Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 68.02
Liaison Beth Klein
Submission Date Feb. 25, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

State University of New York at Cortland
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Beth Klein
Campus Sustainability Coordinato
Early Childhood Education
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Air & Climate 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Air & Climate?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Air & Climate:
Faculty and students from sustainable energy focused coursework participate regularly in our Green House Gas (GHG) inventory and provide a student analysis for campus. using a survey instrument and campus utility use data. Their efforts inform our Second Nature updates and will be used in our revised Climate Action Plan.

Buildings  

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Buildings?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Buildings:
The students and faculty from our Physics Department perform assessments of building envelopes using IR cameras and data loggers. They also perform periodic assessment of the campus ground-source heat-pump well field with Building Automation System data.

Energy 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Energy?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Energy:
The students and faculty from our Physics Department performs analysis of the campus solar PV using the inverter on-line dashboard and data-loggers.

Food & Dining 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Food & Dining?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Food & Dining:
Model Campus Garden program demonstrates various agriculture techniques and incorporates local food into the dining program. Biology, Health, and Education courses incorporate the garden into their coursework. For example, Biology students conducted research on three beds, using 3 different methods to grow broccoli, carrots, and basil to find which methods might work best in our climate and soil conditions. Results were shared at the annual student research conference, Transformations. Education students taught campus childcare students about growing different types of vegetables and hosted a potato harvest and garlic planting event with the 3-4 year olds at the model campus garden.

Grounds 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Grounds?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Grounds:
The students and faculty from our Biology Department are studying native plantings within the landscaping to assess plant health and bio-diversity. In addition, projects from faculty and students in Biology, Geology, and Geography, multiple on-going studies at our outdoor education locations of Hoxie Gorge, Camp Huntington, and Brauer Field Station.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Purchasing:
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Transportation 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Transportation:
The students and faculty from our Physics Department use the campus Green House Gas (GHG) inventory and students implement a survey instrument to analyze campus transportation patterns.

Waste 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Waste?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Waste:
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Water 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Water?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Water:
The students and faculty from our Geology Department conducts studies of storm water quantity at various locations across campuses locations, Main Campus, Hoxie Gorge, Camp Huntington, and Brauer Field Station.

Coordination & Planning 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Coordination & Planning:
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Diversity & Affordability 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
A variety of faculty, students and staff have conducted research on diversity, equity, and social justice. Outcomes of these projects are showcased at several on-campus conferences on Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice. These events spur on campus activities as well as foster regional activities as they relate to Diversity, Equity, and Social Justice, and Eco-Justice. The events are paired with the office of Multi-Cultural Life and Diversity for SUNY Cortland who works through Civic Engagement Office and Women's Studies program to coordinate the conferences. Faculty and staff in those areas are also conducting research projects on campus climate and growth in those areas. Eco-Justice themes are prominent.

Investment & Finance 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Investment & Finance?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Investment & Finance:
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Public Engagement 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Public Engagement?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Public Engagement:
The Office of Civic Engagement facilitates and examines student engagement in campus and community activities, focusing on shared challenges such as the local impacts of extreme weather events fueled by climate change.

Wellbeing & Work 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
Kinesiology, Physical Education and Health Departments work with campus populations to assess and improve health and wellbeing. One such study is a project on local childhood obesity.

Other Impact Areas 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to other areas (e.g. arts & culture or technology)?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to other areas:
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Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
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Additional documentation to support the submission:
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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.