| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 57.04 |
| Liaison | Larry Cook |
| Submission Date | Feb. 29, 2016 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
University of South Carolina
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
3.20 / 4.00 |
Namita
Koppa Assistant Director for Program Management Office of Sustainability |
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indicates that no data was submitted for this field
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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 | No |
| Transportation | Yes |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | --- |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | --- |
| Diversity & Affordability | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | --- |
| Investment | --- |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Other | --- |
None
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:
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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:
During the 2014-15 school year, a senior won a research grant to compare and contract green building design and energy efficiency between UofSC's Darla Moore School of Business and the Eleison Visitors Center in Denali National Park and Preserve.
The Darla Moore School Ambassadors are hired to provide sustainability school tours to a variety of audiences.
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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:
A graduate student interns with Sodexo/Carolina Dining to identify sustainability action steps for local sourcing, energy efficiency, waste management, and health and wellness.
An undergraduate global supply chain management student interns with Sodexo/Carolina Dining as part of the Sustainable Carolina student engagement externship program. The intern is able to connect what (s)he learns in the classroom to the development of a local inventory purchasing system (LIPS) tracking local, humane, ecologically sound, fair trade dining purchases.
A team of six undergraduate students are utilizing Carolina Dining's sourcing inventories as part of the Real Food Challenge to determine UofSC's Real Food baseline.
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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:
A team of four undergraduate students utilized energy data from the university library system to determine a new schedule for library lights. These students were enrolled in a sustainability project management course at UofSC.
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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:
The Carolina Community Farm and Garden serves as a space for individual researchers, classes, and student volunteers to explore the multiple dimensions of permaculture design. Key outcomes include the installation of a dye garden, a keyhole garden, double-dig beds, an installed aquaponics and hydroponics system, vermiculture, and the commercialization of seasonal products grown in the garden.
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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:
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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:
An undergraduate Environmental Sciences student interns with USC's Vehicle Management and Parking Services' department as part of the Sustainable Carolina student engagement externship program. (S)he is responsible for development a transportation commuter survey, development of an alternative transportation website, managing USC's annual Travel Lightly Day, annual reporting requirements to AASHE, and internal sustainability education efforts within VMPS.
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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:
Three undergraduate students have been placed in internships with Renew Merchandise, a recycled apparel company UofSC has partnered with during the 2014-15 year. These undergraduate students have promoted the purchase of nearly 1200 shirts on campus from over 3600 plastic bottles recycled. Additionally, Renew and Carolina Recycling sponsored Swap for Swag, a one-time event for university faculty, staff, and students to turn in plastic bottles in exchange for t-shirts, hats, tote bags, and pins. This event collected 45.55 pounds or approximately 780 bottles.
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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:
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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:
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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:
The Gamecock Pantry, a student-run food pantry, opened its doors to offer students sliding scale options for purchasing groceries.
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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:
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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:
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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:
The Carolina Community Farm and Garden hosts a number of community organizations, notably the City of Columbia's Parks & Rec summer camp, entitled Camp GLEA. Using a literacy through photography curriculum, participants in this summer camp learn about cooking, nutrition, and gardening while capturing their experiences on camera.
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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:
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The website URL where information about the institution’s campus as a living laboratory program or projects is available:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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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.