Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 56.76
Liaison Liz Davey
Submission Date Oct. 13, 2015
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.0

Tulane University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Colleen Large
Sustainability Intern
Office of Sustainability
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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 Yes
Buildings Yes
Dining Services/Food Yes
Energy Yes
Grounds Yes
Purchasing ---
Transportation Yes
Waste Yes
Water ---
Coordination, Planning & Governance ---
Diversity & Affordability Yes
Health, Wellbeing & Work Yes
Investment ---
Public Engagement Yes
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:
Each spring semester, the university's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory is updated by a student intern in the Office of Sustainability.

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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:
Student interns in the Office of Planning assist with the university's LEED Green Building projects. Recent projects have included documenting LEED credits, creating "User's Guides" for LEED projects, and assisting with occupant comfort surveys.

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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:
In 2013-14, Sodexo, the campus dining provider, hired a student to assist with their sustainability programs, beginning with the implementation of a reusable to-go container. In 2013-14, Sodexo formed the “Fresh” Campus Dining Committee, which focuses on enhancing sustainability in Dining Services and includes student representatives.

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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:
Through participation in Campus Conservation Nationals, a nationwide energy efficiency competition, Tulane institution uses the campus as a living laboratory for energy at many levels. Interns have access to the building's daily energy use during the three week period. Student interns reconstruct this information and make it available to the rest of the Tulane community. Residence hall representatives and student interns work together in order to encourage energy saving behaviors. During these three weeks students have the opportunity to follow their residence hall’s energy use and make efforts to reduce their energy consumption.

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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:
A representative from student government serves on the university's Tree Policy committee, which guides efforts to protect and enhance the university's urban forest.

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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 Undergraduate Student Government, Housing and Residential Life, and the Juggling Club teamed up in order to create a bike share on campus as a form of alternate transportation, the Green Bike Program. The program offers two rental options to students—a semester long rental and daily rental program. The daily bike rentals will be free through residence hall desks. The program aims to provide new transportation resources to Tulane students in a low cost way. This was a student run initiative however the Housing and Residence life will contribute to cover the programs maintenance costs as needed. more info: http://www.tulanehullabaloo.com/news/tulane-community-combats-local-problems-organizations-team-up-to-start-campus-bike-share-program-1.3122804

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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:
Student interns in the Office of Sustainability do much of the education and outreach for the recycling program, as well as implementing improvements to the program. In 2013-14, a proposal from a student led to the implementation (with significant student involvement) of a reusable to-go containers at a campus dining facility. In Fall 2013, an Environmental Ethics class in the Department of Philosphy conducted a fundraising campaign to install a pilot water bottle filling station. A student intern identified the type of station and the location in the library. It was installed in January 2014, encouraging the use of reusable water bottles and reducing Tulane's plastic waste.

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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:
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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:
Internships with the Office for Gender and Sexual Diversity (OGSD) offer students the opportunity to learn about how gender and sexuality issues are addressed within an academic environment.

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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:
The Student Health Advisory Committee, hosted by Student Health, is a committee of students that makes recommendations for health and wellness policies and programs. Tulane Emergency Medical Services TEMS is a student-run, nonprofit ambulance service based on the Uptown campus of Tulane University. It offers emergency medical services, transport, and treatment to New Orleans area hospitals free of charge for any Tulane or Loyola student, staff, faculty, guest or affiliate. TEMS operates out of Tulane University’s Uptown Student Health Center. Members are nationally-certified EMTs and are thoroughly trained to treat the community. TEMS is in service 24 hours a day during the academic year and several days over Summer Orientation. http://tulane.edu/health/tems/

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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:
The Public Service Fellows Program aims to recruit and train student leaders who will become the face of service-learning on and off campus. By participating in the program, students earn 4 credit hours, complete their second tier graduation requirement, develop a one-on-one relationship with a faculty member and community partners, grow in public service leadership, professional development , and learn to be innovative in helping to create solutions to service issues with a practical and academic focus.

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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:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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