Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 53.21
Liaison Alan Burr
Submission Date July 5, 2023

STARS v2.2

University of Wisconsin-Platteville
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Alan Burr
Sustainability Coordinator
Facilities
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Campus Engagement

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:
In 2021 students working with the Office of Sustainability replanted decorative landscape beds with reginal pollinator friendly plant species and placed informative signs explaining the function and purpose of the new plantings.

Public Engagement 

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:
For the past several years, University of Wisconsin-Platteville students and faculty in the Environmental Sciences and Society and History programs have helped establish a sugarbush on the Platte Mound, by tapping maple trees to boil maple syrup and maple sugar as a way to connect with and learn about the history and land in important ways. On Wednesday, March 8, Jon Greendeer, former president of the Ho-Chunk Nation, will help mark the start of the sugarbush season with events open to the campus and community.

Air & Climate 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
Students in Environmental Science and Conservation engage in tree ring research to track the impacts of climate change in our region annually.

Buildings  

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
Students in the Sustainable and Renewable Energy program do many projects that help improve the sustainability of our campus buildings each year. Students in ENERGY 34330 typically review an area of campus for improvements and make recommendations that can be implemented by Facilities Management to improve energy savings. In 2022 a student's complete survey of interior lighting fixtures was utilized for a Campus Energy Plan to reduce greenhouse emission by 30%.

Energy 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
The University's Solar Field was utilized by a student for a primary research project to study the effects of the five acres solar array has as an urban heat island.

Food & Dining 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
Many classes look at ways food can be grown locally for consumption on campus and in the classrooms. Dairy Science has produced ice cream for special campus events, the Greenhouse classes produce food for service in Dining Halls, and, recently, students have been growing baby ginger in the campus greenhouse for consumption in the local community.

Grounds 

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:
University of Wisconsin-Platteville students had the opportunity to contribute to the stewardship of campus lands – an important part of the university’s commitment to sustainability. They did so by participating in prescribed burns across Memorial Park. Prescribed burns have played a varying role in the university’s land management plan for the past several decades, helping to keep campus prairies and savannas in good health by promoting growth of native plant species while clearing invasive species.

https://www.uwplatt.edu/news/students-take-part-prescribed-burns-campus

Purchasing 

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:
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Transportation 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
Civil Engineering students typically engage in a transportation project during Senior Design Project which evaluated the ADA accessibility issues related to the University's football stadium and proposed improvements.

Waste 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
We have had many different courses involved in waste on campus, including the Planet Earth class in Geography, Quality Management in business, and Environmental Engineering.

Water 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
Civil and Environmental Engineering students typically do at least one stormwater management design project for campus each year during senior design. Typically, they review our stormwater management systems for areas of improvement such as replacing the ponds with other management methods. Soil and Crop science classes also often engage in campus stormwater management, last year they did a comprehensive test of campus soil recharge rates to help track and monitor infiltration.

Coordination & Planning 

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:
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Diversity & Affordability 

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:
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Investment & Finance 

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:
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Wellbeing & Work 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
The Health and Human Performance program has regularly orchestrated public events to raise awareness about the community trail system connected to campus and how these trails can help build health.

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
https://www.uwplatt.edu/news/students-continue-sugarbush-work-platte-mound-special-guest-jon-greendeer-lead-opening-event

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
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