For their capstone project, students in Civil and Environmental Engineering designed a 10-foot wide trail that includes pedestrian cross improvements at several intersections. The trail will improve pedestrian safety and mobility for people traveling to and from essential shopping areas, schools, a medical center, senior housing, and recreation spaces. 

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.

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. 

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.  

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. 

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. 

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.

Graduate students in the College of Nursing's "Community and Public Health Nursing" course partnered with the South Central Iowa Workforce Development Board to assess regional healthcare worker needs and to help local high school students learn about and potentially pursue careers in the healthcare field.

University of Iowa-based artist Emily Edwards painted two murals at the Mutchler Community Center in Bloomfield, IA. With input from the staff and community, the artist created a design that brings a sense of energy and excitement to the space and serves as a memorable community touchpoint. This project is part of IISC's partnership with Pathfinders RC&D. 

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. 

As part of the ICIGO student organization within the Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, students created a StoryMap that highlights green infrastructure projects in Dubuque. 

The city of Dubuque has been widely recognized for prioritizing sustainability in community and economic development. ICIGO students created a StoryMap highlights many of the current and past initiatives that help make Dubuque a more sustainable and resilient community. 

As part of the ICIGO student organization within the Department of Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, Environmental Science major Luke Caron digitized "road verges" - strips of groundcover located between a roadway and a sidewalk - to help the City of Dubuque identify the best opportunities to enhance the city's tree canopy. 

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.    

As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, Civil & Environmental Engineering students created site plans and designs for a small sustainability-focused "EcoVillage" in the unincorporated community of Scotch Grove, located in Jones County. 

Students in a Senior Capstone course in Civil and Environmental Engineering provided evaluation and design for a regional trail and trailhead connecting Scotch Grove with surrounding points of interest, such as Camp Courageous, Picture Rock Park, and the Cities of Anamosa and Monticello. 

As part of their Senior Capstone in Civil and Environmental Engineering, a team of students worked with Mahaska County Conservation staff on a project to enhance the county's water trails system, focusing on improvements to increase accessibility, use, and safety. 

As part of their Senior Design Capstone course, students in Civil and Environmental Engineering collaborated with Mahaska County Conservation to conduct a site assessment and design improvements for the White Oaks Nature Conservation Area. 

As part of their Senior Design Capstone Course, a team of students in Civil and Environmental Engineering designed a Public Works Facility for Bondurant's new Civic Campus. They devised three alternatives and created final designs with the client's input.

Students in a capstone photojournalism course in Journalism & Mass Communication spent three days in Dubuque capturing businesses, homes, and activities related to sustainability and everyday people's efforts to reduce emissions. Their photographs are essential components to the Strategics Communications social media assets, and the Telegraph Herald newspaper insert.  

Please note that photos on this project page are compressed for easier viewing.