EPIC Workshop 

The West Region Transportation Workforce Center, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, is supporting a workshop on the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities (EPIC) Framework – a proven, replicable, and adaptable model for building partnerships between universities and local governments to advance local sustainability, livability, and resiliency goals.

EPIC Partnerships systematically match local priority projects with university capacity to enable communities to reach their priority goals in an affordable manner while transforming higher education into an arena where students learn through real-life problem solving.

Workshop Trainers: Marc Schlossberg, co-Director of the Sustainable Cities Year Program at the University of Oregon, where the model was first pioneered, and Branden Born, Director of the Livable City Year Program at the University of Washington will provide an in-depth introduction to EPIC, including logistics and benefits; case studies from proven partnerships; guidance on setting up a pilot year; and a Q & A discussion with agency and university representatives on successful implementation of the model.  Jeb Doran, Senior Project Manager for TriMet Capital Projects, will present examples of how agencies can successfully partner with universities to achieve specific desired outcomes. In particular, Jeb will discuss how TriMet utilized the EPIC model to partner with the University of Oregon to achieve a variety of agency objectives related to transportation improvements, including streetscape design, habitat corridors, stormwater management, safety, active transportation, transit-oriented design, and mobility enhancements.  

Intended Audience: The workshop will be held on Friday, November 2, 2018 in the Joann Jundt Lounge in the Gonzaga University Hemmingson Center in Spokane, Washington. Interested university faculty and campus sustainability program managers from the surrounding region, city and county managers, transportation and transit agency staff, and other public sector representatives are encouraged to attend! If possible, we recommend university and local government representatives interested in exploring a partnership attend together.