Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 78.69
Liaison Lindsey Kalkbrenner
Submission Date Feb. 14, 2023

STARS v2.2

Santa Clara University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Veronica Johnson
Academics and Engagement Program Manager
Center for Sustainability
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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:
Group Communication (Winter 2021) - Students created social media content for UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as Faces of Sustainability videos.

Effective Communication in Business (Spring 2020) - Students created social media posts for the Center for Sustainability to suggest sustainable behaviors for students to earn Sustainability Playbook Badges.

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:
ENGR Senior Design (Fall 2020) - Students built an automated compost system for Santa Clara City Community Garden.

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:
Financial Planning & Analysis (Winter 2022) - Students explored and analyzed SCU's climate action strategies and reporting. Students proposed cooling towers carbon capture technology to reduce SCU's greenhouse gas emissions.

Buildings  

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:
No

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

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
No

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:
ENGR Senior Design (Fall 2019-Winter 2020) - Mechanical engineering senior design team built a grafting chamber at The Forge Garden. This project allowed The Forge to grow grafted tomatoes and other summer annuals.

Urban Agriculture Practicum (Fall 2019, Fall 2020, Fall 2021) - Students developed garden projects such as building a compost pile, growing mushrooms, preserving food, or growing microgreens.

Sustainable Food Systems (Winter 2022) - Students planted cover crops and beneficial flowers at the garden.

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:
Ecology (Fall 2019) - Students measured plant diversity in the garden.

Community Based Engineering Design (Fall 2019-Winter 2020) - Students built IoT bee monitoring system.

Endangered Ecosystems (Winter 2020) - Students observed wildlife in the garden.

Sustainable Food Systems (Winter 2022) - Students planted cover crops and beneficial flowers at the garden.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
No

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
Sustainable Living Undergraduate Research Project (Spring 2020) - A group of students conducted research on sustainable transportation initiatives.

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:
Compost Lab (Winter 2020, Spring 2022) - Students built a compost pile and monitored the temperature with data loggers. Soil samples were taken from the garden and tested for macronutrients.

ENGR Senior Design (Fall 2020) - Students built an automated compost system for Santa Clara City Community Garden.

Sustainable Living Undergraduate Research Project (Winter 2022) - Students investigated what happens to PCs and other computer-related equipment after their "end-of-life" in IT's PC Replacement Program. Students sought transparency while finding solutions to building a more circular economy on campus and keeping SCU accountable for its electronic waste.

Water 

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
No

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
Foundations of Strategic Campaigns (Winter 2021) - The class looked at ways to engage SCU students in the Sustainability Strategic Plan.

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?:
No

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
Introduction to Journalism (Spring 2022) - Students conducted interviews and wrote articles about divestment at SCU.

COMM Senior Portfolio (Spring 2022) - Honors senior thesis tested messages, frames, and channels for mobilizing students to advocate for SCU to divest from fossil fuels.

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:
Fitness Physiology (Fall 2019) - Students tested their blood pressure and other fitness markers in the garden and on El Camino Real (a busy street adjacent to campus) and compared the results to see where they were calmer.

Journalism (Fall 2020) - A student conducted interviews and wrote an article about food insecurity at SCU and the Bronco Pantry.

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
https://www.scu.edu/sustainability/academics/research/livinglab/

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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