Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 53.11
Liaison Elizabeth Malcolm
Submission Date Jan. 19, 2023

STARS v2.2

Virginia Wesleyan University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 4.00 / 4.00 Elizabeth Malcolm
Director of Sustainability
Earth and Environmental Sciences
"---" 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:
A research student created a sustainability walking tour of campus using ArcGIS StoryMaps that was shared with our Chief Marketing & Communications Officer and presented at the campus academic symposium.

A group of students in HON 110: Contemporary Environmental Issues examined ways that we could add peer to peer sustainability mentors as a form of outreach. They worked with campus life/residence life to identify deficiencies that could be addressed by this type of mentoring program, and are proposing a way to enhance peer education about composting.

An internship student is planning a campus symposium on climate change for our local region. As part of the planning process, she has met regularly with administrators and faculty at VWU as well as members of the Gunn Group who are co-hosting the event. She conducted extensive research on possible speakers and spoke with students to ascertain their level of knowledge and interest on climate change topics. She also complied a list of organizations to invite to the green career/volunteer fair which will be part of the event. She is earning credit for this internship as ENVS 470: Internship in Environmental Studies.

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:
Research students conducted a heat mapping study in the local community to evaluate the urban heat island in Virginia Beach and inform community tree planting and greening initiatives. Students helped to recruit and communicate with volunteers. Over 20 community volunteers assisted with data collection for this citizen science project which was written up in local newspaper articles. One of the students created a brochure about the results of the urban heat island mapping and the ecosystem and community benefits of trees. The brochure was shared with local business and organizations. The students presented their findings at the VWU academic symposium and to the community in presentation at a local church that was open to the community.

An internship student is planning a campus symposium on climate change for our local region. The event will be open to the public. She also complied a list of organizations to invite to the green career/volunteer fair which will be part of the event. She is earning credit for this internship as ENVS 470: Internship in Environmental Studies.

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:
Three research students conducted a research study on the carbon sequestration of campus forests, creating baseline data which will be used to determine the potential carbon offset from maintaining and expanding campus forests.

A research student assisted with the determination of the campus greenhouse gas inventory for 2021 using the SIMAP calculator. The results are made publicly available through SIMAP and Second Nature.

All of these students presented their findings at our campus academic symposium.

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:
For the class research project in EES 210: Meteorology, one student made measurements of the moisture retention and evaporation from a vegetated roof on campus and another compared the temperature and albedo of the campus green roof versus white and dark roofs.

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:
A research student evaluated the potential for future solar on campus or a renewable purchase power agreement. The student also calculated the current solar energy generation on campus from our rooftop solar installation and a solar Smartflower. The student presented his findings at our campus academic symposium.

For the class project in ENVS 106: Humans, the Environment and Sustainability, a student evaluated the feasibility of adding PV solar panels to campus roofs.

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:
Two teams of students in HON 110: Contemporary Environmental Issues investigated sustainable food choices and purchasing for the dining center as part of a class project. The students interviewed the General Manager for Dining Services, researched best practices, created recommendations for our campus, and presented their results to the class and the Director of Sustainability.

A student in ENVS 106: Humans, the Environment, and Sustainability investigated waste generation at the dining center for her class research project. She also interviewed the General Manager for Dining Services

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:
In 2020 a student conducted a study of bat species found on campus, identifying multiple rare species. The results strengthen the university's commitment for protecting our old growth beech forest and other forests on campus and our understanding of the ecological importance of these campus habitats.

Multiple students have interned in the Greer Environmental Sciences Center's native plant garden. In addition to learning about sustainable landscaping practices, a course requirement was for the students to complete a project which was presented at the campus academic symposium. Examples of projects include testing soil quality, evaluating mulching practices, and creating educational signage about wildlife benefits of native plants.

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:
---

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:
A group of students in HON 110: Contemporary Environmental Issues investigated sustainable transportation options for students as part of a class project. The students conducted interviews, researched best practices, created recommendations for our campus, and presented their results to the class and the Director of Sustainability.

The research student who worked on the VWU greenhouse gas inventory listed under "Energy" also conducted a survey of faculty and student commuting habits, which was used to estimate scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions from commuting.

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:
Research students assisted with the EPA P3 funded project "Vermicompost from phytoremediation of stormwater" by designing and demonstrating a novel, value-added vermicomposting method for freshwater algae. Vermicompost and worms from our campus composting facility was used for the research, demonstrating that stormwater pond algae can be used as a vermicompost amendment. Students presented their results at the university academic symposium and professional conferences.

Three students organized our Campus Race to Zero Waste campaign last year, measuring weekly waste and recycling and organizing student volunteers to assist. The students also were awarded a VWU Earth and Environmental Sciences Department grant for additional recycling bins and informational outreach to the campus community to increase recycling rates.

Students in EES 450: Biogeochemistry have measured recycling and municipal solid waste volume to weight ratios on campus for the last three years. This data is used for calculating campus waste and recycling in the Campus Race to Zero Waste competition.

A student in ENVS 106: Humans, the Environment and Sustainability surveyed students to see how often they recycled and what they knew about what kinds of items are recyclable.

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:
Research students assisted with the EPA P3 funded project "Vermicompost from phytoremediation of stormwater" by evaluating the potential for reducing nutrients, mercury and metals within stormwater ponds by algae removal. Campus stormwater ponds that are treated with algacide and those left untreated were used for the research. Students presented their results at the university academic symposium and professional conferences.

For the class research project in EES 210: Meteorology, a student made measurements to estimate the water savings benefits of installing rain barrels on the campus greenhouse and presented the results to the class and the Director of Sustainability.

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:
---

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:
---

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?:
Yes

A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
A group of four students in HON 110: Contemporary Environmental Issues investigated sustainable investment options for the university as part of a class project. The students researched the current endowment investment policies and practices, researched best practices, created recommendations for our campus, and presented their results to the class and the Director of Sustainability.

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:
For his capstone research project, a student in HON 480: Senior Seminar evaluated the feasibility of implementing a shorter work week/class week at VWU. Benefits could include improved wellbeing of faculty, staff, and students, as well as reduced campus energy usage and commuting miles. Results were presented at the VWU academic symposium.

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
https://www.vwu.edu/academics/batten-honors-college/pdfs/bulletins/ExcelsisSpring2021.pdf

Additional documentation to support the submission:
---

Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Information from course instructors.

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.