Overall Rating Gold - expired
Overall Score 67.83
Liaison Alex Roman Gonzalez
Submission Date March 10, 2017
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Cincinnati
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Daniel Hart
Sustainability Coordinator
Planning + Design + Construction
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

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:
The School of Planning in the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati is has hosted a workshop-focused class for the past three years entitled "DAAP Sustainability" that focuses on hands on workshops aimed at having students come up with creative solutions to creating a more sustainable environment in DAAP. This class acts as a living laboratory by providing students with co-curricular learning that enhances the effectiveness of their education. The course examines issues in Waste, Energy (including GHGs), Water, Landscape, and Quality of Life, culminating in exhibitions and implementation of student work during Earth Week.

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 School of Planning in the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati is has hosted a workshop-focused class for the past three years entitled "DAAP Sustainability" that focuses on hands on workshops aimed at having students come up with creative solutions to creating a more sustainable environment in DAAP. This class acts as a living laboratory by providing students with co-curricular learning that enhances the effectiveness of their education. The course examines issues in Waste, Energy (including GHGs), Water, Landscape, and Quality of Life, culminating in exhibitions and implementation of student work during Earth Week.

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 School of Planning in the College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati is has hosted a workshop-focused class for the past three years entitled "DAAP Sustainability" that focuses on hands on workshops aimed at having students come up with creative solutions to creating a more sustainable environment in DAAP. This class acts as a living laboratory by providing students with co-curricular learning that enhances the effectiveness of their education. The course examines issues in Waste, Energy (including GHGs), Water, Landscape, and Quality of Life, culminating in exhibitions and implementation of student work during Earth Week. In another example, the UC Solar Trees student group is an initiative that developed out of the 2016 Sustainability Summit. These students have been researching the feasibility of implementing a solar tree on campus that would provide multiple functions as a solar energy demonstration project as well as an art installation; they have been regularly meeting with the Department of Planning + Design + Construction at the University to regarding engineering, financial feasibility, planning, and implementation of this project.

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:
In spring 2017, in collaboration with DAAP, Beth McGrew (University Architect), is offering a studio class to students in the planning department regarding the research, design, and feasibility of establishing an anaerobic digester for food waste. Although a hypothetical process in the classroom, the University is actually looking into establishing an anaerobic digester with a variety of stakeholders. This studio class in DAAP offers real life, learning experience to students as the research they are doing is actually applicable to a project that the University is working on to improve its Dining Services infrastructure and reduce the amount of food waste sent to the landfill.

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:
In our College of Design, Art, Architecture and Planning (DAAP), a graduate level class entitled Green Cities embarked on the challenge of seeking grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency for their 2016 Rainworks challenge. Three student groups collaborated with the Department of Planning + Design + Construction and the Office of Sustainability to decipher what would be the most advantageous place on campus to harvest rainwater, mitigate runoff, and create a more ecologically sustainable built environment for dealing with water. And DAAP has hosted a workshop-focused class for the past three years entitled "DAAP Sustainability" that focuses on hands on workshops aimed at having students come up with creative solutions to creating a more sustainable environment in DAAP. This class acts as a living laboratory by providing students with co-curricular learning that enhances the effectiveness of their education. The course examines issues in Waste, Energy (including GHGs), Water, Landscape, and Quality of Life, culminating in exhibitions and implementation of student work during Earth Week.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:
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 Purchasing:
The DAAP-hosted a workshop-focused class for the past three years entitled "DAAP Sustainability" that focuses on hands on workshops aimed at having students come up with creative solutions to creating a more sustainable environment in DAAP. This class acts as a living laboratory by providing students with co-curricular learning that enhances the effectiveness of their education. The class addressed why ethical purchasing was important, at the end of the class, the students broke out into various focus groups, some involved the importance of ethical purchasing in regards to the purchasing of recycling stations on campus, which is something UC is currently doing.

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:
In spring 2017, in collaboration with DAAP, Beth McGrew (University Architect), is offering a studio class to students in the planning department regarding the research, design, and feasibility of establishing an anaerobic digester for food waste. Although a hypothetical process in the classroom, the University is actually looking into establishing an anaerobic digester with a variety of stakeholders. The particular focus of this studio class will be to research and design the most efficient, feasible, and functional transportation routes associated with deciding a location for anaerobic digestion. This studio class in DAAP offers real life, learning experience to students as the research they are doing is actually applicable to a project that the University is working on to improve its Dining Services infrastructure and reduce the amount of food waste sent to the landfill.

Waste 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Waste?:
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 Waste:
The Office of Sustainability regularly engages UC students in dialogue around how to improve campus waste and recycling efforts. In Feb 2017 the OS hosted a tour of our region's recycling facility in order to foster an environment of learning and education out of the class room by providing hands-on, real-world learning experience for students.

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 DAAP-hosted a workshop-focused class for the past three years entitled "DAAP Sustainability" that focuses on hands on workshops aimed at having students come up with creative solutions to creating a more sustainable environment in DAAP. This class acts as a living laboratory by providing students with co-curricular learning that enhances the effectiveness of their education. The course examines issues in Waste, Energy (including GHGs), Water, Landscape, and Quality of Life--all of which involves an examination of sustainable materials and purchasing policies. The course culminates in exhibitions and implementation of student work during Earth Week.

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?:
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 Diversity & Affordability:
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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?:
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 Public Engagement:
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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:
DAAP has hosted a workshop-focused class for the past three years entitled "DAAP Sustainability" that focuses on hands on workshops aimed at having students come up with creative solutions to creating a more sustainable environment in DAAP. This class acts as a living laboratory by providing students with co-curricular learning that enhances the effectiveness of their education. The course examines issues in Waste, Energy (including GHGs), Water, Landscape, and Quality of Life, culminating in exhibitions and implementation of student work during Earth Week.

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)?:
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 other areas:
The campus acts holistically as a living lab by incorporating sustainability into the our arts programs, primarily through DAAP, where art and design are seen as a vehicle for enhancing advocacy and sustainability.

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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