Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities Economic Engagement Certification

The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) is a national association of universities focused on service and giving back to society.

Virginia Tech was one of the first universities certified for its economic engagement efforts in 2014. This renewal process is being led by a team from Virginia Tech’s Office of Engagement and the Center for Economic and Community Engagement.

What is economic engagement? 

• Interaction with people, places, agencies, and businesses;
• Improving local, regional, or national economies;
• Affecting economic futures of students, faculty, staff, and the residents of the places where they study and work;
• Active participation, intentionality, and investment by universities with partners.

Why is it important to talk about it?

• Communication matters
  Virginia Tech is a large, complex institution, involved in communities all over Virginia. It's hard enough to understand for those of us who work here, let alone folks around the state. Affecting economic futures of students, faculty, staff, and the residents of the places where they study and work;

• Economic engagement matters
  While sometimes we say engagement is in our “land-grant DNA,” documenting what we do and why it matters for people, places and businesses across Virginia, helps us continue the work and improve what we do in the future.

What are we doing, and how can you help?

A statewide advisory committee is meeting this year to help develop Virginia Tech’s submission to APLU.

You can respond to one of our surveys:

For Virginia Tech employees: <LINK>

For all others around Virginia: <LINK>

Join our mailing list to hear more about opportunities for engagement.