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

Since Spring 2019, including in twice in academic year 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, a Sustainability Leadership class has been offered, led by the Office for Sustainability. This is an official two credit UVA course, listed in the Global Sustainability + Environments program, but open to all undergraduate students at UVA. As with all classes at UVA, a syllabus outlines course expectations, and students receive a grade at the end of the semester - which is part of their transcripe. This class is an experiential, workshop-based course, in which students develop leadership skills in translating ideas into action, using UVA's Grounds for engaged learning – the campus as a sustainability classroom. Students gain insight into a process in which individuals can catalyze change to solve global problems and advance strategic goals on a local level though a place-based, project-based, and human-centered approach. All projects are implemented on Grounds and many focus on peer-to-peer student outreach initiatives across topic areas. Students are evaluated based on how well they connect course concepts to their individual projects - this is done through multiple presentations, short papers, and a final report.

Since 2018, the Write Climate courses inspired by Professor Deborah Lawrence have offered UVA students an opportunity to engage with community members and create art to encourage climate action. In spring 2022, Write Climate: Art & Engagement, taught by Amanda Nelsen and Andrea Trimble, students solicited postcard submissions from their peers with the prompt, “Dear Local Leader, Climate change makes me feel ____. I care about our place and am particularly
concerned about ____.” The completed postcards were stitched together into a scenic tapestry that was displayed on Monroe Hill, carried through Grounds and down Main Street, and ultimately delivered to members of Charlottesville City Council and Albemarle County Board of Supervisors in May. https://www.writeclimateuva.com/

Since fall 2020, including in fall 2023, students have enrolled in a Designing a Carbon Neutral Future course, an interactive seminar designed to engage students in the rapidly evolving concept of economy-wide decarbonization. This seminar provided students with the tools and support to participate directly in UVA’s plans to develop a ‘Carbon Neutral by 2030’ strategy. This course introduced the concept, rationale, mechanisms, and pathways underlying decarbonization. Students became familiar with the major sectors contributing to climate change and analyze pathways for decarbonization. Over the course of the semester, students worked in multidisciplinary teams to select an operational unit of the University with which to collaborate and develop a carbon neutral plan. Weekly guest speakers with expertise in each sector were invited to provide insight and act as a resource for student groups.

In both Fall 2021 and Spring 2022, Professor Ben Laugelli reshaped all sections of his “Engineering and Society” course to focus on sustainability. Hundreds of students heard guest presentations from the Office for Sustainability, and their final projects involved proposing design solutions that would both help UVA achieve our Sustainability Goals and support global attainment of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Students were evaluated via their final projects.
https://engineering.virginia.edu/link-lab/research/smart-cities-0

In summer 2022 and summer 2023, UVA held a Decarbonization Academy. The Decarbonization Academy provides an paid, immersive sustainability learning experience for students who are interested in working towards UVA’s goals of being carbon-neutral by 2030 and fossil fuel free by 2050. The program is open to rising third- and four-year undergraduates and graduate students currently enrolled in any UVA program. Student fellows are assigned to a project topic based on their interests and previous experiences. The projects are co-supervised by UVA faculty and staff (e.g., Facilities Management).

Projects cover a broad range of topics and can be suggested by any member of the UVA community. Fellows work on their projects approximately 30-35 hours per week over the course of the 8-week summer program. Fellows also engage in group learning sessions including panel discussions, tours, field trips and other hands-on experiences. Students and mentors are compensated for their participation. At the end of the program, each team generates a project report and the results are synthesized in an overall report, which is shared with stakeholders and decision-makers.
https://sustainability.virginia.edu/uva-decarbonization-academy

The Accelerated Master’s Program in Systems Engineering’s capstone project for 2022 provided recommendations on carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates (RECs). Teams were tasked with generating a portfolio of offsets and RECs based on different factors such as permanence, cost and proximity to be considered if UVA needs to purchase offsets or RECs in the future. Using systems analysis methodologies and techniques, students examined market conditions, industry trends, stakeholder interests, risk and uncertainty associated with institutional procurement of carbon offsets. These portfolio recommendations will help inform the University on the best path to offset emissions that otherwise cannot be avoided.

The UVA Morven Kitchen Garden is a one-acre living laboratory and an opportunity for students to run a garden and run a CSA business. https://morven.virginia.edu/mkg/ The Morven Kitchen Garden has provided inspiration for student academic projects as well as been a place to create innovative student programs. Students have introduced beehives to the garden, created a CSA program, studied possibilities for rainwater catchment and created exciting programs like Perennials for Patients. MKG Exec is the student leadership group that advises, promotes, and connects the garden to Grounds. UVA students, faculty, and staff are welcome to volunteer in the garden and workdays are held year-round. Once used as an estate kitchen garden by the Kluge family, Morven Programs reclaimed the plot in 2011 when two students recognized the demand for a space where UVA students could experiment with sustainable agriculture. The students’ goal was for the garden to serve as “a sustainable food source as well as a hands-on learning site for students, faculty and community members.” MKG Founders, Marie Schacht and Michelle Aronson are featured in the photo.

