Sustainable Communities Partnership - Partners
Sustainable Communities Partnership (SCP) connects Western faculty and students with projects identified by community partners.
We are interested in partnering with many types of local communities, which include, but are not limited to: cities, counties, tribal governments, transportation authorities, conservation districts, or port authorities. Please contact us if you have questions about qualifying for the program.
Past Partners
2021-2022
East Whatcom Regional Resource Center and East Whatcom Community Council Clean Air Committee
In the 2021/2022 academic year, SCP partnered with the East Whatcom Regional Resource Center and the East Whatcom Council Clean Air Committee. Students conducted a survey and participated in community events to better understand residents’ concerns about air quality in the Columbia Valley region in eastern Whatcom County.
Snow School (including WWU’s Living Snow Project, Northwest Avalanche Center, Mt. Baker Ski Area, U.S. Forest Service)
In the 2021/2022 academic year, SCP supported Snow School and its partners to lead climate science education and outdoor safety activities with middle school students on Mount Baker.
Washington State Department of Natural Resources
In the 2021/2022 academic year, SCP partnered with Washington State’s Department of Natural Resources. Students interested in business and sustainability performed a feasibility analysis for a biochar and cogen facility in Kendall, WA.
Concrete Resource Coalition
In the 2021/2022 academic year, SCP partnered with the Concrete Resource Coalition to explore and map environmental hazards and emergency planning opportunities in the region. Five geographic information systems (GIS) students supported this project.
2020-2021
Columbia Valley Park and Recreation District
During the 2020/2021 academic year, SCP partnered with the Columbia Valley Park and Recreation District. Dr. Tammi Laninga’s ENVS 475 ‘Community Engagement and Participatory Methods’ students and one graduate student drafted a Comprehensive Park Plan and engaged the Columbia Valley community in a public participation campaign for the District.
Whatcom County
In the 2020/2021 academic year, SCP assisted Whatcom County with the implementation of coordinated climate change policy across the jurisdictional landscape. Through this partnership, SCP and Whatcom County supported the Small Cities of Whatcom County with incorporation of climate change goals, objectives, and policies into their comprehensive planning process.
2019-2020
City of Arlington
Over the 2019/2020 academic year, SCP partnered with the city of Arlington. Five courses engaged in projects to support the City in visioning for the future of the Arlington downtown area.
City of Bainbridge Island
Over summer 2019 and the 2019/2020 academic year, two WWU interns worked with the city of Bainbridge Island to compile recommended methods for shoreline monitoring and to collect a baseline set of data using those methods. A WWU statistics course analyzed the baseline set of data.
2018-2019
City of Monroe, City of Bellingham, and City of Ferndale
In the 2018-2019 academic year, SCP partnered with City of Monroe, City of Bellingham, and City of Ferndale.
2017-2018
Skagit County and City of Stanwood
In the 2017-2018 academic year, SCP partnered with Skagit County and City of Stanwood. Eight courses and four internships engaged in efforts to address sustainability needs expressed by the city and county.
2016-2017
City of Edmonds
In the 2016-2017 academic year, SCP partnered with City of Edmonds. Eleven courses engaged in efforts to address sustainability challenges faced by the city.
Visit the Projects page to see all completed projects and reports