Overall Rating Reporter
Overall Score
Liaison Brian Webb
Submission Date March 5, 2025

STARS v3.0

The College of Wooster
AC-4: Applied Learning

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete Reporter Brian Webb
Director of Campus Sustainability
President's Office
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

4.1 Applied learning for sustainability program

Does the institution make available solutions-focused applied learning or living laboratory experiences for students that address sustainability challenges?:
Yes

List or sample of currently active/available applied learning or living laboratory experiences for students that address sustainability challenges:

College of Wooster Learning Garden (Environmental Studies Department) - This garden is used by several Environmental Studies classes as a hands-on opportunity for students to learn about and engage with experiential learning around sustainable agriculture.

Tree Ring Lab (Earth Sciences Department) - Students use the campus tree ring lab to provide paleoclimate data from trees and timber here in Ohio and in trees that become exposed due to retreated glaciers in Alaska.  Students learn to apply their skills in real world situations using the lab resources.

Fern Valley Research (Biology Department) - The college owns a research stations nearby where students participate with faculty in doing research on invasive species management and American chestnut revitalization, among other research projects.  Several classes visit the site each year.

Ruth Williams Greenhouse (Biology Department) - Students use the greenhouse to run experiments for both biology and environmental studies courses.


Are three or more institutional departments or units currently supporting solutions-focused applied learning or living laboratory experiences for students?:
Yes

Are there processes or tools in place to assess the success of the applied learning projects?:
No

Description of the processes or tools used to assess the success of the applied learning projects:
---

Is there an online portal or equivalent vehicle that documents completed, current, and/or prospective applied learning projects?:
Yes

Description of and/or website URL for the online portal or equivalent vehicle that documents completed, current, and/or prospective applied learning projects:

Learning Garden - https://inside.wooster.edu/envs/learning-garden/

Tree Ring Lab - https://wooster.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-Annual-Report.pdf (see p. 39 Richard Papay's abstract for an example)

Ruth Williams Greenhouse - https://inside.wooster.edu/biology/ruth-w-williams-greenhouse/ 

Fern Valley Research Station - https://wooster.edu/area/biology/ (click on "Fern Valley" on left side bar navigation)


The Reporting Tool will automatically calculate the following figure:

Points earned for indicator AC 4.1:
3

Optional documentation

Notes about the information provided for this credit:

See report of Fern Valley station attached


Additional documentation for this credit:

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