Community Planning Workshop
CPW Projects are a Win-Win for Communities and Students — communities get professional quality work at a cost-effective price while students receive real world planning experience and academic credit.
The Community Planning Workshop (CPW) is an applied planning, public policy, and economic development research program located in the School of Planning, Public Policy and Management at the University of Oregon. For the past 35 years, CPW students have been helping Oregon communities find creative and innovative solutions to some of their most difficult planning and policy problems. It is one of the most robust service learning programs in planning in the country and has a strong reputation for delivering quality planning products to Oregon communities. Each year, Community Planning Workshop partners graduate students, supervised by faculty and staff, with ten to fifteen Oregon communities to work on community-driven projects. Communities contract with CPW and provide funding that pays for graduate students and CPW's professional supervision. CPW employs eight University of Oregon faculty and staff that oversee all projects to ensure expectations are met and high-quality products are produced. In addition to working with communities, CPW staff and students also work with various professors to conduct academic research and publish peer reviewed articles. CPW specializes in the following focus areas:- Natural Resources
- Equity & Human Rights
- Community & Economic Development
- Natural Disasters & Community Resilience
- Food Systems
- Transportation
- Parks, Recreation & Open Space
Each year, CPW works with between five and ten communities around the state on planning and policy projects. Graduate students in the Planning, Public Policy and Management Department work in teams under the supervision of faculty to accomplish these projects while at the same time receiving academic credit. CPW faculty are responsible for securing the projects and are excited to talk with communities and organizations about potential projects.
Do you charge for services? How is your fee determined and how is it billed? CPW is funded through grants and contracts with communities and agencies; therefore we must charge for projects. CPW’s experience is that many communities will not have complete ownership of projects without some financial stake. A disengaged client diminishes the learning experience and makes project management difficult. Our fees are structured on a cost recovery basis and are billed a project milestones or at the end of the project.
Does the project timeframe have to coincide with the school year? Although we complete most of our work between January and June when we are teaching the CPW class, we have created a structure to accommodate year-round project work. During the summer, we hire graduate students who have excelled in the CPW class during the winter and spring to finish projects, start new ones, or work on small projects that can be completed over a few months. CPW faculty work year round to ensure project consistency and maintain project momentum.
Will the project be entirely handled by students, or is there a professional staff to oversee and supervise the project? What kind of experience do these people have? CPW utilizes a three tiered approach to project management: (1) first year graduate students work in teams on projects; (2) second year graduate teaching fellows serve as the day to day project managers and handle many of the project logistics and work with the students; (3) CPW professional staff oversee all projects and ensure high quality products. Both of the CPW staff are certified professional planners and have been working collectively in the field for more than 25 years.
My community is three hours away from Eugene, does the CPW team travel? Like other consulting groups, CPW recognizes the need for face to face communication when working on community projects. CPW teams do plan strategic trips to all the communities that they work with. CPW staff always accompany student teams when working directly with the community.
Search for new home pays off: Rexius plans to redevelop the site with housing, businesses (Source: The Register-Guard; Published: Saturday, January 1, 2012; By: Saul Hubbard) After a decade long search, Rexius Sustainable Solutions finally has found a place to work its mammoth mounds of landscaping materials without bothering neighbors. Rexius Sustainable Solutions, a company with about $22 million in annual sales, started working toward the housing development about two years ago when it engaged University of Oregon students in a Community Planning Workshop to generate ideas for the land.
Charging ahead: The era of electric vehicles begins to take shape in Lane County (Source: The Register-Guard; Published: Wednesday, October 21, 2011; By: Saul Hubbard) Thanks to federal funds, tax credits and private investment, a new wave of electric vehicle charging infrastructure is set to come to Eugene before the end of the year. A November 2010 study conducted by the University of Oregon Community Planning Workshop found interest in electric vehicles to be “surprisingly high” among Eugene and Springfield residents, supporting the installation of electric charging stations.
