1

June 2013

Page 1 KU Center for Sustainability

The University of Kansas has launched The Oread Project, a new program to help faculty from

across campus redesign an existing course – or create a new course – to incorporate sustainability

content. Fourteen faculty representing 4 different Schools participated in the project’s inaugural 2-

day workshop in May. The workshop was sponsored by the Office of the Provost, and led by Stacey

White, Chair of the Urban Planning Department and Director of Academic Programs for the Center

for Sustainability.

The workshop allowed participants to explore sustainability concepts and pedagogical approaches

through presentations, activities, and group discussions. Activities included: presentations from

campus and community resources on using the Campus Sustainability Plan, Building Sustainable

Traditions, as a starting point for course

projects; connecting with community

sustainability initiatives; and integrating

‚flipped learning,‛ a practice that involves

putting lecture materials online to allow more

time in the classroom for hand-on learning,

problem solving and discussion. Participants

also spent time exploring outdoor spaces on

campus, including a walk to the Prairie Acre

led by Professor and Kansas Biological

Services Senior Scientist Kelly Kindscher.

Oread Project participants will use the

summer to revise an existing syllabus or

create a syllabus for a new course offering.

Oread Project Integrates Sustainability into the Classroom By Jeff Severin, Director, KU Center for Sustainability

Oread Project participants visit the Prairie Acre with

guide Kelly Kindscher.

2

Page 2 KU Center for Sustainability

June 2013

Upon completion, they will receive a $1000 stipend that can be used for academic purposes,

including conference travel, books, and other resources that support development of the course.

One such course will be taught this summer. Associate Professor Bonnie Johnson is applying her

experience with the Oread Project to developing the Infrastructure Management course in Public

Administration. The course will examine city infrastructure through the lens of sustainability.

Students will tours examples of sustainable infrastructure on campus and in the community, and

discuss possible improvements on campus.

Participating in the workshop helped Johnson expand her thinking about how to evaluate whether

something was ‚sustainable,‛ and how different disciplines and professions view sustainability.

‚Anyone who has thought about teaching sustainability is pretty quickly confronted by the

different meanings and interpretations of the topic,‛ Johnson said. ‚The Oread Project brought

together professors from all over campus and I was able to hear them talk about and explain what

‘sustainability’ means in their disciplines, from petroleum engineering to anthropology to design to

business to sociology.‛

Johnson plans to build on that experience when discussing the range of professionals city managers

work with, including engineers, public administrators, city planners, accountants, contract

managers, architects, landscape architects, elected officials, and citizens. ‚I can use what I learned

to help students think about sorting through how all these different experts and laymen might

imagine sustainability differently and how we can bring those ideas together collaboratively – just

like we did at the Oread Project workshop.‛

Similarly, the Oread Project aims to create new opportunities for faculty to work collaboratively on

sustainability-related courses and research. Paul Stock, Assistant Professor of Sociology, was

excited by the opportunity to meet faculty engaged with sustainability in their teaching through the

workshop. ‚I look forward to working with colleagues around campus in new ways,‛ he said. ‚I'm

hopeful that the course on food I'm proposing can include assignments and contributions from

people around campus excited about the same themes.‛

In addition to encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration on campus, the Oread Project is designed

to contribute to the goals of Bold Aspirations and the resulting strategic initiatives. Sustainability is a

common thread running through the KU Strategic Initiative areas, which set priorities for research

investment. The project also addresses Goal #6 of the new KU Core, which states that KU students

will ‚Gain the ability to integrate knowledge and think creatively,‛ skills inherent to sustainability

education. ‚No matter their major, graduates of the University of Kansas will pursue careers in

3

Page 3 KU Center for Sustainability

June 2013

Lot 54 to Get a Green Renovation

It seems that about anywhere you travel in Lawrence this summer, you will run into road

construction. This is especially true on campus, as the first

phase of rehabilitation of Jayhawk Boulevard is under way,

along with the reconstruction of Parking Lot 54 at 15th Street

and Naismith Drive. And while parking lots are not the

epitome of sustainability, Lot 54 will be a showcase of

sustainable strategies when it is completed this fall.

