| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.59 |
| Liaison | Chris Bond |
| Submission Date | Oct. 30, 2014 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Unity Environmental University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
1.60 / 4.00 |
Steve
Kahl Director of Sustainability 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 | No |
| Buildings | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes |
| Energy | Yes |
| Grounds | No |
| Purchasing | No |
| Transportation | No |
| Waste | No |
| Water | No |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | No |
| Diversity & Affordability | No |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | No |
| Investment | No |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Other | No |
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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:
Students living in Terrahaus, our passive solar residence, and in Unity 1, our net zero carbon student residence, are closely involved with the operations and design of the buildings through classes, tours, and other informational materials. Students not living in these buildings are also exposed to the same information but are not 'living' the experience.
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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:
A new initiative of the college is the MacKay Agricultural Research Station, a combined greenhouse and farm operation to provide greatly expanded local foods availability for the dining halls. Several faculty plus the faculty director of the facility are directly involved in operations and planning. Students conduct classroom research projects, serve as volunteer interns, and are paid student workers. Similarly, a partnership with the Maine Farmland Trust's new 'food hub' will provide additional local food for the college. The college already grows food on campus for the dining halls and for charitable donation through a program called Veggies for All.
Date Revised: Dec. 18, 2014
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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:
We opened Unity 1, a net-zero carbon residence hall for 70 students in 2014, complementing Terrahaus, a certified passive solar student residence which houses 10 students. Acknowledging that efficiency buildings require knowledgeable residents, the student's are expected accept and orient visitors at any time as part of the college's visibility in this area. All first year students also have an orientation session at Terrahaus and Unity 1, both of which regularly get media attention. Tours are frequent.
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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:
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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:
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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:
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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:
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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:
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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:
Unity is committed to working on environmental and community-wide issues which residents and leaders alike are taking on as active and engaged citizens. Community-Based Learning (CBL) provides students with the opportunity to work alongside professionals, private citizens and local leaders to identify and implement real solutions to real issues. Active partnerships between the college and a wide range of external agencies allow for the integration of classroom-based instruction with real world application, problem solving, collaboration, and community benefit. Students make professional connections and build their resumes throughout their undergraduate experience.
Our commitment to public engagement —using the world as our classroom for service and learning—has earned the college national recognition. In 2012, Unity was named as one of fourteen national finalists to the President’s Community Service Honor Roll. In 2011, the college received the Carnegie Foundation’s Community Engagement Classification which recognizes significant commitment to and demonstration of community engagement.
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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.