| Overall Rating | Silver - expired |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 54.11 |
| Liaison | Sarah Williams |
| Submission Date | Feb. 7, 2020 |
Whitman College
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Elissa
Brown Campus Sustainability Coordinator Office of Sustainability, Physical Plant Services |
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Campus Engagement:
The Sustainability Office is offering project-based internships for students to advance campus engagement for students, faculty, and staff. Interns are developing outreach and orientation materials.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Public Engagement?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Public Engagement:
The fellowship and internship programs offered by the Student Engagement Center connects students to non-profits and other local community organizations, where students do semester- and year-long projects based on the partners' needs.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Air & Climate?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Air & Climate:
Students utilized campus utility records to form the initial campus greenhouse gas inventory. This was utilized by students from the Environmental Studies program to measure and better understand how to conduct a greenhouse gas inventory.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Buildings?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Buildings:
Building operations data (including electricity, natural gas, and water consumption and the greenhouse gas emissions inventory) are used for in-class workshops, student internship projects, and research opportunities.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Energy?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Energy:
We are continuing to install electricity sub-meters on our buildings. This data, as well as data from our three solar projects on campus, are available for use in applied student learning through courses and internships.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Food & Dining?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Food & Dining:
The Whitman Organic Garden works with Bon Appetit as a source of local food produced according to organic standards. Students have led the effort to design, budget for, and propose the construction of a College-owned composting facility.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Grounds?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Grounds:
As an academic internship, Environmental Studies students have been working with the college to identify the trees across campus. They are currently developing a campus tree inventory and map. Additional study is being conducted related to campus carbon sequestration, vermicomposting, mycology, and low water gardens.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Purchasing?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Purchasing:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Transportation?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Transportation:
A group of Physics students are converting a gasoline-fueled pickup truck into an electric vehicle that is intended to replace the truck used by the student employees who operate the recycling program. This truck will also occasionally be used by the Organic Garden. Statistics students are recruited to assist in analyzing the Transportation Survey results from faculty, staff, and student participants.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Waste?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Waste:
Students conducted a food waste audit in partnership with Bon Appetit that informed a student-led effort to design, budget for, and propose the construction of a College-owned composting facility.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Water?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Water:
Students have successfully completed projects through our Sustainability Revolving Loan Fund to install low-flow water fixtures.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Coordination & Planning:
The Associated Students of Whitman College (ASWC) Sustainability Committee participates in and leads coordination & planning efforts on behalf of students, learning how to effectively work within the structures of the institution on sustainability-related issues.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Diversity & Affordability:
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Investment & Finance:
There is an active student divestment activism group that led the effort to divest the endowment from fossil fuels. The Board of Trustees voted unanimously to remove investments from the top two hundred fossil fuel companies.
Is the institution utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work?:
A brief description of the projects and how they contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in relation to Wellbeing & Work:
Website URL where information about the institution’s living laboratory program is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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.