The Sustainable Communities Collaborative (SCC) is the University’s strategic platform and opportunity to develop innovative University/community-based collaborations that engage PSU faculty and students in existing courses from across the University through real world, community-identified sustainability projects.

Through the SCC, Penn State will initially partner with selected communities in Pennsylvania to meet their sustainability goals. These community entities may include government, business, schools, non-profits, and other organizations. Each project is a facilitated effort, involving interdisciplinary faculty expertise and students, co-led by a key community leader and the University’s SCC staff, to help develop and support thriving, healthy communities and advance student learning and the scholarship of sustainability.

State College Borough has been named the 2013-2014 Sustainable Community Partner for the pilot program.

Sustainable Communities partnerships are formed through agreements developed between the top local government official and the Sustainability Institute to link community-based sustainability projects with existing courses across the university. Projects are identified and developed based on the partnering community’s sustainability priorities.

Collaboration Teams bring together community representatives, faculty and students to define and carry-out projects. For more information, please contact Sustainability Institute at814-865-7488.