California State University, Chico

Resilient Cities Initiative

Website: https://scnpchico.com/

The Resilient Cities Initiative (RCI) is an interdisciplinary applied research think-tank for cities and communities established by the Institute for Sustainable Development at California State University, Chico in 2016. The RCI connects real-world community sustainability projects – identified and funded by partner agencies – with faculty expertise and student innovation, scaled for impact, from departments and disciplines across the University’s academic colleges. Partner agencies are able to harness incredible momentum to ‘move the needle’ on pressing community projects by focusing a broad and coordinated cross-section of the University’s academic resources on them. The RCI directly engages hundreds of CSU, Chico students each academic year, providing impactful opportunities for them to put theory to practice in their own community and region.

Fun Facts about RCI

The Resilient Cities Initiative undertook a three-year Pilot Project with the Public-Works Engineering Department at the City of Chico, a longer-term engagement with a single partner than is typical of EPIC programs. The South Campus Neighborhood Project focused the energy and innovation of Chico State students on improving the public-rights of way in a residential neighborhood immediately adjacent to the campus and downtown Chico, where many of our students reside, socialize, do business and commute to campus, and where many of our campus and community interests intersect.

Year Program Established | 2016
Country | US
Federal Region of Program | 9

Public or Private Institution | Public
Number of students at institution | 17,200

Highlight Articles/Videos

The South Campus Neighborhood Project Website
“For Students, By Students” Chico News and Review, 12/2017
“Painting a New Picture for South Campus” Chico State Today, January, 2018
“Public-Public Partnerships for a New Paradigm in the Civic Role of the University” Sustainability: the Journal of Record, October, 2017
CA Higher Education 2016 Sustainability Best Practices: Innovation Award Winner

City Partners

2016-2019 | City of Chico, CA • Population: 100,000

Contact Info

Ann Schulte, PhD
Director of Civic Engagement & Faculty Fellow for Rural Partnerships
(530) 898-5486
akschulte@csuchico.edu

Social Media Addresses
Twitter: @RCI_Chico
Facebook: @rcichico
Instagram: @RCI_Chico
LinkedIn: /resilient-cities-initiative