Amherst College
AC-4: Applied Learning

4.1 Applied learning for sustainability program

An institution earns 4 points when it makes available solutions-focused applied learning or living laboratory experiences for students that address sustainability challenges and meets all of the additional criteria listed below:

1. The institution makes available solutions-focused applied learning or living laboratory experiences for students that address sustainability challenges.
2. Three or more institutional departments or units are currently supporting solutions-focused applied learning or living laboratory experiences for students.
3. There are processes or tools in place to assess the success of the applied learning projects.
4. There is an online portal or equivalent vehicle that documents completed, current, and/or prospective applied learning projects. 

Partial points are available and earned as outlined in the Technical Manual.

Measurement

Report on the current status of the institution’s applied learning and living laboratory initiatives. 

To qualify, the experience and/or projects must involve substantive work (e.g., class projects, thesis projects, term papers, and published work) and facilitate active and experiential student learning. Supervised student internships, immersive experiences, and non-credit work may qualify as long as the work has a formal learning component (i.e., there are opportunities to document and assess what students are learning). 

Applicable to all institutions.