| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 51.83 |
| Liaison | Leslie North |
| Submission Date | Jan. 9, 2015 |
| Executive Letter | Download |
Western Kentucky University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Elizabeth
McGrew Graduate Research Assistant Social Responsibility & Sustainable Communities |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
None
Is the institution utilizing the campus as a living laboratory for multidisciplinary student learning and applied research in the following areas?:
| Yes or No | |
| Air & Climate | Yes |
| Buildings | Yes |
| Dining Services/Food | Yes |
| Energy | Yes |
| Grounds | Yes |
| Purchasing | Yes |
| Transportation | No |
| Waste | Yes |
| Water | Yes |
| Coordination, Planning & Governance | Yes |
| Diversity & Affordability | Yes |
| Health, Wellbeing & Work | --- |
| Investment | --- |
| Public Engagement | Yes |
| Other | Yes |
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Air & Climate and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Climate Action Plan
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Buildings and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Architectural and Manufacturing students - USGBC students (LEED accreditation)
And the Office of Sustainability is a living lab where students may conduct sustainability related projects and research. For example, "Building a Better Office of Sustainability" was the title of a student's undergraduate Honor's Thesis.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Dining Services/Food and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Social Work graduate students researched food access and affordability on campus, and started the WKU Food Pantry to address food insecurity on campus.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Energy and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Green Kiosk real time energy dashboard used for HRL Conservation competition and by faculty in various courses.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Grounds and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Project Grow is a student organization and graduate research project that has used Campus Grounds as a living lab to implement a community garden and other best practices in sustainable land use. Long-term goals for this project include increased implementation of best practices in sustainable land use.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Purchasing and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Students in SGA are working with purchasing in the WKU Store toward phased elimination of single-use packaging.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Transportation and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
---
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Waste and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Master's thesis on waste diversion and minimization.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Water and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Rainwater collection feasibility study as Honors thesis.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Coordination, Planning & Governance and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Graduate research project, "Building a Community Garden and Engaging Campus Community in Sustainability." This research/project required much collaboration with Planning, Design, and Construction, as well as planning and coordinating with many entities on campus, including Student Government. This research led to the formation of the Sustainability Subcommittee that is currently part of the Student Government Association.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Diversity & Affordability and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Students have researched the topic of Renters' Rights, and have formed the Renters Rights Coalition to advocate for Renters' Rights of students who live off-campus.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Health, Wellbeing & Work and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
---
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Investment and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
---
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory for Public Engagement and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Green Tour Masters thesis.
None
A brief description of how the institution is using the campus as a living laboratory in Other areas and the positive outcomes associated with the work:
Students pursuing the Geographic Information Systems minor use campus as a living lab through practicing GIS locating.
None
The website URL where information about the institution’s campus as a living laboratory program or projects is available:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
---
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.