| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 49.22 |
| Liaison | Rich Walker |
| Submission Date | April 22, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.20 / 4.00 |
Kevin
Adkins Sustainability Officer Vice Chancellor for Administration |
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Is the institution utilizing the campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in the following areas?:
| Yes or No | |
| Air & Climate | --- |
| Buildings | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes |
| Energy | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes |
| Purchasing | --- |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | --- |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | --- |
| Diversity & Affordability | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | Yes |
| Investment | --- |
| Public Engagement | --- |
| Other | --- |
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Air & Climate and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Buildings and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
The university houses 7 LEED certified buildings, 4 of which are within a 5 minute walking tour radius on the Edwardsville campus. Many faculty members across disciplines tour the buildings and discuss sustainability. All visitors and potential students are exposed to LEED buildings on the campus tours. The Art & Design West building received the Gold rating for such features as reflective roof that reduces heat absorption, reduced water and energy consumption, and high performance glass that allows high visibility without solar heat gain. The LEED buildings are home to most faculty and staff on the main campus. The buildings are a visual and physical reminder of SIUE's commitment to a sustainable learning and living environment.
http://www.siue.edu/campusgrowth/sustainability.shtml
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Dining Services/Food and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
SIUE Dining Services has initiatives in place to ensure a clean, healthy campus and local environment. Menus are created with culinary variety in mind, offering healthy choices daily, including vegetarian and vegan options. Exposure to different types of foods helps to inspire health-minded dietary habits. Dining Services partners with local and regional farmers in order to provide fresh produce and meat.
Since 2010, Dining Services has been a partner of Operation Food Search, providing over 300 meals each month to a local shelter. Dining Services also works with Campus Kitchen Initiative and other departments in organizing food drives for local food pantries. Working with Madison and St. Clair counties HEAD START program, Dining Services helps to provide 1200 plus students daily breakfast, lunch, and a snack. In addition to these outreach objectives, Dining Services, with the help of OnSiteWaste and Lean Path, monitors all waste products to determine sustainable method for removal.
http://www.siue.edu/muc/dining_sustainability.shtml#dining_sustainability
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Energy and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
SIUE is home to the Environmental Resources Training Center (ERTC) which is a center for continuing education of personnel involved in the operation, maintenance, and management of drinking water and wastewater treatment systems.
Solar panels are installed on the ERTC building, as well as the Science West building which houses a 30 kilowatt solar array. The electrical output displayed on video monitors in the new building helps demonstrate the usage to students and faculty, fostering a sense of the potential of sustainably sourced energy.
A 120-foot, 20 kilowatt wind turbine stands outside of the ERTC building.
In total, the university now has 140 solar panels, to the maintenance of more than 17,500-square-feet of green roof space.
As of January 1, 2016, SIUE began purchasing 50% of their electricity from renewable sources.
https://www.siue.edu/ertc/
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Grounds and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
The campus is home to a 380 acre nature preserve that is a center for transdisciplinary research objectives since 2010. Faculty members, as well as graduate and undergraduate students have conducted novel sustainability-focused research from this valuable protected resource. The preserves consist of forest, secondary forest, grasslands, and lakeside habitats for many species of plant and wildlife. Not only do the preserves provide a locus for valuable scientific discovery, they also provide students and faculty with ample opportunity to convene with nature, enhancing health and well-being.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Purchasing and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Transportation and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
The campus promotes environmental well-being with three viable transportation options. First, the Madison County Transit bus lines provide on-site stops in extremely efficient schedules to ensure prompt arrival and departures for busy students. Buses also connect to student housing and drop off near the campus's center. A second feature is the Madison County Transit Nature Trail. The Edwardsville area boasts over 100 miles of beautiful biking and nature trails that connect right to SIUE's campus. Students can bike to many local points of interest, other local trails spanning across the region, or simply commute to and from campus. To enhance the trail resource, and promote student-nature contact, SIUE has a bicycle rental program that is easy and affordable. Thirdly, SIUE offers a zip car program, allowing students to rent an eco-friendly vehicle for a day. This option encourages car pooling, and is safe, efficient, and affordable.
https://www.siue.edu/news/2014/08/SIUEPartnerswithZipcartoOfferCarSharingonCampus.shtml
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Waste and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Water and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
The SIUE campus has initiatives for clean and responsible water outcomes. Several buildings hold rooftop gardens, including the Engineering Annex and the Morris University Center. Another aspect of water conservation for the campus is the rain garden.
Sustainability Advisory Group funded the construction of a rain garden demonstration project in the detention area for parking lot E. The rain garden cleans the parking lot runoff water and slows the flow back into the major river systems. Annie Protho, a civil engineering graduate student, created the project under the leadership of Susan Morgan. The foliage planted includes edges, button bush, cardinal lobelia, golden rod, aster, blazing stars, hydrangea, buckeye, viburnum, iris, little blue stem, and hibiscus.
In addition to this achievement, the university also endorses the use of dredging of several ponds to assure their health and ability to continue to perform as detention structures. SIUE limits the use of turf chemicals.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Coordination, Planning & Governance and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Diversity & Affordability and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
SIUE opened the Office for Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, housed within the Morris University Center. The office is a multi-use, professional, academic, and social space that fosters positive collaboration among faculty and students who come from a variety of backgrounds. SIUE offers nationally accredited academic programs of study with the lowest tuition and required fees of all four-year institutions in Illinois.
-SIUE offers in-state tuition to residents of Missouri and other regional states. To further enhance affordability, the University awarded more than $148 million in scholarships and financial aid year last year. That positions an SIUE education as one of the best values in the Midwest.
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Health, Wellbeing & Work and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
SIUE Vadabalene Center offers their Wellness Center with programs for SIUE students, SFC members, and the SIUE community. The focus of the program is to assist individuals in making healthy and sustainable lifestyle choices. The center offers fitness assessments and personal trainers.
The Madison County Trails provide SIUE students and faculty with access to over 100 miles of beautiful nature biking trails. The impact of outdoor exercise is a major positive outcome, not only for general physical fitness, but also for holistic health. Work performance is potentially impacted by sustainable health initiatives.
https://www.siue.edu/crec/wellness/wellcenter.shtml
http://www.mcttrails.org
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Investment and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Public Engagement and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
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A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory in Other areas and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
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The website URL where information about the institution’s campus as a living laboratory program or projects is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.