Measuring Sustainability

(photo taken from  https://newsroom.iza.org/en/archive/research/telework-increases-employees-stress-levels/ ) The other day I was browsing Facebook and sipping a cup of coffee, as I have done most mornings since the stay-at-home orders began, and I was struck by a headline I saw shared by a friend: " Early journal submission data suggest COVID-19 is tanking women's research productivity ." While this certainly wasn't the first piece about gender inequality during COVID-19 that I've seen being shared around social media, I had just happened to come across this one while finally beginning to process the ways in which my own research, courses, summer intensives, and conferences had been affected, if not cancelled. With a twinge of disappointment, I clicked... and I read. This article from Inside Higher Ed explains what many of us fellow women in academia knew was coming: as life moves rapidly back into the home, women researchers are no longer researching. They ...

This semester I had the opportunity to research the Campus Pride Index , which is a measurement tool for assessing LGBTQ-friendly policy, programs, and practices for higher institutions. This tool was originally developed in 2007 by the national non-profit Campus Pride in response to the increasing demand for tools and resources and is currently the only index of its kind. This tool was created using five primary goals: Set forth a national standard of LGBTQ-inclusive benchmarks when it comes to policies, programs, and practices. Offer an ongoing, effective measurement tool to improve the quality of life for LGBTQ and ally people on campus.  Provide an accessible online tool for prospective students and families as well as high school guidance counselors to search LGBTQ-friendly campuses.  Support campuses in recruitment and retention efforts for LGBTQ students, faculty, and staff.   Advocate nationally for further LGBTQ and ally progress by highlighting p...

Sustainable Food Waste on Campus Teach-in Food waste is number twelve on the list of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, “the blueprint for peace and prosperity for all of mankind and the planet.” (1)  “The goal is to ensure sustainable production patterns and consumption through promoting energy, resource efficiency, providing access to basic services, sustainable infrastructure, and quality of life for all humans .”(1)   The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service reports that 22 million pounds of food are wasted each year on college campuses, with the average college student producing about 142 pounds. (2) This accounts for $44 million wasted per year. (3)  Indiana University South Bend can reduce 50% of food waste on campus by 2030 by improving sustainable food management practices that prioritize, prevent, and divert wasted food.   Recommendations: Develop a collaborative strategy, set clear ...

Link to presenation:  Vermicompost Teach In By Jeremiah J. Sult

Matzler, K. 272 Importance-Performance Analysis: The Right Tool for Measuring Success Watch Teach In here Executive Summary Importance- performance analysis (IPA) is a graph that measures how important and how satisfactory a performance is based on four different areas. IPA is largely used today in hospitality and tourism because it is focused on consumer-driven improvement opportunities. The analysis directly involves consumers and visitors in the measurement process by having people rate what they believe is important and what is performed well. The information provided is put in the four quadrant graph to outline weaknesses and strengths (as seen above). From here organizations can create a strategic plan to enhance areas they perform weak in, reallocate resources in areas that are deemed unimportant, and see what is already performed well. Call to Action I am suggesting applying this tool to parks education and outreach programming. P...

Gardening for Wildlife Teach-In Video Here :) photo credit: E. Simeri The National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife program was created in 1973 and since that time people have used its framework to plant with a purpose and create beautiful spaces that support birds, butterflies and other wildlife. The Certified Community Wildlife Habitat and Individual Habitat Certification Programs are part of the Garden for Wildlife Program. The Community Wildlife Habitat Certification Program is a partnership between the NWF and communities of all kinds and combines individual home, business and school certifications with education, outreach and organizing activities and provides a proven framework to engage communities through shared conversation and actions. The NWF is mapping certified habitats which help to create corridors of connectivity and counteract habitat fragmentation and species decline. Individual yards may be small, but they make up a large percentage of urban ...

Plastic is a miracle material. Plastic helped revolutionize our day to day living. Plastics packaging saves fuel and decreases emissions during transportation. Plastic water supply systems and plastic storage tanks provide clean water free of heavy metals. Plastic products for medical applications contribute to improved health and wellness.  And plastic is cheap, and because it is, it’s everywhere, resulting in one of our planet’s greatest environmental challenges. Our oceans have been used as a dumping ground, killing marine life. In cities around the world, plastic waste clogs drains, causing floods and breeding disease. Consumed by livestock, it also finds its way into the food chain. Single-use plastic bags account for billions of pounds of all plastic waste globally, and much of it is thrown away within just a few minutes of its first use. When discarded in landfills or in the environment, plastic bags can take over 500 years to decompose. Now the good news. A growing numb...