Graduate students in the Department of English worked with the Bondurant Historical Society to develop multimedia resources that connect Bondurant's past and future, focusing on ways to preserve community heritage and identity in the face of rapid community growth.

Students in the College of Engineering's Civil and Environmental Engineering department created plans to redevelop an existing green space in Maquoketa. The site was created when several buildings burnt down decades ago, leaving an open space. This space now serves as an informal gathering place for concerts and other public events. The City asked the team to provide plans to formalize the area as an event space, adding a permanent stage and restrooms. 

Arman Hodasefat, an MFA student in Cinematic Arts, created a short documentary film about the Bethel AME Church in Clinton, a historic church that served many members of the Black and African American community and others in Clinton.

Students in the College of Engineering's Civil Engineering area completed their undergraduate capstone projects with a focus on Clinton's Riverview Park. Because the park is the site of a new festival is bringing a much larger number of visitors to the area than in the past, the City asked the team to develop plans to upgrade current facilities and add new fixtures to better accommodate the park's evolving use.

Students in a course in the School of Planning and Public Affairs developed recommendations for revitalizing Clinton's alleyways with improved pavers, public art, and other modifications.

Downtown alleyways often serve important functions, such as waste management or service entrances for businesses. However, communities are increasingly recognizing alleyways as opportunities to create unique public spaces while also improving water runoff.

As part of the Senior Design Capstone Course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students completed an evaluation of four historic lime kilns and property in Jackson County, including the kilns, rock crusher, two-span bridge, dike system, aqueduct, and stormwater management.  They also provided designs to protect the structures as well as improvements to the property that enhance the visitor experience.

MFA students will design and install a public art piece for the Manchester Fish Hatchery, driven by a process of public engagement so that the piece reflects the values, stories, and/or identity of the community.

Graduate students in the School of Library & Information Science partnered with Jackson County Historical Society to perform a technical evaluation for building an online compendium of Jackson County, Iowa history. 

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.

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. 

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)

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!