet). The RWU Arboretum is distinguished from many other US university and college arboreta by the central role of student, faculty, staff, alumni and community volunteers in its organization, operations and events including many training and educational activities open to the university and the public; and by the utilization of ecological management principles and monitoring in guiding choices regarding campus tree planning and maintenance.
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:
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:
In Spring 2022, the administration partnered with student senate/council to create and design a campus sustainability audit of our buildings on campus and create a scorecard of each building to create a road map for sustainability improvements to the building from operational and human well-being perspectives.
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:
Faculty teaching Sustainability 301 have recently used campus data sets on residence hall electricity and gas usage data sets to learn how to create data visualizations and dashboards to gain understanding of campus sustainability opportunities and recommendations.
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
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:
Sustainability 401 senior capstone courses regularly have used the AASHE STARS tool as an anchor project for their course. Near the beginning of the semester for the last three years, the university Chief of Staff (chief strategy officer) has attended the a class session to share university initiatives and link their semester projects to campus needs and priorities. Students select a campus strategy they are passionate about and map it to the relevant ASHE rubric and review best practices at other schools that have submitted and scored platinum to learn best practice recommendations for RWU. Each year these students regularly present at our Student Academic Showcase where the administration can review and consider the feasibility of implementing their ideas.
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:
Our chief diversity officer partners with students, faculty, and staff in the design of campus initiatives and a network of faculty diversity fellows to make connections between our curriculum, student needs/interest and our campus efforts. These efforts include things such as a campus bias reporting system, a campus climate survey, and design of programs tied to the slave trade past role of Bristol, Rhode Island
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:
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.