About Clinic-supported Capstone Projects
Interdisciplinary teams of up to 5 graduate students work with client organizations and faculty advisors on client-proposed projects for approximately 18 months. Projects address complex environmental issues across one or more of the Clinic’s focus areas (Environmental, Energy and Water Justice; Housing and Neighborhoods; Sustainability and Climate Action Planning; Green Infrastructure and Watershed Management; Circular Economy). Clients receive innovative, impactful products. Students develop real-world, transferable skills (e.g., project management, budgeting, and client relationship building) that will help them secure future jobs and internships. Clinic Capstone Projects fulfill the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS) graduate student Master’s Project requirement.
Learn more about our current and completed Clinic-supported Capstone Projects below.
Completed Projects
National Roadmap to Ending Utility Shutoffs
The student team collaborated with Energy Equity Project (EEP) to develop a policy framework that equips energy justice advocates, policymakers, and regulators with actionable strategies to end utility shutoffs.
Wright Museum Green Campus and Sustainability Plan
The student team partnered with the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History to advance its Green Initiatives Plan and support its journey toward becoming Detroit’s first “Green Museum.”
Detroit Community Compost Pilot Data Collection
The student team worked with Sanctuary Farms and Detroit Black Community Food Sovereignty Network to support the Detroit Community Compost Collective Pilot (DCCCP). Their project also aimed to advance community composting across Detroit through conducting composting policy research, developing composting curricula for Pilot participants, and researching the greenhouse gas reduction potential of composting.
Reimagining Wildlands at Eliza Howell Park
This project team collaborated with Sidewalk Detroit and the City of Detroit to co-develop a detailed restoration and management plan for Eliza Howell Park.
Visioning Cass: A Roadmap for the Future
This project assisted Cass Community Social Services in establishing a vision, strategy and plan for the sustainable redevelopment of the Cass neighborhood, while helping the organization proactively expand its community services.
Flooding in Jefferson Chalmers: Recommendations for Resilience
The Clinic’s inaugural master’s project team worked with Jefferson East, Inc. (JEI) to increase community flood resilience, after catastrophic flooding of the Detroit River in summer 2021.