| Overall Rating | Gold - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 70.84 |
| Liaison | Troy Goodnough |
| Submission Date | June 2, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of Minnesota, Morris
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Troy
Goodnough Sustainability Director Office of Sustainability |
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 | Yes |
| Purchasing | Yes |
| Transportation | --- |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | --- |
| Diversity & Affordability | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | Yes |
| Investment | --- |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Other | Yes |
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:
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 worked to assess the feasibility of a winter greenhouse on campus. Students presented their research about a possible winter greenhouse solution for our campus at multiple events, including at a campus-wide Food Summit.
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:
Multiple students have worked to improve the roughly 3-acre student-run organic garden on campus since 2011. Students played a major role in the implementation of the garden at Morris. Students continue to work on improving the garden. Each year, they put additional land into production. In 2014, they cultivated their largest harvest from the organic garden - 645 lbs of produce.
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=13145
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:
Students have worked on campus- and community-energy solutions with Morris faculty and staff. In 2014, the campus installed a 20kW solar PV array outside of Green Prairie Community. Students have also done research on different electricity pricing models for campus and community businesses. In 2014, a Morris student was awarded a Truman Fellowship, because of his interest and work in this area, one of only 59 students in the United States, and fifth Morris student to earn the award.
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=13047
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=12949
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:
Multiple students have worked to increase edible landscaping on campus since 2014. Students played a role in the implementation of several edible landscaping installations at Morris, including fruit trees outside of the new Green Prairie Community (GPC) and AeroGarden installations inside of GPC. Students continue to work on improving the diversity and climate-resilience of the tree canopy at Morris, planting trees each year in collaboration with the Grounds Crew. In 2015, we we awarded Tree Campus USA certification.
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:
Morris student have worked to change purchasing policies for several products, including paper towels and water. Changes have been made to paper towel purchasing, including switching from more bleached paper to brown paper. For example, in a 2014 class, students delivered a proposal to ban bottled water to senior administrators at Morris.
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:
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:
Multiple students have worked to improve the composting system on campus since its inception in 2013. Students played a major role in the implementation of the cold-weather windrow-composting system at Morris. Students continue to work on improving the process, adding a new sifter in 2014. In 2015, they are working to integrate public school waste into the Morris composting process. We now divert over 30 tons/food waste/year because of these efforts.
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:
Multiple students have worked to improve water infrastructure at Morris. This work has included increasing the number of hydration stations on campus. Students were also involved in the installation of several rain gardens at Morris.
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:
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:
Multiple students have worked to improve the student-run Native American garden on campus since 2011. Students played a major role in the implementation of the garden at Morris. Each year students work on improving the garden. Food from the garden is used on campus and shared with the larger community. In 2014, a traditional Native American meal was prepared and served to several hundred campus and community members. About 16% of the student body at Morris is Native American. This garden plays a role in celebrating the diversity of the student body, and highlights the importance of affordable food for everyone.
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:
Multiple students have worked to improve the “demonstration and learning garden” at the Regional Fitness Center since it was planted in 2013. The Regional Fitness Center is the main health/wellness center on campus and in the community. So it was important to students to have a display garden featured prominently near the entrance. Students also initiated a seed-sharing system at the RFC.
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:
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:
Students have worked on a project to analyze the fate of abandoned and old school building in west-central Minnesota. The project has included contacting community members to learn about the circumstances leading to the school closure and potential plans for reuse/repurpose. Students also developed a “State of Water in West Central Minnesota” conference in 2014, bringing together a diverse mix of water professionals from around the region.
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=12965
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:
Multiple students have worked to develop theater performances and creative works on campus that increase sustainability literacy for students and the public. Examples of this work include: The theater production Sophie and the Adventures of Ice Island, which several hundred children attended. And Fashion Trashion, a recurring fashion show using reused/recycled and repurposed items. For example, in 2014, a student discussed sustainability in relation to scenes from play she directed.
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=12179
http://www.morris.umn.edu/newsevents/view.php?itemID=7837
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:
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.