UO study points to potential of local food production (Oct. 19, 2010) Lane County farmers face barriers in processing, storage, distribution and regulation of their crops. But a new study by the University of Oregon’s Community Planning Workshop suggests they also have opportunities to increase their share of the county’s $1.17 billion annual food market.
UO study sees economic development potential in local farms (Oct. 8, 2010) A new study on the economic development potential of locally-grown food products indicates that farmers in Lane County – despite barriers in processing, storage, distribution and regulation – have plenty of room to increase their share of the county's $1.17 billion annual food market.
UO wins national award for applied research in local food-supply chain (April 7, 2011) A new “local food coordinator” job, start-up expenses for a grain mill and a 90-acre demonstration farm are just a few innovations already implemented from a UO student project honored with a national award.
Lane locavores to the rescue (Source: The Register-Guard; Published: Sunday, January 30, 2011; By: Tina Orem) Demand for locally grown food is soaring, particularly in the Pacific Northwest, and that means economic opportunities in Lane County, according to a new study by the University of Oregon.
Bob Parker, Program Director for the Community Planning Workshop, wins 2011 Research Innovation Awards Discovery and Connection (June, 2011) Bob Parker is managing director of the Community Service Center (CSC) and program director of the Community Planning Workshop. Over the last 21 years, Parker has managed an average of ten policy and planning analysis projects per year with community and state officials throughout Oregon. The Community Planning Workshop is known widely throughout Oregon as one of the state’s critical policy analysis resources, connecting the expertise of university faculty members and students with communities and agencies.
2008 American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Award for Contemporary Planning Issue: City of Eugene Bicycle and Pedestrian Strategic Plan The purpose of this project was to develop a pedestrian and bicycle strategic plan for the City of Eugene, Oregon. The project involved seven students in a rich experiential learning process, built partnerships between the University, the City of Eugene and community organizations, and resulted in the City’s first Bicycle and Pedestrian Strategic Plan, and a website and case study describing the benefits of and strategies for engaging students in community-based transportation planning projects. As communities across the nation begin to address climate change and dwindling fossil fuel resources for transportation, this project is a model for universities and communities that want to work together and use the service learning model to build sustainable transportation systems. The real innovation of this project lies in its development and implementation; both rely completely on community partnerships. Approximately 600 community members provided direct input into the development of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan through thematic workshops, interviews, and community summits. In the year since the plan was approved, 20 of the 82 Action Items have been implemented or begun. Student Research Team: Sarah Coates, Joy Gipson, Matt Peterson, Ray Neff, Ryan Ojerio, Andrea Sparks, Tracy Rogan Faculty Advisors: Robert Parker, AICP, Bethany (Johnson) Steiner, AICP
2004 American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) Award for Contemporary Planning Issue: Planning Commissioner Outreach Working with the Transportation and Growth Management Program, CPW and Portland State University conducted 26 planning commissioner trainings throughout Oregon focusing on smart growth concepts. CPW also developed a series of educational materials as part of this project.
Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Student Awards
- 2009 Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Student Achievement Award: City of Eugene Bicycle and Pedestrian Strategic Plan
- 2007/2008 Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Student Achievement Award: The Impact of Subdivision Regulations on Housing Cost
- 2006 Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Student Achievement Award (Certificate of Merit): TGM School Siting Evaluation (Case Studies of Smart Development)
- 2004 Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Student Achievement Award (Honorable Mention Award): Brownsville Parks Master Plan
- 2003 Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Student Achievement Award: DLCD Technical Assistance and Outreach Needs Assessment
- 2001 Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Special Achievement Award: Green Neighborhoods
- 2001 Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Special Achievement Award: Planning for Natural Hazards
- 1999 Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Student Achievement Award: Siting Affordable Housing in Oregon Communities
- 1998 Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Student Achievement Award: Alsea Economic Development Opportunities
- 1990 Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Student Achievement Award: Government Camp Improvement Project1989 Oregon Chapter of the American Planning Association Student Achievement Award: Columbia Gorge Sailboard Economy Study
2011 Research Innovation Awards Discovery and Connection: Bob Parker, Program Director for the Community Planning Workshop Bob Parker is managing director of the Community Service Center (CSC) and program director of the Community Planning Workshop. Over the last 21 years, Parker has managed an average of ten policy and planning analysis projects per year with community and state officials throughout Oregon. The Community Planning Workshop is known widely throughout Oregon as one of the state’s critical policy analysis resources, connecting the expertise of university faculty members and students with communities and agencies.
