On April 15, the UC Davis Department of Human Ecology hosted a site visit from the Landscape Architectural Accreditation Board as part of the re-accreditation process for the university’s Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture program. While accreditation visits are a formal step in maintaining program standards, this one also served as a celebration of student creativity, collaboration, and sustainability in action.

As part of the visit, the team toured the campus, reviewed student work, and met with faculty, staff, and students. One of the locations they toured included a brief but impactful visit with the UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden, or APG, at the Gorman Museum of Native American Art landscape—a site designed, installed, and maintained by students on the Learning by Leading™ Sustainable Horticulture team. The reviewers arrived to find a garden planted by the team over the last two years in full bloom, with current interns preparing an additional garden bed with the design they developed over the winter quarter

The accreditation team was also captivated by the landscape next to the UC Davis Library. According to Carmia Feldman, assistant director at the Arboretum and Public Garden, the team was so impressed by the space that they stopped to take photos and watch the hummingbirds in the garden. They were particularly struck by the fact that this landscape, too, had been designed, planted, and is currently maintained by students.

Carmia Feldman helped coordinate the APG’s involvement in the visit. This year’s meeting served as a strong opportunity to showcase how deeply connected the APG is to the student learning experience—especially for those in Landscape Architecture and Sustainable Environmental Design, or SED.

Student leaders Dyanna Perez and Amelia Swanson, both Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design majors, spoke with the accreditation team about how their work in the Learning by Leading™ program deepened their understanding of planting design, maintenance, and ecological stewardship. As former interns who jumped into leadership roles this year, they reflected on how the experience built on their classroom learning and prepared them for future careers.

Also attending was Andrew Fulks, another assistant director of the Arboretum and Public Garden and landscape architecture alumnus. He shared insight into how the program supports LDA and SED students with hands-on design opportunities that span the full project cycle—from design charrettes to installation and long-term care. His perspective helped reinforce the value of the student experience and the strong connection between academics and real-world application.

APG’s participation in this year’s process highlighted the growing role that student-centered partnerships play in design education at UC Davis. The UC Davis Landscape Architecture program has consistently maintained its accreditation status, with formal reviews typically occurring every six-years. Results from this year’s visit are expected later this year.

By the end of the visit, it was clear that UC Davis students are not only designing landscapes—they’re building them, learning from them, and shaping the future of the field in the process.