Penn State's Sustainable Communities Collaborative (SCC), part of Penn State Sustainability, is marking more than a decade of partnerships that have advanced sustainability, strengthened municipal capacity, and provided hands-on learning opportunities for thousands of students throughout the Commonwealth.
From 5 to 7 p.m. on Dec. 11, students from across Penn State will present their fall semester Sustainable Communities Collaborative (SCC) projects during the Campus and Community Sustainability Expo, co-hosted by State College Borough and Penn State Sustainability. The poster-style event brings together students, faculty, community partners, and local residents to highlight project outcomes and foster new connections.
Since its launch, the SCC has engaged over 7,000 students, more than 100 faculty members, and 70 community partners, completing more than 500 community-driven projects. Collectively, these collaborations represent more than $3 million in applied research and service value for Pennsylvania municipalities, according to SCC's long-term project valuation system.
Data-driven valuation offers transparency and consistency
Recognizing the need for universities to document the real-world value of student engagement, the SCC has developed a standardized, data-driven valuation method over the past decade to capture the measurable impact of its partnerships. This approach draws on documented student work hours, faculty-reported time commitments, and project-specific wage data using regional Bureau of Labor Statistics figures matched to the project's year and location. The method also accounts for the discounted professional-equivalent rates expected for student work.
This process allows for consistent and transparent valuation across projects, whether students are analyzing traffic flows, supporting downtown revitalization efforts, conducting environmental assessments or designing community outreach strategies.
"Long-term data collection provides an added benefit," said Ilona Ballreich, program director for the Sustainable Communities Collaborative. "As we maintain our community relationships over time, we have the opportunity to follow project progress. If, for example, the community leveraged student work to write and receive a grant, we can add that to our value calculation."
Ballreich said the emphasis on maintaining relationships has allowed SCC to build trust among municipal leaders who often return year after year to collaborate with new student teams. In many cases, she said, smaller or rural municipalities see the SCC as one of the few avenues available to them to access sustainability expertise.
Supporting Pennsylvania's small and rural municipalities
The SCC's mission is closely tied to Penn State's land-grant commitment to serving communities across Pennsylvania.
"With over 2,500 local governments in Pennsylvania, SCC projects often provide technical expertise to especially small and rural communities whose resources are limited," Ballreich said. "Projects are responsive and uniquely tailored to the partner's need and inquiry, making findings relevant and actionable for next steps."
SCC projects have ranged from community health surveys in rural counties to stormwater mitigation programs, greenhouse gas inventory assistance, hazard mitigation planning support, public space redesign, and economic development analyses. Faculty incorporate these partnerships directly into course curricula, enabling students to apply classroom learning to real-world community challenges.
Campus and Community Sustainability Expo to be held Dec. 11
This semester's showcase will include work from courses across the colleges of Arts and Architecture, Agricultural Sciences, the Liberal Arts, and Earth and Mineral Sciences, plus the Eberly College of Science, the Smeal College of Business, the Bellisario College of Communications, Schreyer Honors College, and Penn State Brandywine. Topics include climate action, sustainable land use, public health, environmental design, tourism, and natural resource planning.
Special guests will include Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos and representatives from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The event is free and open to the public, and pre-registration is not required.
Ballreich noted that the Expo not only showcases student work but also helps identify future collaboration opportunities by bringing faculty and municipal leaders into a shared space.
About the Sustainable Communities Collaborative
The SCC is housed within Penn State Sustainability