CPW projects are a win-win for communities and students: communities get professional quality work at a cost-effective price while students receive real world planning experience and academic credit.
Each academic year, CPW works with 10 – 15 communities around the state on planning and policy projects. The process starts with a conversation between the community lead and a CPW faculty or staff member about the scope of work and allocated budget. Once this is defined, next steps include a proposal review and approval, project implementation, and contract execution. Because CPW is a funded primarily through grants and contracts with communities and agencies, fees are structured on a cost recovery basis.
CPW's Approach
CPW utilizes a three tiered approach to project management:
- First year graduate students work in teams on projects;
- Second year graduate employees (GEs) serve as the day to day project managers and handle many of the project logistics and work with the graduate student teams;
- CPW faculty and staff oversee all projects, ensure high quality products, and contract execution.
Proven track record of delivering high-quality planning and policy products to Oregon communities
Although most of our work is completed while CPW class is in-session (January-June), CPW's unique structure easily accommodates year-round project work as well. Graduate students, who have excelled in the CPW class, are hired during fall and summer months to finish projects, began new ones, or work on smaller-scaled projects that can be completed over a few months. CPW faculty and staff work year-round to ensure project consistency and maintain project continuity.
CPW faculty are certified professional planners and have extensive experience in a broad range of focus areas including:
- Natural Resources
- Equity & Human Rights
- Community & Economic Development
- Natural Disasters & Community Resilience
- Food Systems
- Transportation
- Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces
The Community Planning Workshop may be one of the most important and inspirational classes that graduate students take in the Community and Regional Planning Program through the School of Planning, Public Policy and Management at the University of Oregon.
CPW is often the defining experience for students in the graduate planning program. The opportunity to work directly with a community partner on a real project allows students to move from theory to practice. Students can take what they have learned in the classroom and through guided discovery build professional skills and deepen their understanding of planning and policy concepts.
- Through the Community Planning Workshop class, PPPM 625 and 626;
- Through the Community Service Center Summer Internship Program; and/or
- As a Graduate Employee (GE) or Research Assistant during the academic year.
CPW Class, PPPM 625 & 626
First year graduate students in the Community and Regional Planning Program are required to take PPPM 625 & 626. Graduate students from outside of PPPM and undergraduates may take CPW, but must meet with CPW faculty for a brief interview. In class, four-six student teams work on a range of projects supervised by experienced CPW faculty and staff.
Summer Internship Program During the summer, we hire 10 – 15 students to conduct planning and policy work for Oregon communities. Interns engage in a variety of projects with a range of tasks.
Graduate Employee (GE) or Research Assistants Based on the funding for specific projects we hire GEs for project management and Research Assistants to assist with project assignments.
Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience (OPDR) >>> OPDR is a coalition of public, private, and professional organizations working collectively toward the mission of creating a disaster resilient and sustainable state. Developed and coordinated by the Community Service Center (CSC), OPDR employs a service learning model to increase community capacity and enhance disaster safety and resilience statewide.
Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) >>> The RARE AmeriCorps program works to increase the capacity of rural communities to improve their economic, social, and environmental conditions. RARE participants assist communities and agencies in the development and implementation of plans for achieving a sustainable natural resource base and improving rural economic conditions while gaining community building and leadership skills.
Economic Development Administration University Center (EDAUC) >>> The mission of the EDAUC is to link university resources with communities for the purpose of enhancing regional sustainable economic development. EDUAC provides technical assistance to distressed communities throughout the state with the focus of creating sustainable local economies through capacity building, applied research, and partnerships