What is the main purpose of the SEAS Sustainability Clinic (Clinic)?

The Clinic was created to build long-term capacity and partnership by embedding itself in Detroit— while boosting the local impact of SEAS’s work and collaboration on sustainability and equity. Using a single point of contact approach, the Clinic will facilitate connections between Detroit residents, non-profit organizations, businesses, and city government to the resources and issue-specific expertise available to them through the Clinic. This will allow for easier and durable access to collaborators, graduate students, internships, and projects with multi-year engagements opportunities that provide the capacity to produce real, tangible, and lasting results for Detroit residents and their communities. Through our approach of collaboration and “listening first,” we will be responsive to community needs as the Clinic evolves.

Why is the Clinic focused in Detroit, and will it be expanding to other areas?

The Clinic is an extension of decades of ongoing work and relationships throughout Detroit, as SEAS has been consistently embedded in the city through activities such as its masters capstone projects, in which students work with clients to develop solutions to their real-world problems. In recent years, Detroit communities—as well as Detroit city government— have called for increased engagement with U-M. Connecting the Detroit community to U-M resources that foster environmental progress, public health, and justice is critical, as recently evidenced by high rates of COVID-19 and acknowledgement of racial injustice. SEAS is well positioned to make greater impacts in these areas by broadening its reach through community partnerships, and becoming a “resident” of the city.

While the Clinic’s initial presence will focus on Detroit, it will become part of an overarching statewide Michigan Sustainability Clinic slated to launch in 2022. The statewide Michigan Sustainability Clinic will work across Michigan with the goal to support the vision that the Great Lakes State lead the nation in the transition to a 21st Century robust clean-energy environmentally-sound economy that benefits all citizens, and that is sustainable and just.

Who will lead the Clinic? 

Kerry C. Duggan, former Obama-Biden White House deputy director for policy and currently an appointee to Governor Gretchen Whitmer's Council on Climate Solutions, will serve as the Clinic’s founding director.

For Graduate Students

How can students who are interested in the SEAS Sustainability Clinic (Clinic) get involved?

The Clinic team is currently developing several project offerings which will provide unique and meaningful ways to engage with the Clinic. Stay connected to announcements through our website. Additional details and opportunities will be shared with students as soon as they are available. Kerry C. Duggan (SEAS MS ’06), former Obama-Biden White House deputy director for policy and currently an appointee to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's Council on Climate Solutions, will serve as the Clinic’s founding director.

Can I use the Clinic as a means of finding a (SEAS) capstone/research project?

Yes, starting in 2022 we will engage directly with students in this effort. Connecting student talent and community needs is a core focus of the Clinic, and we anticipate having more details to share in the near future. We are in the process of developing a way to collect student ideas and identify specialized skill sets so we can identify community partners who will benefit. As the Clinic takes shape, we’ll help students ideate, refine, and activate unique projects that are impactful and rewarding for both students and our community partners. We are planning to be in Detroit for the long term, so the potential for project opportunities is far-reaching.

Will current projects related to work in Detroit be affiliated with the Clinic? 

For the immediate future the Clinic will focus on their inaugural client. Over time the Clinic will enhance capacity to engage additional clients, including existing engagements with faculty and students.

Can the Clinic assist me in finding internships or full-time employment?

We are always working to help provide students with the experience to have successful careers and make an impact in the sustainability space. Through the Clinic, students will have the opportunity to build networks and gain insight into the workings of community coalition-building. Additional details to come as the clinic takes shape.

Are there other ways I can enhance my UM/SEAS curriculum with the Clinic?

Yes, through real-world experiences, hands-on professional training, and the specific skills needed to interact most effectively with underserved communities. The goal of the Clinic is to provide multiple ways to deliver capacity based on client needs, so additional opportunities will be established in the future.

Are there classes that have a specific tie-in with the Clinic that I should be aware of?

For the inaugural year of the Clinic, there are no specific classes associated with the Clinic.  Going forward, the Clinic will coordinate directly to provide workshops both within SEAS and incorporating interdisciplinary opportunities across the University.

How do I best network with or access the Clinic partner individuals and organizations, such as in my research or career development?

In addition to a planned Annual Summit—along with Detroit Center public events—there will be mentorship and programming opportunities for students that will be developed in partnership with the SEAS Student Center and Detroit community organizations. These kinds of opportunities will be designed to foster networking and promote thoughtful conversations between students, organizations, and Clinic partner individuals.

Does the Clinic offer any kind of funding/scholarships for student research or support?

Yes, funding for student internships and project work will be structured into the Clinic’s project budget, and we will be building additional capacity as the clinic is established. Please check back on our website as this takes shape.

How will clinic projects differ from SEAS master’s projects?

The Clinic will be focused on multi-year projects—contrasting with the one year to 18-month timeframe of many SEAS master’s projects. Clinic projects will be cumulative, engaging with partners seeking more than one-time student support. This systematic and phased type of engagement brings in multiple faculty, spanning SEAS expertise areas, and involves more than one cohort of students. The Clinic will also offer structured support, instruction, and mentorship, and Clinic projects will be located within the same geographic area. SEAS is making a major commitment to Detroit through the Clinic, and rather than acting as ad hoc partners, multiple faculty members will collaborate to address a challenge. The Clinic’s work in Detroit is further classified into five initial themes: Energy and Water Justice (in particular, drinking water access and affordability); Green Infrastructure and Neighborhoods; Sustainability & Climate Action Agenda Implementation; The Erb Corps (a new Erb Institute Detroit-oriented program); and Water, Habitat and Sediment Restoration, with an emphasis on the vitality of the Detroit and Rouge Rivers.

For Potential Clinic Clients

Is the Clinic accepting new clients?

The Clinic is fully committed in 2021; we plan to open up capacity for additional projects at a date to be announced in 2022.