Overall Rating Bronze - expired
Overall Score 26.10
Liaison Rachael Budowle
Submission Date April 29, 2019
Executive Letter Download

STARS v2.1

University of Wyoming
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Rachael Budowle
Campus Sustainability Committee Chair
Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources
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Air & Climate 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Air & Climate?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Air & Climate:
Students in the Spring 2017 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course tracked greenhouse gas emissions for air travel from the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources local operations and international travel and field experiences. Students developed a fee mechanism to support on-campus efficiency and conservation offsets for these emissions. Throughout the university's Sustainability minor, students learn about the university's greenhouse gas emissions inventory in order to understand climate planning and tracking.

Buildings  

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Buildings?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Buildings:
Students in the Spring 2016 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course developed high-performance building standards to enhance efficiency and life cycle analyses in the University's design and construction standards. Students in the Spring 2019 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course are conducting a building-level sustainability assessment for the University Honors College building and developing a building-level sustainability plan for improving energy, waste, water, building occupant behavior and education, etc. over time. Students in the Sustainability minor and the College of Business's MKT 4600 Campus Sustainability course receive annual tours of LEED certified campus buildings.

Energy 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Energy?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Energy:
Students in the Spring 2016 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course developed a training and behavioral campaign for energy conservation in laboratory fume hoods across campus. Additionally, students proposed a residence hall energy conservation competition and event through the University's pilot green revolving "Conservation and Efficiency Revolving Fund."

Food & Dining 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Food & Dining?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Food & Dining:
A student in the fall 2017 ENR 1300, Foundations of Sustainability course proposed and later received student government funding for and implemented a campus foodservice waste audit. Students in the Spring 2019 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course are assessing all campus food security and food waste reduction efforts and progress to date and are proposing scenarios for future action based on stakeholder input. In spring 2016 for an Honors Thesis, a student in Kinesiology and Health developed a system for donating food from Dining Services to the local Soup Kitchen to enhance community food insecurity and reduce food waste.

Grounds 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Grounds?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Grounds:
Students in the spring 2017 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course developed a toolkit and prepared an application for Tree Campus USA certification as appropriate to our regional ecology. Students in the spring 2018 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course completed a comprehensive multi-stage sustainable landscaping plan for UW focused on low water and regionally appropriate plants.

Purchasing 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Purchasing?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Purchasing:
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Transportation 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Transportation?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Transportation:
Students in the spring 2017 ENR 4600/5600 course developed a Campus Bike Plan outline and introductory chapter to enhance our League of American Bicyclists Bike Friendly University bronze level rating.

Waste 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Waste?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Waste:
Students in the spring 2016 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course developed university zero-waste event guidelines and piloted and established zero-waste event practices at our annual Shepard Symposium on Social Justice. Students in the spring 2018 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course developed paperless campus guidelines, including data collection for paper use in various departments and signage/opportunities for reduction. In the spring 2019 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course, students are implementing zero waste practices in the Associated Students of the University of Wyoming student government offices and developing zero waste guidelines and opportunities for registered student organization events.

Water 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Water?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Water:
Students in the fall 2018 ENR 1300 Foundations of Sustainability course proposed low-flow shower heads for water efficiency in residence halls.

Coordination & Planning 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Coordination & Planning:
In the spring 2018 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course, students collected and analyzed data from peer institutions with STARS ratings, and compiled the results in a report to the Campus Sustainability Committee, which supported the University of Wyoming's decision and ability to pursue an AASHE STARS rating. Subsequently, the Campus Sustainability Committee hired a student STARS Coordinator and two STARS interns to gather and analyze data for the AY 2018-19 STARS. In the spring 2019 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course, students are developing a campus communication plan for our STARS data collection results, including soliciting feedback in a web-based format and live listening session to drive future campus sustainability planning.

Diversity & Affordability 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
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Investment & Finance 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Investment & Finance?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Investment & Finance:
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Public Engagement 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Public Engagement?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Public Engagement:
Students in the spring 2016 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course pursued and achieved a League of American Bicyclists Bike Friendly Community bronze designation for the City of Laramie. Also in that course, students designed an experimental garden for local community organization, Feeding Laramie Valley. Students in the spring 2018 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course created a community food access map and narrative guide for students and community members experiencing food insecurity with local community organization, Feeding Laramie Valley. Students in the spring 2019 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course are completing the City of Laramie's first ever municipal greenhouse gas emissions inventory and developing a protocol for continued data collection in the future.

Wellbeing & Work 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
No

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
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Other Impact Areas 

Is the institution utilizing its campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in relation to other areas (e.g. arts & culture or technology)?:
Yes

A brief description of the student/faculty projects and how they contribute to understanding campus sustainability challenges or advancing sustainability on campus in relation to other areas:
Students in the spring 2018 ENR 4600/5600 Campus Sustainability course developed a proposal and for integrating a "Fix It Space," focused on repair and reuse for waste reduction and student financial security, into the university's existing makerspace. A student completed an honors thesis and sustainability independent study/capstone project in fall 2017, documenting student narratives on experiences of food insecurity and implementing a food sharing cabinet in the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources.

Optional Fields 

The website URL where information about the programs or initiatives is available:
http://www.uwyo.edu/haub/academics/undergraduate-students/sustainability.html

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
The University of Wyoming's Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources Campus Sustainability course continues the systematic exploration, in which students have engaged since the course was first offered in Spring 2005, of the meaning and practice of sustainability, broadly, and specifically for the university and local community. Building from an interdisciplinary understanding of sustainability, students will examine the techniques and challenges involved in implementing sustainable practices. The course will address the history, current state, and processes central to campus sustainability by using the University of Wyoming and greater community as a setting, or “living laboratory,” for applied projects.

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.