About the Sustainable City Year Program
The Sustainable City Year Program is an innovative university-community partnership program founded by the Sustainable Cities Institute (SCI) at the University of Oregon in 2009-10. In this unique model, existing courses, faculty, and students from across campus are purposefully directed toward a single Oregon community over an academic year to address vexing issues identified by the community. SCYP and the students, faculty, and communities it partners with are a shining example of Oregon innovation, leadership, and how leveraging resources can contribute to meaningful, additional, and society-wide value.
SCYP is more than just students working on a project for a class. It is creating Oregon’s future workforce, developing a connection with local government and Oregon communities, and generating creative, out of the box ideas by high achieving students and faculty experts. The projects that SCYP works on are prioritized by our partners, which means they are important and relevant. It is difficult to put a limit on SCYP’s potential, just as communities have limitless possibilities to improve the quality of life for their residents, businesses, and visitors.
Financial support provided by the US Department of Education through Congressionally Directed Spending sponsored by Congressman Peter DeFazio and US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley and the City of Salem partnership with the University of Oregon.
Partnering with SCYP
Cities and public agencies apply to partner with SCYP – detailed information about the partnership and application is part of Request for Proposals.
2023-24 Partner
City of Salem
After more than a decade, the Sustainable City Year Program will be returning to the City of Salem for a partnership for the 2023-24 school year. Oregon’s second largest city (179,605; 2022) and State’s capital is located in the heart of the Willamette Valley.
Salem is in the midst of sustained, steady growth. The city has been anticipating and planning for the impacts of climate change, among other important issues. The breadth of classes reflects Salem’s interests in a wide range of topics, with a course underway in summer 2023 and courses in journalism, architecture, geography, planning, and public administration planned for during the 2023-24 school year. Additional courses and disciplines will be added throughout the year as project and course matches are made.
This SCYP and City of Salem partnership is possible in part due to support from U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as former Congressman Peter DeFazio, who secured federal funding for SCYP through Congressionally Directed Spending. With additional funding from the city, the partnership will allow UO students and faculty to study and make recommendations on city-identified projects and issues.
SUMMER & FALL 2023
The Role of Artificial Intelligence for Cities
- City Partner Leads: Krishna Namburi and Courtney Knox Busch
- Class: Green Cities I (PPPM 445)
- Faculty: Ric Stephens
Project Description:Students completed an analysis of key Artificial Intelligence applications, case studies, and challenges. Resources presented to the City of Salem included model city policies, draft informational public meeting format, AI software and applications, implementation actions, glossary, and research references.
FALL 2023
City Operations Fee Evaluation
- City Partner Leads: Josh Eggleston, Alicia Blalock, and Courtney Knox Busch
- Class: Public Budgeting (PPPM 629)
- Faculty: Rebecca Lewis
Project Description: The City of Salem wanted to examine how to assess and collect its operations fee equitably and efficiently. Students considered balance among user groups (commercial, industrial, institutional, public, residential) and within residential types (single family, multi-family). Initial findings suggest that the City consider charging commercial businesses based on Car Trips per Day or Business Traits and residential properties based on Home Size or Trip Generation since these approaches best fulfill the criteria of equity, administrative efficiency, and productivity.
FALL 2023
Volunteerism and Civic Engagement – The Next Wave
- City Partner Leads: Courtney Knox Busch, Amanda Sitter, Marilyn Daily, Nicole Miller, and Trevor Smith
- Class: Strategic Planning & Cases (J 453)
- Faculty: Dean Mundy
Project Description: Salem relies on diverse volunteers, from the mayor and city council to volunteer boards and commissions. Journalism students helped the city identify what the “next wave” of volunteers will look like and recommended engagement strategies for targeted publics that included the Hispanic community, young families, GenZ, and youth volunteers.
FALL 2023 and WINTER 2024
Walkability and Corridor Assessments
- City Partner Leads: Dan Brown, Julie Hanson, Rochelle Reguitti, and Courtney Knox Busch
- Class: GIScience II (GEOG 482/582)
- Faculty: Nick Kohler
Project Description: Using GIS mapping, students identified sidewalk and pedestrian gaps or redundancies, as well as ways to reduce these gaps. Students also surveyed and assessed certain corridors, which included an equity and demographic analysis, a network connectivity and land use analysis, and made recommendations to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety; sidewalk accessibility; and create more equitable and walkable neighborhoods.
