My.EOU Portal Current Students Faculty/Staff
Apply Visit Request Info Give Now
Eastern Oregon University (EOU) introduced its Sustainable Communities (first known as Sustainable Rural Systems) program, starting in the fall of 2020, to prepare students to lead transformative projects in rural Oregon communities.
The program arms students with skills in areas of brownfield remediation, economic development, community building, grant writing, spatial mapping, and more. Students engage in real-life projects with agencies and community partners. Currently, students are working with organizations including the Joseph Branch Trails Consortium to create pocket parks and trailheads in communities within Wallowa and Union Counties, consultants to help develop a baseline analysis of visitor use on the East Moraine, and the City of Joseph and multiple partners to conduct a Buildable Lands Inventory. Through these and other projects, graduates emerge ready for careers in environmental consultancy, city planning, and community development.
The Sustainable Communities program offers a curriculum for hands-on, experiential learning. Through group-based projects and civic engagement, students tackle real-life challenges ranging from environmental mitigation to economic development.
“The Sustainable Communities program provides students with community-centered learning experiences, fosters networking opportunities, and gives students the skills and knowledge they need to launch a sustainability-focused career”. Shannon Donovan, Associate Professor and Chair of the Sustainable Communities program.
The program’s innovative format emphasizes project-based learning, allowing students to progress through the curriculum alongside their peers. Seniors take on leadership roles, mentoring incoming freshmen and honing their project management skills.
Prospective students who are interested in driving positive change in rural communities are encouraged to explore EOU’s Sustainable Communities program.For more information about the Sustainable Communities program at Eastern Oregon University, visit EOU’s website.
« EOU Trustees to meet Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024 | From the President – February 14, 2024 »
Eastern Oregon University Hosts First New Nature Writing Event with Top Authors and Hands-On Workshops LA GRANDE, Ore. – The EOU Masters of Fine Arts program in Creative Writing is excited to announce its inaugural New Nature Writing Con on July 19-20, 2024. The conference will consist of two days of readings, conversations, and workshops […]Read more
Eastern Oregon University Announces Grand Staircase Construction LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University is set to begin construction on the Grand Staircase this month. Completed in 1929, just after Eastern Oregon Normal School opened its doors, the iconic landmark provides a pathway between the University and downtown La Grande and has been an important […]Read more
Eastern Oregon University Foundation Announces Historic Milestone with Over $1 Million in Scholarships LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University Foundation has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing $1 million in privately funded scholarship dollars available for EOU students for the first time in its history. This achievement comes at a critical time when […]Read more