| Overall Rating | Silver |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 50.16 |
| Liaison | Susan Caplow |
| Submission Date | Jan. 7, 2023 |
University of Montevallo
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Susan
Caplow Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies Behavioral and Social Sciences |
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:
A student wrote a green fund grant and designed and developed interpretive signage for several outdoor green fund projects (bioswale, hammock park, two bike racks, and a solar charging station). Two student interns took the lead on running a campus Eco challenge as part of earth month 2022.
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:
A group from the Principles of Sustainability class worked with University Marketing and Communications to develop ideas for campus-wide sustainability campaigns, most notably one to get students to pledge to recycle.
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:
A student group from Principles of sustainability worked with the Physical Plant staff and wrote a green fund grant to obtain SIMAP software for carbon emissions tracking. Another group wrote a successful green fund grant to enable the physical plant to purchase electric leaf blowers.
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:
A student group from Principles of sustainability worked with the Physical Plant staff to make recommendations for a Green Roof on top of one of our 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:
A student group from Principles of Sustainability researched energy use on campus and made recommendations to the University to purchase RECs to offset carbon emissions.
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:
A student group from Principles of Sustainability worked with Falcon Foods to develop recommendations to move their operations toward greater sustainability. Another student wrote a green fund grant that provided funding for a reusable container program at the caf. Students in the Sustainability Committee worked with the caf to switch to paper straws.
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:
Students in Environmental Communications successfully wrote a green fund grant to have native landscaping installed outside of the COMS building.
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:
Students in Principles of Sustainability worked with the purchasing manager to ensure campus paper purchasers were encouraged to switch to recycled content paper.
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:
A Principles of Sustainability group wrote a no-idling policy for campus. A student applied for and was awarded a Green Fund Grant to install an EV-charging station on campus.
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:
A student group from Principles of Sustainability worked with Housing & Residence Life to reduce waste from move-out by setting up a take-table at the end of the semester. the Sustainability Committee students worked with the Cafeteria to do a no-waste challenge.
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:
An ES capstone group helped develop the plans for a bioswale on campus, and they wrote a successful green fund grant to have it installed. A second student-driven bioswale grant is currently in the works.
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:
A student group wrote a sustainability survey, and another student worker finalized development and implementation of said survey, which will inform decision-making on campus. The sustainability committee students gave feedback on our sustainability strategic plan.
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:
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:
A Principles of Sustainability group worked with the Development office to propose ideas for a sustainable investment portfolio, and to report investment disclosures.
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.