The above button can direct you to the PROCESS and AH-HA MOMENTS for this STARS project.

STARS is a fantastic database for universities to track this sustainability campus wide. Collecting data like this a first step in regulating sustainable campus programs. The STARS credits I focused on deeply were grounds, landscape management and biodiversity. Significant questions I found in these credits had to do with IMP programs and sustainable landscape initiatives, vulnerable and endangered species and areas of ecological significance.

I chose to look into the sustainability of grounds because of my experience working there the summer of my sophomore year. While weeding, I could think of dozens of ways to ‘green’ up grounds keeping, like growing our own landscaping plants, or planting by seed, strategic planting, mowing less somehow, organic fertilizer, electric equipment, etc but it turns out the campus has already considered a few of these. The campus seemed to me at the time to be relatively sustainable in terms of grounds. After filling out the STARS assessment, I can’t say I’m disappointed in the results. Our campus has awesome landscape management features and programs like the IPM program and storm water ditches, as well as biodiversity research and programs on invasive species, endangered species, and ecologically significant areas. While these sustainable management implementations are great, there is definitely more that the campus can do to enhance the sustainability of biodiversity and landscape management.

The STARS assessment as an assignment I believe gives good insight into what institutional sustainability entails, as well as how to organize a project and contact others for information. I have not had to meet with outside people for a project before to gather information, so I definitely gained good experience at reaching out to busy people. I look forward to using these experiences during my upcoming summer internship in the sustainability office.