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.
Urban & Regional Planning and Sustainable Development graduate students developed new Parks, Trails, and Greenways Master Plan that provides comprehensive vision of Bondurant's local park system, recreation facilities, natural resources, and other public open spaces.
Throughout the 2023-2024 academic year, students from the University of Iowa’s Masters of Public Affairs program partnered with the Carnegie-Stout Public Library staff to undertake the creation of best policies and procedures to enhance social service support for individuals in need while also reducing disruptions in the library.
Urban & Regional Planning student Mae McDonough completed a StoryMap about Sustainable Stormwater Systems as part of a graduate independent study project.
This online resource explains the importance of stormwater management, common terminology, management tools, case study research, and funding and technical resources.
You can access the StoryMap here.
IISC staff used GIS to convert legal descriptions in the City of Clinton code into GIS shapefiles to aid city staff and developers.
Students and faculty in the School of Planning and Public Affairs conducted a survey of employee satisfaction, needs, and opportunities among City of Clinton employees.
In the spring of 2023, the City of Clinton requested assistance from the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) to conduct a survey of the City’s workforce. The survey aimed to provide employees with an opportunity to express their opinions, concerns, and ideas about their work environment, department/organizational culture, and overall job satisfaction.
As part of their capstone project, graduate students in Planning and Public Affairs analyzed the current opioid crisis in the greater Clinton area and made policy recommendations to address the issue.
As part of their capstone project, second-year graduate students from the University of Iowa’s School of Urban & Regional Planning will update Mason City’s 2006 Comprehensive Plan, with a thematic view towards environmental and social resiliency and a topical focus on aging in place.
For their capstone project, graduate students in Public Affairs worked with city officials to identify strategies to address drug misuse trends among youth in Clinton, Iowa.
Students in a course in the School of Planning and Public Affairs developed recommendations to "green" downtown Clinton by improving opportunities for cycling.
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.
Students in a course in the School of Planning and Public Affairs developed recommendations to help address homelessness in Clinton.
Students in a course in the School of Planning and Public Affairs examined ways to reignite Clinton's Mayor's Youth Commission. They made recommendations about this entity, as well as other ways to better engage teens in the civic fabric of the community.