The new Lot 54 will feature a slate of stormwater

management practices including pervious pavement to allow

rainwater to percolate into soil below, and bioswales and

underground storage to slow, treat, and infiltrate runoff. The

landscaping on the south end of the lot will also include a

raingarden that will be planted by student volunteers in the

fall.

In addition to enhanced stormwater management features,

the design includes elements to reduce the heat island effect,

an increase in ambient air temperatures that results from

heat absorbed by streets, parking lots, and rooftops. Instead

of black asphalt, the lot will be constructed with longer-life

concrete, which will have a high albedo, or reflectivity.

Shade trees will also be planted in densely landscaped

islands in the parking lot, which will not only address the

heat island effect but aid in storm water management.

By Jeff Severin, Director, KU Center for Sustainability

which sustainability is a key element,‛ said White. The Oread Project is therefore a way to provide

students with the knowledge and skills they will need for their future careers, and faculty with a

way to develop new teaching approaches and possible research activity.

The Oread Project is modeled after the Ponderosa Project at Northern Arizona University and the

Piedmont Project at Emory University. White attended a training workshop at Emory in January of

this year to learn how to apply this model at KU.

4

Page 4 KU Center for Sustainability

June 2013

Even the lighting in the parking lot will be upgraded from conventional metal halide lights to

energy-efficient LEDs. The new fixtures are expected to reduce electricity consumption by 50%.

Although the construction has already contributed to the loss of trees in and around the lot, KU

Facilities Services will process removed timber for firewood at the Chamney kiln and wood chips

for landscaping. And asphalt millings, a construction sign, light poles, and an emergency call

station will be reused in reconstructing the lot.

Funding for the project is being provided by KU Parking & Transit and a Kansas Department of

Health and Environment loan with ‚principle forgiveness‛, essentially a grant with a small amount

of interest payment. Additional support for the project is being provided by The City of Lawrence to

assist with replacement of sanitary sewer lines under the parking lot that have to be upgraded. The

Revolving Green Loan Fund Committee has committed funding toward the cost of upgrading

lighting.

Staff Fellows Deadline Approaching

As a fellow Sustainability Ambassador, I wanted to give you a special heads up that the application

process for the Staff Fellows Program has gone live. If you’re considering applying for the program,

I encourage you to start thinking about it now.

I participated during the 2011-2012 cohort and would be happy to answer any questions about

it. Please note that both University Support Staff and Unclassified Professional Staff are encouraged

to apply. Information about the program can be found here: http://academicaffairs.ku.edu/staff-

fellows This is a fabulous professional development opportunity and while it does take a time and

energy commitment, I think it is worth it!

In addition, when you participate, there is an opportunity to get involved in projects with your co-

hort. I don’t believe any projects have been taken on yet that have any sort of sustainability focus

but this could be that year!

You may preview the application by clicking on the Blue ‚Apply Now‛ box and logging in. In ad-

dition to the online application and resume, a letter of support from your supervisor is also re-

quired. I am serving this year as an alumna on the Recruiting & Application Review sub-

committee, so please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the program.

The application deadline will be Wednesday, July 10.

By Sara Vancil, Assistant Director, Financial Aid & Scholarships

5

Page 5 KU Center for Sustainability

June 2013

KU Bookstore and Socially Aware Company “Alta Gracia”

Form Partnership

The University of Kansas Bookstore now carries apparel made by the socially aware textile company

Alta Gracia. According to the organization’s director of marketing Ripp Scott, Alta Gracia provides

jobs for citizens in the Dominican Republic where the unemployment rate is nearly 90%. More im-

portantly the company pays its employees a ‚living wage.‛ In the Dominican Republic, the Worker

Rights Consortium (WRC) defines a ‚living wage‛ as three times that of the Dominican Republic

minimum wage. The company is certified by the WRC which is an organization with standards for

encouraging and monitoring company policies that fall in line with the definition of a ‚living wage‛

and a safe and healthy workplace. Factory workers’ lives change with their ability to sufficiently

feed their families, build homes, and even send their children to school for an education.

