Virginia Commonwealth University
AC-8: Campus as a Living Laboratory

Institution is utilizing its infrastructure and operations as a living laboratory for applied student learning for sustainability.The applied learning for sustainability initiative includes living laboratory projects that contribute to understanding or advancing sustainability in at least one of the following impact areas:

• Campus Engagement
• Public Engagement
• Air & Climate
• Buildings
• Energy
• Food & Dining
• Grounds
• Purchasing
• Transportation
• Waste
• Water
• Coordination & Planning
• Diversity & Affordability
• Investment & Finance
• Wellbeing & Work

This credit includes substantive work (e.g., class projects, thesis projects, term papers, published papers) that involves active and experiential student learning (see the Credit Example in the Technical Manual). Supervised student internships and non-credit work may count as long as the work has a formal learning component (i.e., there are opportunities to document and assess what students are learning).

Projects that utilize the local community as a living laboratory to advance sustainability may be included under Public Engagement. A single, multidisciplinary living lab project may simultaneously address up to three of the areas listed above.

This credit applies to all institutions where students attend the physical campus.

An institution earns 0.4 points for each impact area addressed, regardless of how many projects address each area. Institutions with projects that collectively address 10 or more areas earn the maximum of 4 points available for this credit.

Timeframe

Projects and initiatives currently in progress or conducted within the three years prior to the anticipated date of submission are eligible for this credit.   

Sampling and Data Standards

Not applicable.