A mixture of group activities, targeted discussions and completion of real-world tasks/projects provides students in our Environmental Policy and Law course with an edge over other job applicants. Informational modules and projects developed and available online by VIDL Network provide hands-on environmental consulting experience to students.

Informational modules regarding the basics of an environmental topic are initially reviewed by the students individually through the VIDL Network online platform. The students then work through a "project" in small groups to complete each of the actual steps required to develop the "project deliverable" which is comparable to what would be provided to a client by an environmental consulting company or in-house environmental compliance staff. Discussions are held in class periods of each of the steps that go into each project to ensure that students understand the material.

Two units using the VIDL modules/projects are completed by students during the semester. Students review online informational modules about Environmental Compliance and Industrial Stormwater Pollution Prevention within the VIDL Network website. Students are then assigned to groups of two to four to develop an Industrial Stormwater Pollution Prevention plan (SWPPP) for a theoretical industrial facility with multiple stormwater features in the VIDL website. The students work through each of the steps an environmental professional would complete when developing a real-world SWPPP.

The second VIDL unit includes a review of modules about environmental due diligence and the Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) process. Students work in their groups to complete the various tasks that go into preparation of an actual Phase I ESA report. Upon completion of the project, students come away with an in-depth understanding of the due diligence/Phase I ESA process, having actually worked through a real-life scenario and applied their new-found knowledge to develop and complete the ESA.