Sonoma State University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Osborn Weather Station Unused sensors were donated by the Geography Department to the Center to serve as the basis for a new weather station at the Osborn Preserve. Two Engineering Science students took on the challenge of constructing a long-term weather station as their capstone project. Project goals included transmitting data wirelessly to the base station, easy to read LabView interface, robust and reliable outdoor system, self-sufficient power, data storage for extended periods of time, compliance with EPA standards for climate measurements, and long system lifespan. In addition, a new geography course has students ride the county bus and report on the experience of mass transit. Students also engage in tracking their daily food and transportation CO2e for one month each. We also now host Nature!Tech, a program of the Center for Environmental Inquiry, applies advances in technology to environmental challenges. A few years ago unused sensors were donated by the Geography Department to the Center to serve as the basis for a new weather station at the Osborn Preserve. Two Engineering Science students took on the challenge of constructing a long-term weather station as their capstone project. A sensor-to-screen network at the Fairfield Osborn Preserve measures a variety of environmental parameters including long-term changes in climate and microclimate. Currently over 200 students are engaged in projects in the network, including a system that sends automatic flood warning notifications to downstream City of Rohnert Park. A joint project with Dept of Chemistry is underway to install air quality sensors that will become part of the regional air quality monitoring network.

A model for sustainable building techniques and technologies, this center includes extensive energy management control technologies, environmentally-sensitive materials, passive solar heating and cooling, daylighting technologies, and a roof-integrated photovoltaic system. It serves as a training facility for building professionals and teachers as well as an educational and research site. As a "building that teaches," the Center's mission is focused on solutions to the effects of buildings on the environment, economy and people. The ETC provides educational resources and technical assistance to design/construction professionals, students, local government, businesses and community members. A model for sustainable building techniques and technologies, the Environmental Technology Center includes extensive energy management control technologies, environmentally-sensitive materials, passive solar heating and cooling, daylighting technologies, and a roof-integrated photovoltaic system. It serves as a training facility for building professionals and teachers as well as an educational and research site. As a "building that teaches," the Center's mission is focused on solutions to the effects of buildings on the environment, economy and people. The ETC provides educational resources and technical assistance to design/construction professionals, students, local government, businesses and community members. The Fairfield Osborn Preserve’s Marjory Osborn Research and Educational Center is powered by solar. Engineering students created a sensor stream that gathers data from solar panels, batteries and backup generator and transmits the information to the internet. The data are being used to assess changes in photovoltaic system requirements. A new Master Plan for facilities at the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve have identified sustainability and technology as 2 primary goals for the facilities and are engaging students in the design process.

A majority of dining services is run by students under the supervision of staff which is providing them with various skills.

The EarthLab is a one-acre education, demonstration and research facility at the university. This learning laboratory focuses on agroecology and renewable energy applications. Students in the EMD program are involved in a variety of experiments in the EarthLab. The Environmental Technology Center, a state-of-the-art building utilizing the latest in energy efficiency and renewable energy applications, is a unique teaching laboratory in which students can practice building science "live." The EarthLab is a one-acre education, demonstration and research facility at the university. This learning laboratory focuses on agroecology and renewable energy applications. Students in the Energy Management and Design program in the Department of Environment Studies and Planning are involved in a variety of experiments in the EarthLab. The Environmental Studies Department has long sponsored a teaching vegetable garden. There students learn about agroecology techniques. In 2016, six graduates of the garden are involved in an agroecological demonstration garden start-up called Farmster. They have secured the use of 5 acres near campus and are about to begin their first planting at time of writing. The ENSP department has also operated a wild plant propagation program nfi9nanced by the Sonoma County Water Agency

SSU Copeland Creek Restoration Project: Sonoma State University: Sonoma State University Copeland Creek traverses the Sonoma State University Campus. For years, faculty and student volunteers have worked with SSU Facilities personnel, under the Copeland Creek Master Plan, to try reduce the dense undergrowth of blackberry. Yet with the sporadic approaches, blackberries have grown back in abundance. A more strategic approach is needed to plan long-term solutions that will improve habitat. SSU Copeland Creek Restoration Project: Sonoma State University: Sonoma State University Copeland Creek traverses the Sonoma State University Campus. For years, faculty and student volunteers have worked with SSU Facilities personnel, under the Copeland Creek Master Plan, to try reduce the dense undergrowth of blackberry. Yet with the sporadic approaches, blackberries have grown back in abundance. A more strategic approach is needed to plan long-term solutions that will improve habitat. Faculty member Caroline Christian in partnership with the Sustainability Director has received a CSU Campus as a Living Lab grant to make long-term plan development and implementation a central goal of the Restoration Ecology course.

