Community-based Design 2

The purpose of this course is to provide technical assistance to community groups throughout the Chicago region who face environmental problems and issues that endanger their health or quality of life. Students will work on real environmental challenges with real clients and find real solutions that often lead the path to resolving the problems. Students must enroll in the course for 2 quarters to receive credit. Students are given a choice of projects and are organized into team. They review all the materials about their project, write a project proposal detailing what is to be done, determine what additional information is needed, visit the site (when appropriate), develop a time-line and then provide periodic progress reports (typically every other week). As needed, the students may attend community meetings, public hearings, expert testimony, or meetings with regulators. Course work is highly individualized and individual group meetins are scheduled as needd. The deliverables for the class are a final written report and presentation due at the end of Spring quarter.Yearlong participation in two- or three-person team projects involving research, analysis, and/or design in the solution of environmental problems affecting primarily lower income communities. Grade assigned only on completion of both units.