FALL 2023
Timber Tectonics in the Digital Age
- City Partner Leads: Robert Romanek, Courtney Knox Busch, and Dylan McDowell
- Community Partners: Highland Neighborhood Association
- Class: Timber Tectonics in the Digital Age (ARCH 484/584)
- Faculty: Nancy Cheng (UO), Mariapaola Riggio (OSU)
Project Description: Architecture, Wood Science, and Engineering students designed and constructed a temporary structure for the Salem Parks Department using “kit-of-parts” construction methods. Centered on the adaptable nature of reciprocal frame construction, students focused on the sustainable reuse of panel materials such as plywood and Mass Plywood Panels. The kit-of parts method meant the structure could be quickly deployed to add immediate benefit to a neighborhood as well as dissembled, moved, and reassembled.
FALL 2023
Climate Action Public Relations Campaign – Reduce Idling
- City Partner Leads: Courtney Knox Busch, Heather Dimke, and Julianah Douglas
- Class: Public Relations Campaigns (J 454)
- Faculty: Attila Schillinger
Project Description: Across three terms, Public Relations capstone students focused on unique public engagement campaigns to educate and create behavior change among Salem residents to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Students developed a community education campaign focused on “The Lowest Hanging Cherry – Stop Idling.” Students developed positive messaging to stop idling starting with city employees who can lead by example; educating youth, who can help influence their parents/guardians; and spreading awareness on the health risks associated with vehicle idling.
WINTER 2024
Climate Action Public Relations Campaign – Heat Pumps
- Faculty: Attila Schillinger
- City Partner Leads: Julianah Douglas and Courtney Knox Busch
- Class: Public Relations Campaigns (J 454)
Project Description: Across three terms, Public Relations capstone students focused on unique public engagement campaigns to educate and create behavior change among Salem residents to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Students developed a two-part campaign strategy: 1) storytelling focused on early adopters of heat pumps within the Salem community and using peer-to-peer communication to help educate others on the benefits and 2) overcoming common barriers to heat pump adoption, such as cost, with action-oriented language and relationships with potential partners. To support these strategies, students developed deliverables such as a new website, tabling materials, postcards, event invitation flyers, yard signs, stickers, news segments, and social media content.
SPRING 2024
Climate Action Public Relations Campaign – Active Transportation
- Faculty: Attila Schillinger
- City Partner Leads: Julianah Douglas and Courtney Knox Busch
- Class: Public Relations Campaigns (J 454)
Project Description: Across three terms, Public Relations capstone students focused on unique public engagement campaigns to educate and create behavior change among Salem residents to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Students created a framework centered around behavior change to encouraging active transportation. The class leveraged work from the Safe and Connected Salem Bicycle Transportation projects to positively encourage the Salem community to utilize alternative forms of transportation, including walking, biking, and transit.
WINTER 2024
The Digital Divide and the Future of Civic Engagement
- City Partner Leads: Laurie Shaw Casarez and Courtney Knox Busch
- Class: Engaged Journalism (J 463/563)
- Faculty: Andrew DeVigal
Project Description: Information gaps are where misinformation breeds, and accountability goes to die. We aim to address that in Salem as students in this class will co-create a survey and host community listening sessions. The initiative has dual objectives: to enhance local news and civic information's quality and reach and to build stronger, more resilient community bonds. Rooted in the conviction that a well-informed public is essential for a functioning democracy, the project aspires to be a conduit for community-driven solutions and democratic participation.
WINTER 2024
Equity-Centered Parks & Recreation Case Studies
- City Partner Leads: Rob Romanek, Raymond Joseph, and Dylan McDowell
- Class: Spatial Justice Seminar (LA 407/507)
- Faculty: Ellee Stapleton
Project Description: Using GIS analysis and case study research, students made recommendations on how to prioritize parks and recreation funding across the city based on equity considerations.
