IISC

IISC Community Partners

Keokuk is the 2019-2020 IISC community partner.

What does it mean for the community and the University of Iowa? Read all about it!

What is IISC?

The Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities (IISC) is a flagship engagement program that brings together communities and students to partner on projects addressing the environmental, equity, economic, and cultural issues communities face today. IISC invests University of Iowa faculty and student time to increase the capacity of Iowa communities and to help them plan for a sustainable future. By taking students out of the classroom and into communities to complete real-world projects, IISC accomplishes two university-wide goals: enhancing sustainability across the state and transforming teaching and learning at the University of Iowa.

IISC History

IISC was founded in 2009 in the School of Urban & Regional Planning by Dr. Chuck Connerly. Since 2009, IISC has worked with small and medium-sized communities in Iowa to advance sustainability across the state. In fall 2012, due to the success of these projects and the recognition that sustainability in Iowa spans a variety of disciplines, the IISC expanded to become a campus-wide initiative. To continue growing campus-wide partnerships, the IISC joined the Provost's Office of Outreach and Engagement in fall 2014. To date, more than 130 projects in 16 Iowa communities have been completed through IISC partnerships.

What is the process for becoming an IISC community?

For more details on how to become an IISC campus partner, please contact travis-kraus@uiowa.edu.

Current & Past IISC Partners

IISC partners with communities across the entire state, from Dubuque on the eastern border to Mason City in the north to Sioux City on the western border. The full list of current and past partners includes:

Past and Current Partners

IISC Advisory Board

The IISC Advisory Board helps review proposals from applicants for the IISC partnership and provides insight on how the Office of Outreach and Engagement can best serve campus and communities.