Department News Highlights

We are pleased to share that the Class of 1981 Scholarship has become an endowment! As an endowment, the account is interest earning and able to sustain itself for years to come. As an endowment, this scholarship will impact the lives of students for many years to come.

Thank you to the supporters who have contributed to this and other scholarships through the years.

The Diversity in Landscape Architecture scholarship was established to support diversity in our profession. It is awarded to a student from an under-represented population who is pursuing a degree in landscape architecture. The scholarship has been funded by gifts from alumni and industry partners who recognize the significance on diversity.

We are happy to announce that the fund has reached endowment status! It will now be self-sustaining and, as such, will impact students for many years to come.

Thank you to those who support the students in our department from diverse backgrounds.

Foundations of Sustainable Systems offers an introduction to sustainable systems and methodologies. Understanding sustainable development efforts through a systems perspective is critical to address current complex and interrelated development challenges. This introductory course is a requirement for students in the Sustainable Systems Minor.

This course has steadily grown in enrollment and is now being taught by Professors Licon and Anderson. For the first time, LAEP 2039 was also offered online in the fall of 2018. Face-to-face and online surpassed 120 students.

During the 2018-19 academic year, LAEP taught 19% of USU’s total enrollment in Breadth Creative Arts (BCA) courses. BCA credits are a university general education requirement. LAEP 1030, Introduction to Landscape Architecture, has provided BCA credit for many years. Approximately 1,000 Aggies enrolled in LAEP 1030 in 2018-19. Many who may have never had the chance to learn about landscape architecture are able to explore the degree while still taking credits that will count toward their degree.

Of 304 students who completed course evaluations from the Spring 2019 course, 98% indicated that the course had an impact on their understanding of the natural world. Additionally, 86% shared that it caused them to make either some or significant adjustment in their interaction with the environment.

We are excited to announce that LAEP is one of two departments that have been recognized as a “Community-Engaged Department” by the USU Center for Community Engagement. Among other factors, this distinction is earned as a result of studio work, ASLA activities, and Extension outreach.

“The power of engagement is incredible,” said Professor Dave Anderson, who was recently invited to attend a retreat for engaged faculty. “The goal of community engaged learning is to create true partnerships that are transformative for both groups.”

A team of USU students, including several from the LAEP Department, placed 3rd in the annual Campus RainWorks Challenge hosted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The group’s faculty advisor was LAEP Assistant Professor Jake Powell.

The team competed against 39 other teams from across the country. Their submission, “A New Heart,” was entered in the Demonstration Project category. The project consisted of a concept plan which would make Aggie Boulevard the new heart of campus, by implementing storm water treatment cells in a permeable plaza.