Past SCYP Partnerships

Since 2009, SCYP has opened pathways that connect a broad range of Oregon cities and agencies to the innovative, expansive, and energetic brainpower of the University of Oregon. These relationships help create outcomes that extend well beyond the yearlong partnership. The impact of SCYP continues for many years not only as student recommendations come to fruition, but also as students enter the workforce prepared for careers in service to Oregon communities. SCYP is much more than a one-year project with a student – it's a connection to the University of Oregon and a platform for a sustainable future.

Oregon map with past partners labeled
2023-2024
Salem
SCYP Partnership
Salem logo in blue

After more than a decade, the Sustainable City Year Program returned to the City of Salem for a partnership that focused on climate actions, improved walkability, equity, artificial intelligence, upgraded bicycle infrastructure, community engagement, among other priority city project topics.

Virtual Open House

Reports

Projects

Partnership Page

Final Report

Fall 2023
Corvallis
Special Project
Corvallis logo in dark blue

Graduate community and regional planning students considered how properties within a 14-acre area might redevelop and/or intensify under the city’s new Commercial Mixed Use zoning standards.

Partnership Page

2022-2023
City of Sisters
SCYP Partnership
Sisters logo in grey-blue

SCYP returned to central Oregon for a partnership with the City of Sisters. Projects focused on planning, design, active transportation, options for financing affordable housing, and nonprofit support.

Virtual Open House 

Reports 

Projects 

Partnership Page

2021-2022
City of Hermiston
SCYP Partnership
Hermiston logo in green, red, and grey

SCYP’s first partnership in eastern Oregon, the City of Hermiston sits at the heart of the Pacific Northwest. Classes from the University of Oregon, Portland State University, and Eastern Oregon University proposed solutions to the challenges that the City of Hermiston faces managing significant population growth and in its role as the region’s trade center. 

Virtual Open House 

Reports 

Projects 

Final Report 

Press

2020-2021
City of Troutdale
SCYP Partnership
Troutdale logo with a bridge and a fish

Troutdale is proud of maintaining its small town feel while advancing opportunities for sustainable growth in a beautiful natural setting. Students from fully remote courses worked on projects from affordable housing research and design to cottage cluster design standards to video production that encouraged tourism. 

Virtual Open House 

Reports 

Projects 

Final Report 

Press

Winter 2020
Hood River
Special Project
Hood River logo with mountains in dark green

Planning and public administration graduate students supported the City of Hood River’s efforts to accommodate continued growth by strategizing ways to develop and facilitate more diverse housing types, including “missing middle” housing, Recommendations include updated zoning districts, development code amendments, and positive messaging that reduces housing barriers.

Report

2019-2020
Lane Transit District
SCYP Partnership
Lane Transit District logo in bright blue

This SCYP year involved diverse stakeholders including staff across the LTD organization and local partners. Student projects explored several questions around LTD’s strategic planning efforts, including how to face key uncertainties over the next 20-30 years, the emerging mobility landscape, and strategic choices to adapt to transit and transportation challenges ahead. 

Reports 

Projects 

Final Report 

Allen Hall Media 

Press

2019-2020
City of Silverton
SCYP Partnership
Silverton logo with houses and a waterfall

Students across planning, design, engineering, and journalism courses addressed climate action recommendations, passive heating, stormwater improvements, park development, and public relations campaigns. 

Reports 

Projects

2018-2019
Gresham and Eugene
SCYP Partnership
Eugene logo and City of Gresham logo next to each other

Projects focused on transportation as a common theme to explore new mobility, future-proofing comprehensive plans, open data policies, and community strategies to improve accessibility and sustainable transportation.

Reports 

Projects

2018-2019
Springfield and Dunes City
Special Projects
Dunes City and Springfield logos next to each other

City of Springfield projects focused on economic development and downtown revitalization, while Dunes City worked with students to develop passive heating strategies for disaster relief planning. 

Springfield Reports 

Dunes City Reports

2018
La Pine
Small City Pilot
La Pine logo in brown and black with a pinecone

At the time of La Pine’s partnership with SCYP, Oregon’s newest city wanted to promote, revitalize, and strengthen its community connections, services, downtown, and streetscape aesthetic.

Reports 

Proposal 

Projects 

Videos

2017-2018
TriMet
SCYP Partnership
TriMet logo in red and black

The TriMet partnership sought to create better outcomes for the proposed Southwest Corridor Light Rail Project and set new standards for the inclusion of sustainability and leverage light rail to explore and activate other potential transportation and land use improvements.

Reports 

Proposal 

Projects 

Videos

2016-2017
Albany
SCYP Partnership
Albany logo in green and blue

The City of Albany partnered on 17 diverse projects with a desire to take a fresh, cost-effective look at projects that the city already planned and funded but had not allocated staff capacity to complete. 

Reports 

Proposal 

Projects 

Press

2015-2016
Redmond
SCYP Partnership
Redmond logo in red, reading "Redmond The Hub"

The City of Redmond’s collaborative government and values of innovation, comprehensive sustainability, and livability, were perfectly suited for SCYP to partner on diverse 25 projects across varied academic disciplines. 

Reports 

Proposal 

Projects 

Press

2014-2015
METRO, Multnomah County, Troutdale and Gresham
SCYP Partnership
Metro logo in blue

In a collaboration of partners, four student projects focused on funding options for park maintenance, a trail planning and feasibility study, downtown walkability, and how to create a better user experience on TriMet’s east line. 

Reports 

Projects

2013-2014
Medford
SCYP Partnership
Medford logo with building, flags, and trees

Following adoption of a Strategic Plan that incorporates sustainability into its four core areas, the City of Medford partnered with SCYP to support implementation of the plan across projects in design and planning, business and economics, civic engagement and journalism, and law.

Reports 

Proposal 

Projects

2012-2013
Springfield & Lane Transit District
SCYP Partnership
Lane Transit District logo in bright blue

A diversity of student project topics included public relations research for LTD's proposed West 11th Emerald Express expansion, ridership and route analysis, wayfinding signage design, redevelopment of an industrial site adjacent to downtown Springfield, encouraging bike-to-bus opportunities, and promotion of cultural amenities in downtown Springfield.

Reports

2011-2012
Springfield
SCYP Partnership
Springfield logo with man in boat on river in green hues

To better position development efforts for the anticipated economic rebound, the City of Springfield sought partnership with SCYP to leverage scare resources and limited staff capacity to strengthen community priorities and implementation of sustainable practices.

Reports 

Proposal 

Projects 

Press

2010-2011
Salem
SCYP Partnership
Salem logo in blue

Following a successful inaugural year, 25 faculty and over 600 students worked collaboratively with the capital city to tackle important development, planning, and civic engagement issues. Student projects addressed several Salem City Council goals and leveraged existing limited resources to move projects forward much faster than would otherwise be possible. 

Reports 

Proposal 

Projects 

Press

2009-2010
Gresham
SCYP Partnership
Gresham logo in black

In the inaugural year, 14 faculty and over 250 students applied their expertise to the state’s fourth largest city. The SCYP “experiment” included classes in architecture, planning, design, law, business and geography to help the City of Gresham develop a sustainable future.

Reports 

Projects 

Press