Planning & Public Affairs

The School of Planning and Public Affairs is committed to admitting a diverse student body and supporting a learning environment in which many values and perspectives contribute to the richness of the educational experience, to the fields of planning, public policy, and public administration, and to the communities in which we we live and work.

 

Two young woman stand side by side. Both have long brown hair and are wearing black tops.

West Burlington Trailhead Park Design

Published
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Academic year
2024-2025

Two urban & regional graduate students in the School of Planning & Public Affairs worked closely with the West Burlington Trails Committee to design a unique and multi-faceted trailhead park at a prominent community location.

Wonderful Westside Neighborhood group photo

Supporting Iowa City's Wonderful Westside Neighborhood

Published
Sunday, February 2, 2025
Academic year
2023-2024
Partner

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 supporting the launch and visioning for the Wonderful Westside Neighborhood Association in Iowa City.   

group of five young people posing for photo

Pathfinders - Rural Development Policy Briefs

Published
Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

Students in the course Policy and Persuasion worked with staff from Pathfinders RC&D and the South Central Iowa Local Workforce Development Board to develop policy directions for issues related to five focus areas: rural development hubs, innovation, resource guides, workforce development, mental health, and community capacity.

A young man in a yellow hat, dark sweatshirt, and tan pants in a wheelchair on an outdoor dirt path.

Pathfinders - Mapping Accessibility in Iowa’s Cultural Destinations

Published
Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

Students from Public Affairs and from a GIS student organization will help Pathfinders RC&D develop a statewide database and map of accessibility features in Iowa's parks, natural areas, and cultural spaces.  

A new statewide initiative from Pathfinders Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) aims to help individuals with disabilities and their caregivers better navigate opportunities to enjoy Iowa’s parks and cultural spaces. 

group pic

West Burlington & Burlington - Arts and Culture Plan

Published
Friday, August 16, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

For their capstone project, Urban Planning and Sustainable Development graduate students in the School of Planning and Public Affairs created the first comprehensive arts and cultural plan for West Burlington and Burlington, communities that share a border and strong sense of collaboration while maintaining distinct identities.

Transportation Opportunity Plan Project Team

West Burlington & Burlington - Transportation Opportunity Plan

Published
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

Urban and Regional Planning graduate students in the School of Planning & Public Affairs created a plan to address transportation barriers in Burlington and West Burlington, specifically for residents who face mobility challenges, such as lack of access to reliable transportation. 

Shared Services Project Team

West Burlington & Burlington - Shared Services Study

Published
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

Master of Public Affairs students in the School of Planning & Public Affairs conducted a study for the cities of West Burlington and Burlington that explores opportunities for shared services, with a focus on providing efficient and cost effective services to their residents.  

Administrative Burden Capstone Team

Pathfinders RC&D - Reducing Administrative Burdens for Families in Need

Published
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

Individuals seeking essential social services across the United States often face significant administrative burdens that make accessing aid time-consuming, complex, and discouraging. In rural areas like southeast Iowa, these challenges are intensified by geographic isolation, limited digital access, and a lack of centralized service infrastructure. Pathfinders RC&D sought strategies to reduce administrative burdens for residents in six Southeast Iowa counties: Davis, Keokuk, Jefferson, Mahaska, Wapello, and Van Buren. 

Oskaloosa Downtown Plan Project Team

Oskaloosa Downtown Master Plan

Published
Thursday, August 15, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

For their capstone project, a team of graduate students in Urban and Regional Planning developed a comprehensive document to guide the future of downtown Oskaloosa. The Oskaloosa Downtown Master Plan focuses particularly on how use of public spaces (e.g. transportation infrastructure, public property) as well as other public support mechanisms (e.g. policies and programming) to enhance and strengthen the downtown district as the heart of the community. This project is part of IISC's partnership with Pathfinders RC&D. 

Local Foods Capstone group

Local Foods - Workplace CSA Voucher Feasibility Study

Published
Thursday, August 8, 2024
Academic year
2024-2025

For their capstone project, a team of Master of Public Affairs (MPA) graduate students worked with Iowa Valley RC&D staff to determine the feasibility and structure of a workplace program to offer Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) vouchers to employees at the University of Iowa, aiming to increase local food purchasing and improve employee health while also expanding market access for local farmers.

complete neighborhoods a guidebook.png

Complete Neighborhoods: A Guidebook

Published
Monday, June 10, 2024
Academic year
2023-2024

As part of their capstone project, students seeking the Transportation Certificate in the School of Planning & Public Affairs created a comprehensive resource for communities to work toward "complete neighborhoods" that provide close access to basic needs. They also applied the Complete Neighborhoods concepts in a collaboration with officials from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. 

Policy and Persuasion group photo

Bondurant Community and Economic Development Policy Briefs

Published
Wednesday, January 31, 2024
Academic year
2023-2024
Partner

Students in the course Policy and Persuasion worked with City of Bondurant representatives to develop policy directions for issues related to the city's rapid growth and their desire to preserve the community's core "hometown" identity.