Overall Rating Silver
Overall Score 55.44
Liaison Bradley Flamm
Submission Date March 4, 2022

STARS v2.2

West Chester University of Pennsylvania
OP-9: Landscape Management

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 1.59 / 2.00 Bradley Flamm
Director of Sustainability
Office of the President
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Total campus area:
409 Acres

Figures required to calculate the total area of managed grounds:
Area (double-counting is not allowed)
Area managed organically, without the use of inorganic fertilizers and chemical pesticides, fungicides and herbicides 201 Acres
Area managed in accordance with an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program that uses selected chemicals only when needed 104 Acres
Area managed using conventional, chemical-based landscape management practices 13 Acres
Total area of managed grounds 318 Acres

If the total area of managed grounds is less than the total campus area, provide:

A brief description of any land excluded from the area of managed grounds:
Impervious land is excluded (buildings, sidewalks,). Total Property is 420.9016 acres. Total Pervious Property is 318.2693 acres (managed grounds). Total Impervious Property is 102.6323 acres (buildings, sidewalks, parking lots)

Organic program

Percentage of grounds managed organically:
63.21

If reporting an organic program, provide:

A brief description of the organic landscape management program:
Best practices of organic management include mechanical seasonal pruning, tree service, and some field mowing. Sometimes this is combined with an application of our organic compost which is created on campus. All debris is composted on campus.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program 

Percentage of grounds managed in accordance with an IPM program:
32.70

If reporting an IPM program, provide:

A copy of the IPM plan or program:
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A brief description of the IPM program:
An IPM program is in working development. It is not published.

Optional Fields 

A brief description of the institution's approach to plant stewardship:
Plants and trees are cared for year-round. This includes, mechanical pruning, the use of organic compost, mulching, tree service, aeration of turf and under tree drip lines to reduce compaction and allow nutrient transfer. Mulch rings around trees. Plantings include installations of native perennial plants for beds and rain gardens. Plant maintenance in the form of transplanting and replacement planting. The use of fertilizers, herbicides, and pesticides are implemented through our IPM by a PA licensed spray tech according to PA rules on an as needed basis.

A brief description of the institution's approach to hydrology and water use:
WCU has its own MS4 plan or storm water management plan. We incorporate the use rain gardens, retention an infiltration basins, and pervious pavers for hardscaping, that allow water to return to the ground slowly therefore reducing the amount of water entering storm drain systems. Watering of plants and trees is seasonal and only according to need. We utilize two irrigation systems. One for our quad area, the other for our baseball field. Practice fields are watered according to need and implemented through the use of water cannons.

A brief description of the institution's approach to landscape materials management and waste minimization:
All landscaping materials (stone, sand, mulch, top soil) are locally sourced. All of the seasonal debris (plants, wood, wood chips, leaves, shrubs) are collected, double ground, then composted. All of this occurs onsite. The composted product is then introduced back to the soil seasonally during planting, transplanting, and turf maintenance.

A brief description of the institution's approach to energy-efficient landscape design:
Whenever possible, large canopy trees are planted to produce shade. This includes trees planted close to buildings as well as street trees. In more recent years, the majority of plants installed across campus as new landscaping have been native perennial types. This increases biodiversity and reduces maintenance needs.

A brief description of other sustainable landscape management practices employed by the institution:
Mulching blades are used to reincorporate grass clipping back into the turf. We plant mostly native perennials. We use compost made on site from previous years debris, service up to 40' trees, and provide tree protection in construction areas (https://www.wcupa.edu/_information/AFA/Facilities/treeCarePolicy.aspx).

Website URL where information about the institution’s sustainable landscape management program is available:
https://www.wcupa.edu/_information/AFA/Facilities/groundsMaintenance.aspx

Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Data Provided by: Josh Braid (jbraid@wcupa.edu), Grounds Manager, Facilities Division
Data Entry: Lois Howell, 11-Jan-22

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.