Tremendous UVA student, community, and faculty support resulted in the footprint of today’s garden. Soon after came the establishment of the CSA and student research projects. Students began developing marketing strategies for garden development. Morven Summer Institute Faculty began incorporating the garden as a learning tool for the classroom. Student leadership continues to the the key for the vision and growth of the Morven Kitchen Garden.

The Morven Kitchen Garden's goal is that all students involved in the Morven Kitchen Garden would have the opportunity to learn, lead, and connect through sustainably growing food.

Learn – Educational garden opportunities include semester and summer internships, weekly workdays, class visits, student academic projects, and seasonal events.

Lead – MKG Exec, the garden’s student leadership team advises, promotes, and connects the garden to Grounds. Volunteer workdays are led by MKG Exec and garden interns.

Connect – Opportunities to directly engage with the garden, the local food system, and greater Charlottesville Community include garden tours, our CSA program, and events like Gazpacho in the Garden.

Additionally, the UVA student garden held over 40 student garden workdays in 2022-2023: https://sustainability.virginia.edu/student-garden

Also, Teaching Kitchen at Student Health and Wellness (https://www.studenthealth.virginia.edu/teaching-kitchen) is home to the Hoo’s Cooking nutrition education and culinary skills classes.

Their mission is to help students: build skills and knowledge in food preparation, budgeting, and nutrition support health, honor culture, promote sustainability and equity, build community, foster joy and confidence in cooking. Hoo’s Cooking hands-on cooking classes are led by students, dietetic interns, registered dietitians, professional chefs and/or special guests. https://www.studenthealth.virginia.edu/teaching-kitchen

In academic year 2022-2023, Professor Kate Stephenson’s “Food Justice” class participated in over 25 garden workdays during the fall semester, maintaining beds, planting new seeds and harvesting produce. The student team also made 12 trips to UVA’s Community Food Pantry and organized three pop-up farm stands to emphasize the importance of accessible fresh produce for their peers.

UVA Sawmilling: UVA Sawmilling, originally created by a graduate student, is a team of UVA students, overseen by a School of Architecture instructor, who work on projects that use lumber from felled trees on Grounds and fabricate them into lumber that can be used by the UVA community in general for potential material research, and fabrication of furnishings or elements for new buildings and outdoor spaces on Grounds, motivated by an understanding of the under-utilized resources that they are.

The home base for the project, O’Hill is the log site where Facilities Management drops the logs from fallen trees. The students work with local sawyers to mill and dry material for the UVA community. Initiatives include: a Design Build Competition, Morven Student Garden Builds, Student Garden on Grounds Builds, Weekly Student Volunteer Builds, Wood cut printing, a Solar Kiln build with local high school classes, and Alderman Library tables.

The University has a number of build projects in progress and the group is working alongside the architects and construction teams to get the trees back into the buildings. Group build days are an opportunity for students to get hands-on experience building with the team. These builds vary and can typically be done in a short period but are open to anyone excited and willing to pick up some tools and get their hands dirty. Some of UVA Sawmill's bigger events are Milling Days, where they have local sawyers come and mill logs into useable material. This event gives students the opportunity to see how to process a log first-hand and understand what goes into making quality material for any build. UVA Sawmilling students are evaluated based on the events and projects they build, presenting what they do via writing - reports and other publications.

https://www.uvasawmilling.com/
https://news.virginia.edu/content/uva-sawmilling-contest-aims-wider-audience
https://sustainability.virginia.edu/blog/uvas-storied-trees-live

The Procurement Working Group, overseen by UVA Procurement and Sustainability staff, partners students with faculty and staff to develop initiatives that minimize the generation of waste at UVA, including developing zero waste criteria for caterer and hosting training sessions for staff purchasers. The students' work is assessed through monthly presentations, regular update meetings, and a final year-end report.

The University's commitment to using the campus as a living laboratory for Transportation is demonstrated through the Transportation Working Group, under the Environmental Stewardship Subcommittee. The group is comprised of students, faculty, and staff. In recent years, the group has hosted bike UVA maintenance clinics, conducted an employee mode-split survey, and conducted outreach for UVA's UBike program.

In academic year 2022-2023,in Professor Lean Sweeney’s class, “Talking Trash,” over 60 students helped conduct two waste audits in UVA Library spaces, revealing opportunities for future waste reduction projects.

The Materials Working group is comprised of students, faculty, and staff, is under the Environmental Stewardship Subcommittee and also includes several task forces dedicated to specific projects on Grounds. A primary concern of the group participants is the lack of co-location of trash and recycling bins inside buildings. In recent years the working group worked on a Hoos ReUse move-out donation drive, provided outreach support for new co-located recycling and trash bins, and piloted composting paper towels in restrooms.

