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

For an Environmental Science class assignment, student groups are each assigned a particular campus parking lot. The students track the number cars in the lot and calculate greenhouse gas emissions. These students also do environmental monitoring of air quality on campus and calculate the correlations between the two. Positive outcome: Students learn the concrete personal and social/environmental consequences of transportation choices, and how institutional structure (e.g., the construction of parking lots to accommodate more cars) contributes to these consequences.

Dr. Junaid Zubairi and Dr. Sherri Mason oversaw research with students that sought to develop and evaluate food waste reduction strategies in dorms on campuses. The project consisted of three stages: pre-intervention, intervention, and post-intervention. For a period of 2 weeks each, the participants’ food waste was collected and evaluated. All participants were asked for voluntary participation in the study. During the six-week period, all the participants were asked to place their food waste in a designated compost bin. The compostable bags were removed from the bin, collected and weighed by a student worker over a specified period of time. Prior to the pre-intervention stage, participants were given a survey about recycling behavior, attitudes about recycling and food waste, food consumption pattern, demographic variables, etc. Positive Outcome: The purpose of this research was to develop and evaluate food waste reduction strategies in dorms on campuses. Through this project, they sought to create pro-environmental behavioral changes and the results did show positive trends after the intervention techniques were used.

In English Composition each spring students' research project is centered on issues of sustainability. The students first gained a sustainability vocabulary drawn from the campus sustainability language and website along with some readings. One student researched wind power, which is used very minimally on campus (two small wind turbines). Students then take what they've learned about the topic globally and apply it to local contexts and issues. Positive outcome: the student created a public-oriented medium to address the campus audience about the issue: pamphlets, presentations/posters, blogs

To deepen their connection to a unique, biologically diverse local place and to give them “real world” or professional writing opportunity, students in ENGL 333, Environmental Lit, drafted a trail guide (for adults or children), a biographical piece, or other educational resource on one of the trails/persons for whom the trails are named at the campus College Lodge. Positive Outcome: With permission, selected materials were shared with FSA (which manages the Lodge) staff members for possible use on the website. Biology and Environmental Science students participate in campus Woodlot Invasive Species Pulls. Positive outcome: Students learn about and are able to identify local exotic invasive species and witness the regeneration of native species. Other members of the campus, and the college as a whole, benefit by learning about the importance of balanced ecosystems.

In the spring several students in graphic design undertook self directed projects directly tied to sustainable issues. The student projects covered topics of walkability, transportation, landscape use and design on campus. Positive outcome: The work was then exhibited as part of the 2013 senior show in the Marion Art Gallery, educating all visitors. Students in Environmental Communication researched and organized a day-long workshop/demo to campus members –students, faculty, and staff – interested in learning more about their bicycles. They focused on proper care and management of bicycles as well as provided the audience with environmentally positive facts associated with using a bicycle as a means of transport. Positive Outcome: Those who attended the demo to left with knowledge of how to take their bicycles apart, clean them and resemble them to ensure longevity and a sustainable transportation.

Students in ESCI 113 gathered data on our paper towel usage for a class project. Positive outcome: This project is what led to the campus-wide use of ‘These come from trees’ stickers for paper towel dispensers. They say on the stickers themselves that the use of these stickers helps to save XX amount of trees and CO2 emissions. You can also find this out on their website (thesecomefromtrees.com). In 2010, 2011, and 2012, students worked with Dr. Sherri Mason, Chemistry and Environmental Science, to coordinate "Trayless Tuesdays" during Earth Week celebrations. Positive outcome: These were so successful in lowering food waste—an amazing 30% reduction—as well as minimizing service station restocking, facilitating clean up procedures, and lessening soap and water use, that Fredonia’s dining halls have gone trayless.

Environmental Chemistry 310 students research water bottles and water usage on campus. Positive Outcome: They quantify their personal water footprint and then extrapolate the data to other students and then to campus as a whole. Environmental Chemistry 310 students also monitor a small wetlands area on campus (by the campus woodlot), monitoring the water flow going into the wetlands and nutrients vs effluent leaving wetlands. Positive outcome: Students are able to share any contamination, as well as positive effects of wetland filtering, with campus grounds and facilities management.

Students in Communication Research Methods conducted a study designed to better understand supportive relationships and communities that members of the SUNY Fredonia LGBT community depend on during coming out. Positive Outcome: This research was shared with the campus LGBT community and its allies in an effort to make the coming out process easier.

For their environmental communication project, a student group chose to focus on creating personal hygiene products that are all-natural and completely environmentally friendly. They surveyed students to determine what products were most commonly used, and researched their content, finding that “products that college students use contain harsh chemicals that are bad for humans and even worse for the environment.” Positive Outcome: They then created an Earth Week workshop to show fellow students how they could avoid using these products by creating products of their own.

For their group service project, Environmental Communication students created a hiking guide for members of SUNY Fredonia and the surrounding community. Positive Outcome: This included a campaign about the importance of preserving the local parks and hiking trails, as well as a set of brochures and posters that advertise the benefits of experiencing nature through hiking.

Students in COMM 321, Environmental Communication created a campaign to collect used athletic shoes on campus, targeting the track team, as well as placing donation boxes in four locations across campus. Positive Outcomes: 3 Rs: Reduction of waste products; fewer shoes in landfills. Reuse of shoes; helps less fortunate. Facilitates recycling of product; less new material used. Collected over 200lbs of shoes.

Students at SUNY Fredonia engage in a diverse range of sustainability focused activities.