Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 50.41
Liaison David Tedder
Submission Date Sept. 30, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

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

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 3.60 / 4.00 Shane Tedder
Sustainability Coordinator
Office oF Sustainability
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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:

A Sustainability Challenge Grant Team is leading the development of a feasibility study of an integrated biorefinery in Kentucky. This interdisciplinary project will demonstrate an integrated approach to replace coal and petroleum-generated products with sustainable, biomass-based products. his work will be completed as part of a series of capstone projects by a crew of undergraduate researchers from the Honors College, Food Science, and KY-WV LSAMP. Thus, a cradle-to-grave approach will be demonstrated with the potential to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, decrease our carbon footprint, and add economic value to under-utilized waste streams in Kentucky. https://www.uky.edu/sustainability/2019-scg-recipients#Biorefinery


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:

Through a sustainability challenge grant, student and faculty from multiple disciplines are working to develop sustainability guidelines for historic campus buildings. https://www.uky.edu/sustainability/2018-challenge-grant-recipients#Historic%20Campus%20Buildings


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:

There is a 60KW solar PV system installed on the roof of the engineering quad that is integrated with several engineering courses.


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:

The Lemon Tree provides real world, science-based experiences to students in the Quantity Food Production class, a capstone course for dietetics and hospitality, management and tourism undergraduate students. Chef Bob Perry, the department's Food Laboratory Coordinator, and other faculty maneuver students through a series of stations designed to provide excellence in instruction and hands-on experiential learning activities. The class encompasses principles of quantity food preparation and processing, food production and controlled processes, sanitation and safety, equipment and facility planning, waste management, food science, and sustainability. Students also practice leadership, ethical practices, and hospitality with the public.

Dietetics and Human Nutrition faculty and staff also partner with UK Dining and students from across campus to engage on topics of food insecurity and food waste.


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:

Through the Sustainability Challenge Grant Program, students from multiple disciplines, are working on a playscape project with the Early Childhood Learning Center on campus. Our grounds team is also engaged with interdisciplinary efforts with Tree Campus USA, Bee Campus USA, and a stream restoration project.


Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:
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 Purchasing:
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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:

Through the Sustainability Challenge Grant Program, faculty in multiple departments are using data sets from the campus bike share program to develop recommendations for infrastructure improvements.


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:

Through a sustainability challenge grant, a composting pilot project is being planned and a graduate student will be documenting it as a case study with the intent of publishing results in both scientific and popular outlets.
https://www.uky.edu/sustainability/2019-scg-recipients#Compost


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 Tracy Farmer Institute for Sustainability and the Environment organizes an annual water week that integrates multiple courses and assignments with water related aspects of the physical campus environment. Several courses in biosystems and agricultural engineering utilize campus-based hydrology as the basis for course material.


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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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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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:

The University's finance team is currently working with a group of students advocating divestment. There are opportunities for this to become a formal living lab opportunity in this area.


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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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:

The Urban Forest Initiative has developed a series of self-led campus tree tours that integrate learning about the ecology of our Urban Forest with mindfullness and wellbeing. http://ufi.ca.uky.edu/walks


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)?:
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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:
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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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