Smith College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Eco-Reps, House Residents, and Student Government Association sustainability leaders design campus engagement programs, peer learning events, climate grief and action events and so on each semester. Programs reach almost all students and are executed in unique and enticing campus locations such as the greenhouse of the bontanic gardens, the art museum, and unity houses.

Environmental Science and Policy major and capstone semester-long projects consistently enable applied student learning in relation to public engagement. A few examples from the past three years include: developing climate resilience action plans for four neighboring rural towns; developing a carbon mitigation plan for nearby industrial city; developing a carbon footprint for a local food bank facility and then mapping which available incentives and rebates could assist with reducing footprint and operation costs.

A semester-long internship where a student worked on a before and after carbon footprint of a local dairy operation that installed a biodigester and co-generation facility.

A student research project took geophysical test results from pilot demonstration of geothermal system to study land formation in our geographic region.

Three independent special studies completed a series of connected projects about building energy consumption. The first project modeled building heating loads for unmetered buildings. The second took findings and experimentally modeled them after meters were installed. The final project used the previous information to model total heating load reduction associated with capital project improvements over next 20 years.

Eight different special studies on aspects of the college's district energy plan, including sewage heat exchange and hydro-electric potential of our pond, all contributing to the final plan delivered in December 2019. In addition, multiple courses were modified during 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 to investigate thermodynamics, heat mass transfer, advanced thermodynamics, as well as photovoltaic and fuel cell systems to contribute to the design of the plan.

In the fall of 2017, students in ENX 301 capstone developed the reusable meal containers for grab-and-go dining. Students receive a token that can be given to dining hall coordinators in exchange for a container. After each use, containers must be returned to vending machines in the Campus Center, Tyler or Scales in exchange for a token for a freshly washed container for the next meal. In fall 2018, the Student Government Association's sustainability committee partnered with dining services to conduct a waste audit. They weighed food waste at three of the largest dining halls for a week to determine if the majority of food waste came from front or back of house.

In the summer of 2019 three students designed a program in collaboration with dining services to serve climate conscious foods for major events on campus.

Every year 3-5 interns work directly with our field station manager to cut hiking trails, propogate trees, develop signage, and manage invasive species. In 2019 two students completed special studies about the main campus landscape investigating how to bring forward the indigenous heritage of the land on which Smith exists and how the college could manifest universal design principles and have educational learning objectives for our landscape.

In 2018/19 there were two successive ENV 312 capstone projects to develop a carbon footprint of the college's supply change (scope 3 emissions) and then to identify the hotspots in the footprint. It was discovered that our air travel, food, and construction contribute the most to our footprint.

A group special studies looked into the possibility of performing energy demand response using car batteries as storage systems for peak shaving while charging at EV stations.

One student completed two semesters of special studies to analyze move-out waste programs at similar institutions and the problems that exist at our institution, and then developed and executed a comprehensive move-out waste collection and re-distribution program that kept 14 tons of waste from the landfill.

In 2017 a full course designed and executed the community engagement supporting the college President's Study Group on Climate Change which charted a path of action around climate change. The report from the course is online.

The president hosts an innovation challenge each year to promote and fund student-designed and led solutions to concerns and problems around diversity and affordability. Winner's projects are funded and institutionally supported.

In 2017 a student investment club was established to invest $100,000 as a model for how the college might invest money it has divested from fossil fuels. The club is supported by the college's entrepreneurial center. In 2017/2018 year-long special studies was completed by a student that design a carbon proxy program and price for the campus. The model was implemented into capital project financing considerations.

Additionally, two students sit on the Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility, which gives them learning and engagement opportunities, and to put their knowledge and passions into practice with the committee.

Students design and lead exercise classes, courses that connect their peers to the natural environment, and programs that get students, faculty, and staff to the field station for relaxation, observations of nature, and community building.