| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.81 |
| Liaison | Jennifer McLaughlin |
| Submission Date | May 26, 2023 |
South Dakota State University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Jennifer
McLaughlin Sustainability Intern Facilities and Services |
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:
FY22
HMGT455 (Advanced Events and Facilities Administration) collaborated with the Sustainability Specialist to host an Earth Day Event. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of sustainability among SDSU students, faculty and staff, and educate them about the university sustainability efforts and resources. The goal was to get them involved in sustainability practices in their daily lives. The event consisted of 12 interactive sustainability-themed booths and 2 presentations.
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:
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:
FY20
In ID 352 Interior Design Studio IV, students complete a LEED CI checklist for a proposed renovation of the main floor of the Hilton M. Briggs Library. This is fictitious, but fruitful in understanding sustainability within commercial interiors.
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:
FY20
A graduate student studied energy conservation and renewable energy integration at 3 SDSU buildings for their thesis.
A Senior Design team of 3 students studied energy conservation for a local motel.
FY21
An undergraduate independent study project (ME 498) was completed applying the potential of renewable energy at SDSU. ME 416/516 toured the Raven Precision Ag Solar PV system. The SDSU student ASHRAE group toured the Raven Precision Ag HVAC system.
FY22
A masters student completed a thesis on SDSU`s renewable energy systems with keen attention to the benefits of solar energy systems.
Students from ME 416 visit renewable energy facilities and boiler/chiller plants on campus and get to listen to engineers on the way these facilities are managed.
An undergraduate independent study project (ME 498) was completed applying the potential of renewable energy at SDSU. ME 416/516 toured the Raven Precision Ag Solar PV system. The SDSU student ASHRAE group toured the Raven Precision Ag HVAC system.
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:
FY21
The Local Foods Education Center is a living laboratory where students learn to grow food plants that are then consumed by community members.
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:
FY20
A faculty member and grad students produced native plants for the Facilities and Serivces grounds use.
FY21
A faculty member and grad students produced native plants for the Faculties and Services grounds use.
Facilities & Services collaborated with a graduate student of the Native Plant Initiative to design and plant a native landscape on campus in coordination with the Agricultural Heritage Museum. Facilities & Services are working with the Natural Resources Conservation Department and their students to use more pollinator plants each season that are grown by their Native Plant Initiative. Facilities & Services are also working on an interpretive signage component for native planting beds on campus with their department graduate students. https://www.sdstate.edu/npi
FY22
We still have native plants around the Ag Heritage Museum and AISC. .We`ve helped Tanner plant a bunch more native plants between Biostress and Raven. .We`re moniotorimg water and spoil properties in plots of natives up at the speciality crop area. .We`ve planted 19 species of milk weed and monitored Monarch butterflies at the specialioty crops area. . We`ve hposted field days at about native plants and monarchs at the speciality crop area. .We had a native plant sale to the public Mccrory and one in Huron. .NPI had a table of educational materials at the student union ( maybe on earth day?) .We`ve had many ouitreach events talking about native plants off campus.
Facilities and Services worked with Dr. Perkins range ecology class to plant a large pollinator habitat area next to the Biostress building. This will be monitored for success by the students.
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:
FY21
One of SDSU's graduate students from the Department of Natural Resource Management organized a 7 Day Food Waste Reduction Challenge with a team of graduate students across the country. As part of this challenge, they provided resources and tips on how to reduce food waste, save money and save the planet! Information was found on their website, Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok.
https://infews-er.net/7-day-food-waste-reduction-challenge/
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:
FY20
A English 379 Technical Communication student analyzed and recommended a rain barrel garden program on campus. Her goals included "evaluating the impact of runoff from SDSU, acquiring an understanding of existing runoff policies and future plans, determining the materials needed to build a rain garden, evaluating the cost of developing a rain garden, analyzing locations on campus that can benefit from a rain garden, and developing a plan for implementing new rain gardens." (quotes from paper)
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:
FY20
A English 379 Technical Communication student analyzed the campus sustainability efforts including researching the existing program and surveying 100 students regarding their impressions and values regarding campus sustainability. In addition to studying the current initiative, she also studied the "environmental, social, and economic impact a sustainability plan for the South Dakota State University Campus would have on all members of the Brookings community."
Her recommendations focused on practical, local reductions in consumption through "paper-to-digital" programs to reduce paper usage in classrooms and on-campus dining, replacement of conventional lighting with LED bulbs, and daily power-down strategies to turn off lights and other systems while not in use. (Quotes from paper)
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:
FY20
A student in HONS 383, set up a campus clothing drive for Jack's Cupboard.
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:
FY20
The Counseling and Human Development Department has students who provide counseling to volunteer students across campus including college student-athletes. They also provide graduate assistants and internship students who provide support in the counseling center, residence halls, etc.
FY21
The Counseling and Human Development Department has students who provide counseling to volunteer students across campus including college student-athletes. They also provide graduate assistants and internship students who provide support in the counseling center, residence halls, etc.
FY22
An undergraduate student in English 379 Technical Communication wrote a formal recommendation report on the need for improved, post-pandemic changes to employee workplace rules. The report is entitled, “Analysis and Recommendation: Keeping up with the Increasing Need for Flexibility in the Workplace.” The student completed this report for a semester-long research project. This report explains recent changes in office workplace culture due to the pandemic, assesses current workplace time and location rules within the South Dakota State University Foundation, and recommends changes to increase sustainability of employee productivity and morale in the workplace.
The Counseling and Human Development Department has students who provide counseling to volunteer students across campus including college student-athletes. They also provide graduate assistants and internship students who provide support in the counseling center, residence halls, etc.
Faculty and Extension professionals in the School of Education, Counseling and Human Development developed a self-care series aimed at supporting the well-being of campus faculty and staff. The brief webinars provided hands-on strategies for improving nutrition, physical activity, financial, and stress management habits.
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:
Some of these projects came to fruition. Others were strictly theoretical.
Some of these projects came to fruition. Others were strictly theoretical.
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