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In 2015, the University contributed by giving funds to the Sonoma County Transit to support a program that gives free transportation to college students in Sonoma County. See http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/4831363-181/sonoma-county-extends-program-giving?page=0&artslide=0

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Watershed Academics To Enhance Regional Sustainability (WATERS) is a collaborative endeavor between Sonoma State University and Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) to undertake projects that enhance watershed management and academic training of students Water Efficiency Projects on the SSU Campus Sonoma State has implemented a variety of water saving measures and technologies on campus, including the use of reclaimed water and low flow fixtures. Environmental and financial costs and benefits of a variety of measures are evaluated. Faculty: Dan Soto (Environmental Studies and Planning) Partners: SSU Facilities In addition our Watershed Academics To Enhance Regional Sustainability (WATERS) is a collaborative endeavor between Sonoma State University and Sonoma County Water Agency (SCWA) to undertake projects that enhance watershed management and academic training of students. Each year, the program engages over 300 students in 20 projects with faculty. Water projects on campus include water efficiency (e.g., reclaimed water and low flow fixtures), water quality assessments of runoff into Copeland Creek, water quality monitoring and invertebrate abundance in lakes on campus.

A list of School Committees can be found at http://www.sonoma.edu/senate/committees/ What is Faculty Governance? Faculty Governance is the large term for the Academic Senate and its committee structure that govern specific aspects of the university. See the Senate Constitution for the purview of the Senate. How can I get elected to a faculty governance committee? For committees with School Representation, watch for election announcements from your School. For At-Large positions on the Senate or other committees, watch the Senate-announce listserv for announcements of openings. If you are not subscribed to the Senate-announce list, contact the Senate office. Additionally, get to know your colleagues across your School. The more people who know you, the better your chance to be elected. I’m a new faculty member, should I get involved in faculty governance? If this is your first tenure-track teaching position, it is probably best to wait a couple of years before getting involved in faculty governance. Talk to your Department. If you have been tenure track at another institution, but have not served in faculty governance, you may want to wait a year before becoming involved. Again, talk to your Department. If you have been involved in faculty governance at another university, please jump right in! In any case, it is best NOT to start by serving on the Senate. See if one of the subcommittee’s work is appealing to you first, then move to a Standing Committee and then the Senate. This path would provide you with the best preparation to be a good Senator for your School. Do the faculty governance committees have set meeting times and days? Yes, you can see those posted here. Having set meeting days and times for our committees helps faculty plan their schedules.

SSU is working to figure out the pathways to increase diversity awareness. See http://www.sonoma.edu/diversity/ and http://www.sonoma.edu/trio/about/ SSI is also working to increase affordability for all students via The average net price of attending SSU is $14,143 per year (which is just within the ‘low’ category), our graduation rate is 55% while recognizing that 11.9% of students transfer to other institutions, the loan default rate is 6.8% (which is lower than the national average of 14.7%) and the median borrowing by the family is $18,281 in federal loans.

Prof. Buont Sokmen frequently integrates stream restoration work into his studies into exercise science, thus educating students about riparian systems while also studying ergonomics.

The University receives charitable funds annually. The purpose of acquiring charitable funds is to support the University and its mission over the long term. See Investment Policy http://www.sonoma.edu/afd/fnd/20140919_ssuaf_investment_policy.pdf

The University supports student government through Associated Students (AS). The AS Senate serves as the official voice for all students of Sonoma State University. Students Government also works to empower students of Sonoma State University to engage in shared governance, representing the student perspective to members of the campus community through leadership and active citizenship. See http://www.sonoma.edu/as/government/ The University supports student government through Associated Students (AS). The AS Senate serves as the official voice for all students of Sonoma State University. Students Government also works to empower students of Sonoma State University to engage in shared governance, representing the student perspective to members of the campus community through leadership and active citizenship. See http://www.sonoma.edu/as/government/ The Center for Environmental Inquiry engages the community as part of four Nature!Collaboratives. Community members, companies, agencies and non-profits identify local challenges and ask for faculty and student assistance in taking on real-world challenge. Over 1700 students each year are engaged in inquiry. Positive outcomes include location of pollutant sources along public waterways, control of invasive species in sensitive habitats, and development of a bio fuel cell system for a local vinter.

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