Overall Rating Silver - expired
Overall Score 54.70
Liaison Caitlin McLennan
Submission Date Oct. 31, 2019

STARS v2.2

Utah State University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Brhianna Malcolm
Engagement Coordinator
Center for Community-Engaged Learning
"---" 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:
Yes, art and sustainability have come together through the Art Truck outreach education program. The art truck is powered by solar panels and provides art and sustainability education at community events. The Impact Art Show gives students a platform every spring to communicate their views of the future. The Anthropocene Working Group joined faculty, staff, and students in a one-day conference, featuring a student-led community action training.

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:
Yes, the USU Center for Center for Community Engagement provides students with opportunities to take designated Service-Learning classes, provide sustainability education and service as an AmeriCorps member, participate in alternative breaks or volunteer with local non-profits in the areas of social justice, environment, youth/education, or health & ability.

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:
Through the Student Sustainability Grant program, students have been given the opportunity to work directly with faculty and other students on an Clean Air campaign. Students collected stats on how many students were served, etc. Students have also worked directly with Facilities to install green features in/on USU buildings. Students have studied air quality in Cache Valley and communication strategies for these issues in classes.

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:
During USU Earth Day there are scheduled tours for some LEED buildings. Interior design students have the options to take a LEED certification test at the end of one of their courses.

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:
Students have proposed and were awarded a Solar Panel array for the Caine College of the Arts. Through the Student Sustainability Grant Program.

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:
Yes, the USU campus has a permaculture garden and several native plant beds with interpretive information. Nutrition and dietetics students volunteer in the garden. Students in the College of Agriculture both grow produce in the student organic farm and use it for soup, available in Aggie Ice Cream on Campus to the community through a CSA program.

USU Nutrition and dietetics student volunteers help plan and create meals from recovered food, would-be food waste, for other USU students and the 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:
Landscape architecture students do work on select project sites, including native and water-wise landscaping.

Purchasing 

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

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:
A student with an internship for credit has been working on the Green Office program, including working with purchasing on making products with environmental attributes more accessible.

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:
The campus has covered bike parking and three bike fix-it stations, many of which were projects implemented by students. The institution funds Aggie Blue Bikes, a program that provides bicycle education and lending. Aggie Blue Bikes employs students. In addition, students have organized projects to promote Zimride rideshare. Students in the bioregional planning MS program occasionally choose projects relating to multi-modal connectivity.

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:
Students in environmental engineering regularly do waste audits on campus and in the community. The recycling center is open for class tours. Student volunteers at USU tailgate events to promote recycling and educating the public on waste.

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:
USU won the H20ath grant in 2018/2019 to create a project at the LAEP house for a more water wise lawn. Students also won third place in the EPA National Stormwater Challenge.

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
The university planning and design office hosts an internship to assist with master planning projects. Additionally, students participate in master planning charrettes.

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
Yes, students are given opportunities to work with the refugee and immigrant communities through multiple community-engaged learning classes and volunteer opportunities. For example, student designed curriculum and implemented a citizenship class for refugee community members and drivers license training class for Latino/Hispanic adults.

Campus Kitchen USU works with students to give access to free (affordable food) as well as the Student Nutrition Access Center (SNAC) pantry.

The new USU 2160: Community Voices class works with diverse groups, including guests from LGBTQ, LatinX, Disability Center, and other organizations.

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?:
No

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
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Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
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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.