FAC 7.2 Outdoor environment policy
The outdoor campus environment on each of the sites of the college are botanic gardens with scientific and cultural value that contribute to learning. The plants on the grounds of the sites of the college are educational and cultural learning resources, a living herbarium that promotes scientific and environmental literacy.
Purpose
- To provide guidance to decisions made in regards the grounds of the sites of the college.
- To provide a policy framework for gardens with specific dedicated purposes at the college.
- To promote an attractive and appropriate campus environment that encourages and fosters positive academic and social interactions.
- To foster a progression from an instinctive affinity for plants, nature, and harmonious landscapes to a scientific and cultural understanding and appreciation of plants.
- To display the unique botanic biodiversity of Micronesia.
Application
This policy provides guidance to decision makers, maintenance, and grounds personnel when decisions are to be made in regards the campus environment.
Some college sites have areas specifically designated as gardens and have specific missions and purposes that guide their collection and use. These special purpose gardens are part of this campus environment policy framework.
Procedure
Procedures follow those specified in the master site plans for each site. The policy requires no other specific procedures.
Responsibilities
Responsibility for campus environment decisions remains as specified by the college manual of policies and procedures.
Definitions
Section retained for future use
Sources
Attributes of a Successful Ethnobotanical Garden
Amy B.H. Greenwell Ethnobotanical Garden at the Bishop Museum
Brock University
Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Evergreen Valley College
Grandview Community Schoolyard project
University of Hawai'i at Manoa Landscape Committee By-Laws
National Tropical Botanic Garden
Beyond the Greenhouse
Latin American Ethnobotanical Garden at the University of Georgia
Wellesley College Botanic Garden
FAC 7.2.1 Memorial tree policy
To permit individuals or organizations to request that a memorial tree, or "memory tree," commemorating a person with a significant connection the the college.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is provide procedures for commemorating a person with a significant connection to the college by designating a tree on campus in their memory. This policy has been developed to make sure that this can be accomplished and that standard procedures are followed by all requesting individuals or organizations.
This policy may also be referred to for guidance on memorial benches and monuments that may be placed on campus to recognise events of significance to the campus community.
Application
This policy would apply to all sites of the college.
Procedure
- Requests for memorial or "memory" trees should be made through the respective site director or, at the national site, the vice-president for administration. The director or vice-president will consult with the appropriate campus environment oversight committee when considering memorials for any individual with a significant connection to the college, including students, alumni, current and retired staff and faculty. At the national site the facilities and campus environment committee will be consulted. As other sites the appropriate campus environment oversight committee will be consulted.
- The following conditions apply to the acceptance of a gift to plant a tree.
- If the tree is a new addition, then the donor will provide the tree and the plaque. If the tree is an existing tree, then the donor provides only the plaque. The donor can be the college.
- The committee with oversight over campus environment in consultation with appropriate other staff at the college will help the donor select an appropriate species and an appropriate location for the tree.
- The committee with oversight over campus environment must approve the material, size and text of the plaque. Where possible, a standardized plaque will be used.
- The donor will be responsible for costs associated with installation of the plaque and, if required, the survey of the location of the memorial tree.
- The director of maintenance and grounds, or their designee, will survey the location of the tree and record it in a memorial tree register held with the vice-president for administration. A copy of the memorial tree register for all sites will be maintained on the college website. The memorial trees register records the tree variety, location planted, date planted and the person memorialized.
- If a tree planted under the terms of this policy is subsequently removed due to construction of any type, the tree or a replacement tree, and plaque will be relocated as a normal cost of grounds maintenance.
- Whilst all care is taken, the college cannot guarantee the perpetuation of the tree. If the tree dies or requires relocation, grounds maintenance will manage the replacement of the tree and the associated relocation of the plaque. The details of the date of the replacement, the species of tree, and its location will be recorded in the memorial tree register. The donor need only be advised of the new location and replacement action if changed, when appropriate.
Responsibilities
As delineated in the procedure above, primary decision making responsibility is retained by the vice president for administration at the national site and by the site directors at the other sites. Responsibility for relocating a tree or plaque is retained to the grounds and maintenance personnel.
Definitions
Section retained for future use.
Sources
FAC 7.2.2 Specific designated purpose gardens policy
The specific designated purpose gardens policy specifies the purpose, collection parameters, and maintenance of designated garden areas.
FAC 7.2.2.1 The Palikir Ethnobotanical Learning Garden policy
Provides guidance for the development and maintenance of the Palikir Ethnobotanical Learning Garden.
