SCYP Salem Winter Term Outcomes | |
Student Projects Impact City Goals and Support Career Readiness
The Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP) is in the midst of an amazing year-long partnership with the City of Salem. Throughout the 2023-24 school year, students across four UO schools and colleges from over 20 courses are working on projects to help implement the City of Salem’s climate action plan and equity goals. By engaging the expertise of faculty and involving students in real hands-on projects, SCYP helps facilitate career readiness while making a direct impact on local communities.
Learn more about the winter term projects and what students had to say!
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Engaged Journalism (J 463) - Andrew DeVigal
The class collaborated with Salem city staff, schools, community-based organizations, and local media to co-design a survey and present high-level results to the community. Based on the premise that a well-informed public is essential for a functioning democracy, the project aspires to continue being a conduit for community-driven solutions and democratic participation.
Watch the Capital Media “Sit Down” interview to learn more about the project. A student in the course shared their experience with the SCYP project, "This course was unlike anything I’ve taken at the UO, and I believe it’s in part because there is so much hands-on learning and experience. We immerse ourselves in the community and assist them the best we can. This is an accomplishment for any engaged journalist our age."
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Transportation Policy (PPPM 410/510) - Alex Li
Students focused on how Salem might incentivize electric vehicles; how to equitably locate EV charging stations, and how EVs are addressed in selected large city climate action plans. At the end of the term, students presented their research and recommendations in a poster session for city staff and volunteers to engage with students and think through implementation of the proposed ideas.
After the poster session, one student commented about their experience presenting to city staff, “Getting to talk to people in the career field was an eye opener for me and helped me learn what I would actually be doing if going down this career path.”
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PR Campaigns (J 454) - Attila Schillinger
Students created a public engagement communications campaign for the City of Salem, with a focus on installing heat pumps as a strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
"Throughout this class, I’ve gained valuable insight about being a professional in the public relations industry, from working with teams to creating sustainable campaigns and working with a government organization. I feel more prepared than ever to enter the industry, and I am glad I’m getting real-world experiences to guide me." Thank you to Ella Norton, a senior public relations major, for the writing an article about how the class offered preparation for a future job in PR. Read more about her team's experience here.
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Spatial Justice Seminar (LA 407/507) - Ellee Stapleton
The course focused on how to equitably prioritize parks and recreation funding based on equity needs across the city. Students developed approaches for delineating focus areas and examined precedent studies from other regions, considering factors like demographic trends and historical development patters. Students emphasized the need for demographic data overlay, transportation analysis, park classification, amenities evaluation, and community engagement. Ultimately, student recommendations will support the goal of incorporating equity considerations into the development of future parkland.
As a student in the class shared, “I loved that I felt my work wouldn't just be graded and stuck in a file on my computer; instead, it had the chance to make a real difference. It made me push myself harder to create something valuable to the professionals.”
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GIScience II (GEOG 482/582) - Nick Kohler
Building off work from fall term, students used GIS mapping to provide Salem staff a deeper level of analysis on sidewalk or pedestrian gaps. Students pinpointed issues regarding sidewalk safety and connectivity, green space, lighting, and public transit to encourage active transportation. Recommendations highlighted the intricate relationship between urban design, community well-being, and fair access to resources, offering valuable insights to build a more inclusive and sustainable community. City staff found value in students' recommendations and reported that increasing solar-powered street lighting is already in the works!
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Green Cities (PPPM 445) - Andrew Russo
The course evaluated the feasibility of installing solar panels within Geer Park. Students offered insights and recommendations with a focus on policy considerations, neighborhood inclusion and trust building, cost analysis, and a comparative study with similar projects across the United States. Students may be able to see the impact of their work when the new skate facility opens in Geer Park in fall 2025.
A class participant described the experience in presenting their ideas to city staff, “I think these programs are priceless for everyone involved. The experience the students get and the fresh and rough ideas that professionals get are something that can't be overlooked when apprising this program.”
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Save the Date: End of Year Celebration | |
Who will be the next SCYP partner community? | |
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Over a year of transformative engagement, SCYP matches community identified project needs with the exceptional brainpower of students and faculty to find solutions. SCYP is in the process of securing our next community partner for the 2024-25 academic year.
Stay tuned for a formal announcement of the partnership. There will be an opportunity for interested faculty to match their existing courses to priority city projects. Interested in learning more? Check out the SCYP Faculty Guide or contact us with your questions.
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Extra, Extra... SCYP in the News! | |
Since 2009, SCYP has opened pathways that connect a broad range of Oregon cities and agencies to the innovative, expansive, and energetic brainpower of the University of Oregon. These relationships help create outcomes that extend well beyond the yearlong partnership. The impact of SCYP continues for many years not only as student recommendations come to fruition, but also as students enter the workforce prepared for careers in service to Oregon communities. Moreover, the vast majority of student outputs get incorporated into community plans and projects, creating lasting impact years into the future.
Read more about the implementation and long-term effects of two such projects from recent local media coverage:
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In winter and spring 2022, MBA students in the Center for Sustainable Business Practices worked with the City of Tigard on how to deploy microgrids for their capstone Strategic Planning Project. As the project planner Gary Pagenstecher stated, “I think the MBA team’s report filled an important early case profile for the project that was shared around among local stakeholders and was the substance for the Microgrid Knowledge article that has a national audience.”
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About the Sustainable City Year Program (SCYP) | |
Established in 2009, SCYP is now in its 14th year of partnerships with Oregon communities. SCYP partnerships connect University of Oregon students with local communities to implement real change drawing directly from community-identified issues. Through hands-on learning, SCYP harnesses the innovation of students and faculty to offer communities unique perspectives and ideas. Communities emerge from SCYP partnerships with increased community outreach, expanded conversations, and cutting-edge solutions, while students emerge better prepared to enter the workforce. | | | | |
