Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities (EPIC) workshop at Gonzaga - Nov 2

EPIC Workshop

The West Region Transportation Workforce Center is pleased to invite faculty, other university representatives, and city, county, transportation, and other public agency staff and organizational partners to attend a workshop on implementing sustainable agency/university partnerships. The workshop will explore the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities (EPIC) model.  The EPIC model offers a proven, replicable and sustainable locally-based model for building partnerships between universities and public agencies and other organizations while transforming higher education into an arena where students learn through real-life problem solving. To see a quick overview video of how the EPIC model works, click here.

The WRTWC is pleased to sponsor the workshop in partnership with the EPIC-Network and Gonzaga University.  Trainers from the University of Oregon, University of Washington, and the Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) will share the nuts and bolts of establishing EPIC partnerships, the potential benefits of EPIC model partnerships to both universities and public agency participants, and tips for launching a pilot year.

The workshop is designed as an interactive forum to provide peer-to-peer information exchange and tools for new programs to get started, as well as to create a support and collaboration network with existing programs. A working session will provide participants with the opportunity to discuss potential partners and model adaptations for meeting local needs.

The workshop will be held on Friday, November 2, 2018 in the Joann Jundt Lounge in the Gonzaga University Hemmingson Center in Spokane, Washington.  There is no fee to register, but attendance is limited.

Workshop Registration

To register for the EPIC Workshop on November 2nd, click on the link below.

Cost: FREE

Register Now

Workshop Trainers

Marc Schlossberg, co-director of the Sustainable Cities Initiative at the University of Oregon, where the model was first pioneered, and Branden Born, co-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 past 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

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 and community development representatives are encouraged to attend! If possible, we recommend university and local government representatives interested in exploring a partnership attend together.

Where to Stay & Things to Do

EPIC workshop participants can get a special group rate of $79/night with breakfast at the Red Lion River Inn in Spokane, by using the booking link, EPIC Workshop; or by following the reservation steps detailed here.