Gustavus Adolphus College

Campus Category

Four year and graduate institutions under 5,000 student FTE

Contact Information

James Dontje
Director
Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation

Education and Research

Gustavus Adolphus has a long history of environmental education arising from its 19-year old interdisciplinary Environmental Studies Program and the Linnaeus Arboretum. In addition to course work that integrates the humanities and environmental science, students often take part in scientific and social research with an environmental focus, including NSF-funded studies of agricultural impacts on water quality, mercury in the environment, wildlife and botanical research, and policy studies. Students from outside the Environmental Studies Program are regularly involved through the natural history and nature observations courses, Interpreting the Fall Landscape and Interpreting the Spring Landscape, taught by a regionally acclaimed naturalist. Additionally, the arboretum is a frequent host to tours from K-12 schools in the area.

Building on that environmental studies foundation, students have participated, and in some cases initiated, the following sustainability-oriented activities:

  • Wind resource studies and planning activities that have lead Gustavus to pursue purchasing utility-scale wind turbines for the campus. In 2009, a student with expertise from that effort has begun working with a local economic development agency in support of community wind energy projects.
  • Developing a campus garden that began operation in the summer of 2009.
  • Participating in national and state energy conservation competitions as well as Recyclemania.
  • A campus theme house with an emphasis on sustainable living.
  • Facilitating discussions about a Community Earth Council in the local community.
  • Planning for a 70-acre prairie restoration addition to the Linnaeus Arboretum (planted in 2009).
  • Marketing studies related to solar thermal technology.
  • Light-bulb exchange programs in the community.
  • Internships in the Gustavus Dining Services that focus on sustainable food and nutrition choices.
  • Biodiesel production from waste vegetable oil.
  • Gustavus’ signature Nobel Conference, held annually, frequently addresses important environmental topics. In 2007, the topic was energy and climate and featured NASA’s James Hansen and Nobel laureate (now Energy Secretary) Steven Chu presenting on climate change and energy policy. The 2009 conference will focus on water resources and in 2010 the topic will be food.
     

Campus Operations

Gustavus campus operations are infused with comprehensive stewardship attitude that has produced some quiet but innovative programs, and laid the foundations for stronger future actions. The campus was severely damaged in March 1998 by an F3 tornado that caused $50 million dollars damage and destroyed most large campus trees. In the rebuilding efforts, the college endeavored to incorporate newer, more energy efficient building systems wherever financially possible. Sustainability highlights of campus operations are.

  • The Gustavus Physical plant staff maintain online records of energy and water use, as well as waste production, that serve as an excellent reference for sustainability planning and student projects.
  • The development of a comprehensive electrical energy monitoring system was begun in the aftermath of the tornado. More recently, a web interface was added to enable better access to the data. That interface (http://gustavus.edu/energy/) has been used in energy conservation efforts.
  • A combination of behavioral changes, light bulb and fixture replacements, and operational changes reduced the 2008 campus electrical use by 10% compared to the average of the previous 3 years.
  • In 2008, there was a major effort to replace toilets with newer models meeting the 2.4 gal/flush standard.
  • Groundskeeping operations limit irrigation to core areas to minimize water use.
  • Students and staff collaborated to participate in Recyclemania 09. The results highlighted the high rate of campus recycling—the best among MN colleges participating in Recyclemania.
  • Campus safety personnel use hybrid vehicles while at physical plant staff use an electric vehicle.
  • The Gustavus Dining Services (owned and operated by the college) utilize an a la carte meal plan that reduces food waste and improves the Dining Service experience.
  • Following the initiative of a student project, Gustavus has been pursuing the purchase of utility scale wind turbines to generate part of the campus electrical load.
  • Planning and design work for a new academic building has incorporated LEED green building standards.

 

Administration and Finance

While Gustavus staff and faculty have consistently supported the quiet stewardship efforts in campus operations and maintained the arboretum as an environmental showcase, the college administration had not made any strong sustainability commitments until recently. In 2007, however, the college founded the Johnson Center for Environmental Innovation to serve as the focal point for campus sustainability efforts, support student environmental leadership, and serve as a community resource. As a part of or in parallel to that commitment, the following activities highlight a growing sustainability effort at Gustavus:

  • Support of sustainability and environmental initiatives has been incorporated into the college’s developing strategic plan.
  • Through the efforts of the Johnson Center, there is a public outreach effort related to wind and solar thermal energy systems.
  • The college has created a forum, called the Kitchen Cabinet, to focus on the intersection of food sustainability and nutrition issues.
  • The Gustavus Bookmark, the campus-owned bookstore, has reviewed its supply chain and tried to verify fair-trade and fair-labor standards among its suppliers.
  • The administration encourages student consideration of environmental and social justice issues through its support for the college’s MayDay! And Building Bridges conferences.
     
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