The UVA Clean Water Working Group partners students with faculty and staff. This task force has an ultimate goal of improving local streams by reducing the volume of stormwater that leaves Grounds and improving the quality of the water that does. A philosophy adopted by the group is that a reduction in quantity of storm water runoff is a foremost priority, which will in turn reduce downstream erosion and transport of sediment, nutrients, and pollutants. In recent years, the working group has created a functional bioretention area, held a stream clean up, proposed and implemented a portable water bar for events, designed signage for a biofilter, and installed a rainwater cistern for washing Facilities Management vehicles. The students' work is assessed through monthly presentations, regular update meetings, and a final year-end report.

The Green Initiative Funding Tomorrow (GIFT) Grant is a $30,000 grant for sustainable initiatives around Grounds. Any student, student organization, faculty, or staff member can apply, and multiple grants will be awarded. All projects will be evaluated on the following criteria:
1. Connection to University: Project directly addresses environmental sustainability on the University of Virginia Grounds or in the capacity that on-Grounds activities directly influence environmental sustainability in the surrounding community.
2. University Affiliation: Project proposal is submitted by a UVA student, staff member, and/or faculty member on behalf of an individual or UVA program, organization, office, or department. Non-university affiliated Individuals and organizations may not submit proposals.
3. Innovation: Project is innovative in nature and does not include routine maintenance or code-compliant activities. Fund may support the gap between code-compliant and more sustainable alternatives.
4. Feasibility and Institutional Support: Project is feasible and has support from appropriate University individuals and entities. Individual students or student organizations must have the signature of a faculty or staff advisor who is committed to advising throughout project implementation.
5. Appropriateness of Schedule and Budget Request
6. Cost/Benefit Analysis (as applicable): Project proposal outlines project payback, lifecycle costs and savings, etc.
7. Environmental Benefits: Project demonstrates a reduction in UVA’s carbon footprint or provides other environmental benefits such as water conservation, storm water management, biodiversity conservation, waste minimization, etc.
8. Student Experience: Project includes opportunities for student involvement and/or will positively impact the student experience.
9. Outreach and Education: Project considers education and outreach opportunities and has included them as part of its implementation plan.

The Equity and Environment Fund (2022-2023) supports student‐led projects and programs that explore the intersections of social and environmental issues. A student committee review applications. Projects funded to date include Greens to Grounds Boxes for Access UVA students and Morven Food Lab's Equity & Environment Fellows ‐ student fellowships funded to enhance Morven's farm‐to‐school research in partnership with City Schoolyard Garden to foster student engagement in Charlottesville's food system. The Equity and Environment Fund is run by students and projects are selected by a committee of students.

The Advisory Committee on Investor Responsibility (ACIR) serves as a channel to address student, faculty, and alumni concerns and advise UVIMCO’s (UVA's investment management group) leadership on appropriate action regarding ESG investment issues and activities. The ACIR is comprised of seven committee members who are representative of the University community and understand its core values. Students are included on this committee, and the committee meets with student groups to hear their feedback. The students' involvement is assessed through regular updates, dedicated discussions, and regular reports.

The Peer Health Educators (PHEs) are a diverse group of 30 UVA students trained to empower their peers to practice holistic health and well-being in a positive, supportive, interactive, and nonjudgmental manner. Comprehensive training prepares the PHEs to facilitate dynamic outreach programs; to plan and implement evidence-informed awareness events; and to promote a healthy and inclusive culture at UVA. https://www.studenthealth.virginia.edu/peer-health-educators


The Stall Seat Journal (SSJ) is a poster created by professionals and students from the Office of Health Promotion. It uses a social norms approach with data from UVA students to showcase the healthy choices they’re making. It also educates about safe, responsible choices around a variety of health issues. The SSJ hangs in the bathroom stalls of first-year dorms, Newcomb, and Elson Student Health Center.

People tend to overestimate certain unhealthy behaviors. One reason is that many of these behaviors are visible, and they draw our attention, like people smoking or a person passed out at a party. Results on these SSJs include: One survey showed 68% of U.Va. students overestimated the number of drinks per week that most U.Va. students consume.

Likewise, people tend to underestimate certain healthy behaviors because they are largely invisible or “part of the pattern.” Studying, prayer and using a condom are all examples of this. 32% of U.Va. students didn’t realize that most U.Va. students, while drinking alcohol, make their own drinks or watch their drinks being made.

Overestimating unhealthy behaviors and underestimating healthy behaviors can create internal pressure to behave a certain way. By correcting misperceptions like these and focusing on the accurate ‘norm,’ students have space to act on their own values."

Through the SSJ and other programs such as the Peer Health Educators, the University has engaged in educating its students on the importance of understanding Health and Wellbeing. Moreover, these initiatives have helped students engage in ways that the University can better serve its students and other faculty/staff.

https://www.studenthealth.virginia.edu/stall-seat-journal