| Overall Rating | Bronze |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 29.24 |
| Liaison | Laurel Pikcunas |
| Submission Date | March 3, 2022 |
University of Hawaii Windward Community College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
2.40 / 4.00 |
Christian
Palmer Assistant Professor Anthropology |
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:
Students across all departments are oftentimes involved in community outreach through student assignments and the ’Ike Kaiaulu Community Involvment Program. Student Clubs also engage in outreach for Earth Day and other campus related environmental events. Students at the student activity center also help coordinate public engagement. The events coordinated through the above mentioned organizations can be coupled with student projects, but there is not sufficient information on which courses require such collaboration. Ka‘ahu Alo may be able to help with this information.
Students also write articles for Ka Ohana, the WCC newspaper for journalism courses. Journalism courses that are Sustainability-Focused require students to write about campus sustainability, including waste audits, energy usage, solar usage, campus gardens, ect.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
The Uala Leaf Cafe on campus employs students to help cook, harvest produce, and compost food waste. The Cafe has at least one student employee at all all times that completely takes care of the processing of campus-grown produce from our sustainable agriculture department. The students work directly top advance efforts to create a circular economy at the Uala leaf Cafe.
Student hiring temporarily suspended due to COVID effects and campus closure.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
The Hawaiian Studies Mala employs students to maintain the taro patch, upkeep the area, care for the native plants, and build the rock wall. The experience they gain form the mala work can be used for independent studies for the Sustainability and Hawaiian Studies Academic Subject certificate. Working at the Mala also contributes as credit for various Hawaiian studies courses.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
The Uala Leaf Cafe staff, student employees, and Culinary Faculty, Dan Swift all compost the food waste from the cafe. They also add organic waste to worm bins on campus. The student sustainability assistant also assists with recycling efforts on campus. There is a cardboard and can recycling initiative, a styrofoam ban, and minimal plastic policy. The sustainability assistant tracked the waste diversion data from improved recycling practices.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
WCC Sustainability Committee maintains the rain garden at Hale Imiloa, the natural sciences building. The rain garden hosts workdays where specific students work and write about the experience for their journalism and English courses.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
Students work with TRiO to help other students with everything from financial aid to social gatherings. While TRiO is staffed by WCC employees, there are many students involved with organizing and outreach. The work students complete is often coupled with student projects for English, Journalism, and Nursing.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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.