Auburn University
AC-5: Immersive Experience

(1) Auburn University chapter of Engineers Without Borders (EWB-AU) This student group offers students immersive experiences in designing and implementing sustainable engineering projects. These experiences reflect and support the values and mission of Engineers Without Borders-USA, in that they involve partnerships with disadvantaged communities to improve their quality of life through implementation of environmentally-sound and economically-sustainable engineering projects, while developing internationally responsible engineering students. Website: https://sites.auburn.edu/stuorgs/ewb/public/default.aspx (2) The Rural Studio program in Auburn University’s College of Architecture, Design, and Construction This program immerses architecture students in a full-time learning and living experience in the impoverished Black Belt of Alabama. On site, they grow their own food, and design buildings and other structures that are socially and environmentally responsible, in addition to being low-cost and thus providing a model for sustainable economic development. Websites: http://cadc.auburn.edu/apla/pages/the_rural_studio.aspx (3) The Alternative Spring Breaks program at Auburn University This program offers to students immersive experiences in understanding pressing social issues and participating in sustainable solutions to those issues. Program website: https://cws.auburn.edu/studentaffairs/communityservice/AlternativeStudentBreaks/ The current experiences offered are listed online, and include a range of environmentally, economically, and socially-oriented projects: https://fp.auburn.edu/studentaffairs/CommunityService/AlternativeStudentBreaks/Trips.aspx NOTE: Only the website for the first program, Engineers Without Borders, is listed below for this category, because the STARS reporting tool allows only one website to be listed for immersive programs.