Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 54.38
Liaison Jennifer Martel
Submission Date Jan. 31, 2023

STARS v2.2

University of the Fraser Valley
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.20 / 4.00
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:

UFV's Shakespeare Garden
The Shakespeare Garden features indigenous plants as well as cultivars from other parts of the world, growing together in S’ólh Téméxw (the name for the territory of the Stó:lō people. In English, it can be translated as ‘our world’ or ‘our land’).

Some of the plants are in the garden because they are mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays. Others are there because they have significance in Stó:lō culture. Plant signs identify the plants in English, Halq’emeylem (where available), and Latin binomial nomenclature.

The garden aims to create a space of beauty, healing, and contemplation – a space for quiet enjoyment and a space to reflect on reconciliation, particularly between Settler Canada and Indigenous Peoples, but also more broadly, to include the everyday ways that we acknowledge past wrongs, stop, and make amends.

The garden provides an outdoor educational space where students, faculty, and staff can learn about the plants and related stories, as appropriate, and how the garden is a space of healing and beauty.

https://blogs.ufv.ca/science/2021/08/04/shakespeare-garden-returns-to-ufv-with-an-expanded-purpose/


Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:

CityStudio Abbotsford & CityStudio Chilliwack (with City of Abbotsford & City of Chilliwack)

CityStudio is a partnership program between the City of Abbotsford, City of Chilliwack, and the University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) and challenges university students to tackle civic issues and provide prototype solutions. CityStudio supports the launch of experimental projects as part of an immersive and innovative educational experience where students and faculty connect with City staff to research, design, and implement projects through which they develop job skills, experience group processes, and network with sector experts.

Students present their work at a Hubbub which is an interactive project showcase taking place twice a year that brings together UFV students to share their projects, findings and recommendations with city staff, peers and engaged community members. Staff also have a chance to vote for their favourite project and mingle with the students, City staff, faculty and instructors, CityStudio team, and others from the innovation community.

In addition to closely working with the two municipalities, students experience large-scale collaboration with the Archway Community Services and Steiner Properties, which bring a not-for-profit and a private company right into the classroom and made the learning experience a hands-on, engaging, and highly impactful journey. City representatives and community partners attend numerous in-class presentations, co-facilitate site tours and field trips, and provide professional mentorship and project feedback both in-person and virtually.

https://blogs.ufv.ca/blog/2022/05/citystudio-hubbub-returns-in-person/

https://citystudiovancouver.com/news/11th-canadian-citystudio-to-launch-in-chilliwack-bc/


Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
No

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?:
No

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?:
No

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?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
---

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:

UFV's Pollinator Garden
The UFV Pollinator Garden is a collaboration between a variety of UFV departments such as the Office of Sustainability, the School of Land Use and Environmental Change (SLUEC), the Biology department, the groundskeepers, and the SLUEC and Agriculture Student Associations, as well as the City of Abbotsford. The garden not only benefits the pollinators, it also provide a teaching space for courses on plant, invertebrate, and vertebrate biology as well as biodiversity and conservation.

Maintaining the garden will also provide students and volunteers with an opportunity to get involved.

https://blogs.ufv.ca/blog/2022/08/pollinator-garden-helps-rebuild-local-ecosystem-after-2022-flood-and-heat-dome/


Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
No

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?:
No

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?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
---

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
---

Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
No

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?:
No

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?:
No

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?:
No

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:
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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.