Project #1: Public Space One recently completed a strategic planning process that captured the organization’s evolution and expansion over the past few years and set the stage for a new period of positive growth and change. In its strategic plan, Public Space One identifies practices around governance and decision-making as areas of strategic importance, including the desire to further democratize decision-making within the organization.

Students in the Tippie College of Business course Non-Profit Organizational Effectiveness developed frameworks for interagency collaboration and strategic planning for local arts organizations in Maquoketa, Iowa.

Courses from two University of Iowa departments - the Department of Theatre Arts and The School of Planning & Public Affairs - merged to explore the role of arts & culture in community and economic development, with a focus on economic inclusion and Black advancement in Iowa City.  

As part of their Senior Capstone Course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students identified and connected points of interest on the Camp Courageous grounds with ADA-compliant nature trails for all campers to use.

Civil & Environmental Engineering students enrolled in the Senior Design Capstone course designed a site plan for an ADA-compliant cultural education center at Camp Courageous. 

Civil & Environmental Engineering students designed stormwater management facilities to improve stormwater quality and promote habitat growth. 

As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students explored alternatives and made recommendations to reduce contaminants in the source water that serves Camp Courageous. 

Working in conjunction with the Jackson Clean Energy District (Jackson CED), graduate students in the School of Planning & Public Affairs developed a Clean Energy Plan for Jackson County, Iowa.  

Jackson CED exists to strengthen Jackson County communities in Jackson County by leading the transition away from fossil fuels toward local and inclusive clean energy.  Jackson CED has a three-pronged community building mission:

As part of their capstone project, second-year graduate students from the School of Planning & Public Affairs developed a second phase of a watershed management plan for the Maquoketa River Watershed.  This phase focused on prioritizing subwatersheds for site-specific interventions. 

Background

As part of the ICIGO student organization within the Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, students conducted an on-site tree study and created a GIS-based digital inventory tool for city-owned trees in Manchester, Iowa.

As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created designs for flood impact mitigation measures in Bellevue, Iowa, including culvert improvements, drainage channels, and residentail flood walls.

As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created designs for an Event Center in Clinton, Iowa.

As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created designs for an outdoor Amphitheater in Clinton, Iowa.

The Sawmill Museum in Clinton Iowa has requested a design proposal for an outdoor amphitheater with an accompanying stage and pavilion. The four blocks to the north and northwest of the museum are available for construction of the project. Additionally, a second UI engineering project team has designed an Event Center on the Museum's property. 

MFA students designed and installed a public art piece for the Manchester community, driven by a process of public engagement so that the piece reflected the values, stories and/or identity of the community.

Update from Manchester:  "The City received an anonymous gift of $5,000 to assist in the development of the park area." (Spring 2024)

Marketing students in the Tippie College of Business Marketing Institute developed a marketing strategy to promote the West Delaware County Community School District and to help stem recent open enrollment out of the district.

The West Delaware County Community School District (West Delaware CCSD) is based in Manchester, Iowa and serves the communities of Dundee, Greeley, Manchester, Masonville, and Ryan. The district operates three schools, all in Manchester.

Recent Cinema Arts grad Philip Rabalais worked closely with Manchester city leaders and residents to create a dynamic promotional video for the community.  Enjoy the video below!

Civil & Environmental Engineering students designed a cable-stayed pedestrian bridge to serve as a pedestrian overpass at a busy railroad and street intersection in Waterloo, Iowa.

Civil & Environmental Engineering students created a site development plan for the area around the former Edison Elementary school building.

The City of Waterloo is considering alternatives for redevelopment of a site that was the location of the now-closed Edison Elementary School.  One of the most important considerations for the project would be that it would both fit and enhance the character of the surrounding neighborhood. 

Civil & Environmental Engineering students created a design for replacement of a pedestrian bridge for the Cedar Prairie Trail in Waterloo, Iowa.

As part of the ICIGO student organization within the Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, students used GIS to analyze risk factors and indicators of emergency management hotspots in Waterloo.

Community Risk Reduction is defined as “a process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by the integrated and strategic investment of resources (emergency response and prevention) to reduce their occurrence and impact” (Vision 20/20).