WINTER 2024
Electric Vehicle Charging
- Faculty: Alex Li
- City Partner Leads: Julianah Douglas and Courtney Knox Busch
- Class: Transportation Policy (PPPM 410/510)
Project Description: Students made recommendations on how Salem might incentivize electric vehicles; how to equitably locate EV charging stations based on GIS analysis, and how EVs are addressed in selected large city climate action plans, and how that might be helpful information for Salem.
WINTER 2024
City Facilities Solar
- Faculty: Andrew Russo
- City Partner Leads: Julianah Douglas, Rob Romanek, and Courtney Knox Busch
- Class: Green Cities II (PPPM 445)
Project Description: 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.
WINTER & SPRING 2024
Parks Foundation Strategic Planning
- City Partner Lead: Courtney Knox Busch
- Salem Parks Foundation Lead: Carol Snyder
- Class: Nonprofit Management Consultancy (PPPM 620)
- Faculty: Dyana Mason, Elena Fracchia
Project Description: The Salem Parks Foundation sought help with board development to include greater representation of diverse groups that more fully reflect the Salem community. Project deliverables focused on a board assessment and diversity plan, best practice review, and strategic planning with a timeline for implementation.
WINTER AND SPRING 2024
Boardwalks and Beavers
- Faculty: Patrick McLaughlin
- City Partner Leads: Rob Romanek and Aaron Kimsey
- Class: Portland State University Civil & Environment Engineering Capstone (PSU CE 484)
Project Description: To allow for greater use of Minto-Brown Island Park’s floodplain areas while allowing for beaver recovery, Portland State University Engineering students explored the feasibility of developing a quarter-mile long elevated bypass. This boardwalk proposal included design alternatives that could be used to estimate construction costs and potentially secure funding for final design and construction. Student deliverables also included a site plan, project alternative cross sections, and a matrix differentiating alternatives based on key criteria such as capital cost, maintenance cost, environmental impacts, and user experience.
SPRING 2024
Equity-Centered Park Assets Condition Assessment
- City Partner Leads: Robert Romanek, Raymond Joseph, and Courtney Knox Busch
- Class: Equitable Urban Parks (LA 407/507)
- Faculty: Ellee Stapleton
Project Description: Students supported the city’s park planning efforts by developing and testing methods for assessing the condition, performance, and user experience of Salem’s parks. Students considered park service, quality, and classification, and explored how these factors relate to equity. Students also developed and implemented data collection methods to evaluate park conditions and performance.
SPRING 2024
Age Friendly Communities
- City Partner Leads: Courtney Knox Busch, Marilyn Daily
- Class: Planning for All Ages (PPPM 407/507)
- Faculty: Alex Li
Project Description: Students conducted case studies to help Center 50+, the City’s largest senior center, advance their aging-related services and activities with a specific focus on current priorities—transportation, housing, and interagency collaboration.
SPRING 2024
Safe and Connected Salem: Bicycle Transportation Options
- City Partner Leads: Julie Hanson, Courtney Knox Busch, Julianah Douglas, and Peter Domine
- Community Partners: Salem Bike Vision, Salem Bicycle Club, Oregon Department of Transportation, and Mid-Willamette Valley, Council of Governments
- Class: Topics in Bicycle Transportation (PPPM 438/538)
- Faculty: Marc Schlossberg
Project Description: Students examined a variety of challenges, perspectives, and possible solutions related to bicycle transportation in Salem, such as multi-use paths and other ways to make streets more bicycle-friendly; safe routes to school opportunities; local and regional bicycle tourism opportunities; and bicycling-centered marketing campaigns. Student recommendations supported bicycle transportation opportunities that were safe, connected, and comfortable for all users.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the City of Salem for the opportunity to be a part of Salem’s future. Special thanks to Courtney Knox Busch, Strategic Initiatives Manager, for serving as the lead contact for project coordination and support. SCYP also acknowledges the Salem City Council, Mayor, and staff.
This SCYP and City of Salem partnership is possible, in part, with support from U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, as well as former Congressman Peter DeFazio, who secured federal funding for SCYP through Congressionally Directed Spending and the US Department of Education. With additional matching funds from the City of Salem, the partnership will allow UO students and faculty to study and make recommendations on city-identified projects and issues.