The KU student organization known as United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), which recent-

ly received a Social Justice Sustainability Leadership Award, was important in spurring the neces-

sary change in KU Bookstore apparel. The group of students worked with KU Bookstores and other

University entities to make sure the Bookstore provided consumers with some viable, socially equi-

table products.

So the next time you find yourself needing a new sweatshirt for football games or a new t-shirt to

wear in Allen Fieldhouse, support Alta Gracia and its efforts to create a more equitable world. Don’t

forget to thank the KU Bookstore for carrying their products. For more information about Alta Gra-

cia, visit the organization’s website: http://altagraciaapparel.com/

Interested in Becoming a Sustainability Ambassador?

Serve as a Sustainability Ambassadors for your departments, administrative

units, or student organizations. The ambassador network strives to create a

more sustainable KU through generating new ideas, establishing partnerships,

and sharing information about sustainable research and practices with the

campus community. For more information visit www.sustainability.ku.edu/

ambassadors or email sustainability@ku.edu.

By Blaine Bengtson, Intern, KU Center for Sustainability

6

Page 6 KU Center for Sustainability

For more information about sustainability at KU, visit www.sustainability.ku.edu like us on Facebook at

www.facebook.com/KUSustainability, or follow us on Twitter @SustainKU.

Join Us Contribute

Is your department or organization contributing to a more sustainable KU? We’d love to hear about it and include your efforts in our next issue of the Spotlight! Send submissions to sustainability@ku.edu.

June 2013

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis

of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age,

ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation,

marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender

expression and genetic information in the University’s programs

and activities. The following person has been designated to

handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and

Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 West Campus Road, Room 153A,

Lawrence, KS 66045, (785) 864-6414, 711 TTY.

Campus Rain Garden Work Day It’s that time of year again. The Center for

Sustainability and the Campus Garden Advisory Board

are holding a summer maintenance work day in the

Campus Rain Garden on Friday, June 21st from 9:00 AM

to 11:00 AM. Continuing the efforts of the spring

maintenance day, activities will include trimming old

growth and digging out invasive species. We would

like to complete as much maintenance as possible

before the summer’s hottest months of July and August.

Please email sustainability@ku.edu if you are interested

in helping.

7

Page 7 KU Center for Sustainability

June 2013

Includes: Does Not Include:

White Paper Newsprint

Pastel Colored Paper Cardboard or Chipboard

Brochures Paper or Styrofoam Cups

Stapled Books Napkins of Tissues

Envelopes Food Contaminated Paper

Manila File Folders Magazines or Glossy Paper

Junk Mail Books with Glued Binding

Greeting Cards Paper Bags

Heavy Weight Paper

Includes: Does Not Include:

All Newsprint Magazines or Glossy Paper

Phone Books or Catalogs

Includes: Does Not Include:

Corrugated Cardboard Boxes Soiled Pizza Boxes

Corrugated Packaging Waxy Cardboard

Any boxes that have food

contamination

Includes: Does Not Include:

Other Paperboard Packaging Corrugated Cardboard

Includes: Does Not Include:

Magazines Junk Mail

Glossy Paper Phone Directories

Includes: Does Not Include:

Steel (tin) cans ONLY Aluminum Cans

Bottles of any kind

Sheet or Scrap Metal

Any #1-#7 plastic (salad bar take-out, plastic packaging etc)

TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES &

CATALOGS

Includes campus and municipal phone

books and catalogs with similar con-

struction (heavy-weight cover with

newspaper-like pages)

Mixed Paper

Grades of paper not listed above, including

journals, hard-back books and glue-bound

books should be recycled separately from

other materials.

Shredded Paper

Bags of shredded paper should be tied shut to

close bag completely. Do not put shredded

overheads or any other type of plastics in with

the shredded office pak. DO NOT put shred-

ded paper in, or stack on top of or next to the

regular recycling bins. Instead, contact KU

Recycling for a special collection.

OFFICE PAK

NEWSPAPER

CORRUGATED CARDBOARD

CHIPBOARD

MAGAZINES

#1— #7 PLASTICS

STEEL CANS

ALUMINUM CANS

Includes: Does Not Include:

Aluminum cans ONLY Foil Food Wrappers

Steel or Tin Cans

KU Recycling collects the following materials at most locations.