Purpose
The Palikir Ethnobotanical Learning garden…
- displays plants with significance to the cultures of Micronesia for healing, food, material, cultural, and ceremonial uses.
- provides a living learning laboratory for environmental, botanic, and cultural literacy
- promotes the conservation of native biodiversity
- serves courses which seek to encourage learners to gain local botanic knowledge and actively engage in gardening
- Provides students with a hands-on opportunity to actively engage in tropical gardening.
Application
This policy provides guidance to instructors and grounds personnel when decisions are to be made in regards the Palikir Ethnobotanical Learning Garden.
Procedure
- The garden is intended to be maintained by students and utilized by classes at the college.
- Cut and clear only invasive plants such as the sun-loving grass (Ichaemum polystachum, reh padil) and aggressive native vines such as (Merremia peltata, iohl, puhlah).
- Retain ethnobotanically useful plants
- Retain as much shade as possible. Do not cut Premna obtusifolia (fienkack, topwuk, nior, niyōōr, liorr, arr), Morinda citrifolia (noni, ii, weipwul, nopwur, mangal'wag), Campnosperma brevipetiolata (elahk, dohng, ramluw, rramllaw), or other small trees that provide shade.
- Retain, to the extent possible, ferns. The bulk of the ferns in the garden are native to Pohnpei and should be encouraged to grow. Clear carefully around all ferns and other seedless vascular plants.
- The site contains unique plants with cultural value and usefulness. To protect the garden the site should be fenced in.
Responsibilities
Responsibility for carrying out this policy resides with the instructors and students using the garden; working as may be necessary in coordination with grounds personnel under the aegis of the director of maintenance and the committee for facilities and campus environment. Primary responsibility rests with the ethnobotany instructor and the students of this particular course.
Costs related to course work in the garden and academic support of the garden will be borne by the academic divisions which house the courses using the garden. Costs related to grounds keeping and maintenance will be borne by the maintenance division.
Definitions
The Palikir Ethnobotanical Learning Garden is located in the area around the water well near the junction
of the main road around the island and the entrance road for the college.
Sources
Internally developed policy
FAC 7.2.2.2 The Haruki Cemetery Garden policy
Provide proper cultural respect for those still buried in the cemetery located on the Palikir campus
Purpose
- display flowering and other plants along with the practice of horticulture to provide a beautiful and hospitable setting for visitors
- commemorate those who are still interred at the site
Procedure
Those still buried at the site are of Japanese heritage. Japanese culture and custom suggests that the cemetery be cleaned and maintained twice a year for Ohigan on the spring (21 March) and fall equinox (21 September).
Responsibilities
Section retained for future specification
Definitions
Section retained for future use
Sources
Internally developed policy
FAC 7.2.2.3 Pohnpei Traditional Plants Garden at the Pohnpei Campus policy
Purpose
- preserves and protects endemic and native plants of Pohnpei with cultural value
- provides support as a living herbarium to the certificate program in agriculture
Procedure
Responsibilities
Responsibility for this policy rests with the Director Pohnpei campus, grounds personnel, and garden coordinator.
Definitions
Section retained for future use
Sources
FAC 7.2.3 Littering policy
The outdoor environment policy references the littering policy. Refer to FAC 1.1.1
FAC 7.2.4 Betel nut policy
The outdoor environment policy references the betel nut policy. Refer to FAC 1.1.3
FAC 7.2.5 Campus posting policy
The outdoor environment policy references the posting policy. Refer to FAC 1.1.4
FAC 7.2.6 Maintenance and use of Pohnpei campus grounds policy
To provide guidelines for the maintenance and use of Pohnpei cmapus grounds by CES, AES, and the Land Grant central office.
[Policy predates policy format specification]
- Maintenance of the upper campus ground. The upper campus includes areas surrounding facilities used by CES, AES, and the Central Office. These areas must be kept clean at all time. For the purpose of this understanding, maintenance of the areas surrounding the Gymnasium and the Recreation building is not part of your responsibilities.
- To establish and maintain a small vegetables demo garden for which Pohnpei Campus students can be involved.
- To use all the agroforest areas from the upper campus to the lower campus for the Sustainable Agriculture demonstration.
- You may build small structures induding nursery and demo shed for the purpose of number 3 above and for other programs. No permanent structures will be built without prior approval from my office.
- Any planted trees, especially the lumber trees, may only be trimmed or removed with my approval.
- In addition to the above, [the Pohnpei campus director] would like to see that the Land Grant Office facilities are kept clean all the time. Chewing of beetle nut [sic] should not be allowed in the office and on the immediate grounds surrounding the office. Thank you and do let me know if you have any question regarding this memo.