Current Internship & Senior Project Opportunities

Immediate need for student interns for Comprehensive Plan public engagement projects with Jefferson County, City of Blaine, and Friends of the San Juans. 

Winter | Spring | Summer Options

There are several opportunities with cities and counties for internships or senior projects. Some have an immediate start date; others are more flexible and/or ongoing.

• Please send cover letters and resumes to listed contacts (please copy Dr. Laninga on all correspondence, laningt@wwu.edu)

• For openings that don’t list direct contact information, or for more information on any of the positions, please contact Dr. Tammi Laninga.

UEPP students are required to earn 5 credits of Experiential credits. Students can earn them by doing an internship, completing a senior project or thesis, or through study abroad. All 5 credits can be earned in one quarter or be spread out across several quarters. They can also be a combination of internship, senior project, etc. Earning 1 credit is equivalent to 30 hours of time commitment; 5 credits equal 150 hours.

In some instances, there is more information available about the internship. Please see individual projects for applicable links.

Time-Sensitive (ASAP/Winter Quarter)

• Jefferson County – Comp Plan Public Engagement Project (could be a team) (remote with some in-person opportunities)

• City of Blaine – Comp Plan Public Engagement Project (could be a team) (remote with some in-person opportunities)

• Friends of the San Juan – Comp Plan Public Engagement for underrepresented groups (remote with in-person opportunities) 

• Pacific Northwest Transportation Consortium - Infrastructure Internships (WA State)

Flexible Timeline (during 2025)

• City of La Conner – 1) Commercial Land Capacity Project (remote) & 2) Historic Data Digitization (in-person)

Opportunities for Project Definition and Timelines

• WWU Office of Student Life/Basic Needs – Creative Housing Solutions for College Students (could be a team) (remote & in-person)

• La Villa de Las Americas (Birchwood Cultural District) (could be team) (in-person)

• UEPP Diversity and Student Outreach Committee (quarterly opportunity) (in-person)

Time-sensitive (ASAP/winter quarter)

Jefferson County (Internships or Senior project – could be a team)

Comp Plan Public Engagement Project

Jefferson County is looking for a team of students to do Comprehensive Planning Outreach that will be broken down into three major components, all of which can be done primarily remotely, except for the in-person engagement on March 7.

1. Survey Creation to engage the public in the Comprehensive Plan Elements 

2. In-Person Public Engagement for a public event on March 7^th.

3. Creation of education materials to encourage public engagement 

Preferred Qualifications/Prerequisites: Survey toolkit creation, experience with public engagement. InDesign skills preferable. 

For more information, check out this document: Jefferson County WWU Intern Opportunity

Project contact: Tammi Laninga, laningt@wwu.edu

City of Blaine (Internship or Senior Project – could be a team)

Comp Plan Public Engagement Project

Help Blaine publish and market their housing action plan and transportation surveys. The position is remote, with the possibility of a few in-person meetings and/or hanging flyers to promote the survey. 

• This project will be very similar to the housing survey created for the City of Ferndale. Students who worked on that project are encouraged to inquire about this position.

Preferred Qualifications/Prerequisites: Senior in UPSD with experience in creating surveys in Qualtrics.

Project contact: Alex Wegner awenger@cityofblaine.com

Friends of the San Juans (Internship)

Comp Plan Public Engagement Project

This is a funded internship opportunity to work with Friends of the San Juans to expand their engagement with underrepresented voices in the comprehensive plan update. Much of the work is remote, but some in-person participation is encouraged at community meetings, as available.

Intern activities will include research, recording of public comments, support in development engagement tools and communications, inventory of comments and feedback within our tracking system, engagement, and input to the process.

Preferred Qualifications/Prerequisites: Junior or Senior in UEPP Major, completed UEPP 475 Community Development & Participatory Methods. Experience with public engagement.

For more information: Friends of the San Juans Comp Plan Engagement Internship

Project contact: Eva Schulte eva@sanjuans.org

Flexible Timeline (during 2025)

City of La Conner

Project 1. Land Use Capacity Analysis for the Commercial Zone of La Conner. Mostly remote. (Senior project)

La Conner has recently completed a residential land use capacity analysis focused  on housing, and we would like to complete one for the Commercial Zone as well. This project is designed to further the Town’s internal knowledge of the current Commercial land use. Could be expanded to include Industrial land capacity.

Preferred Qualifications/Prerequisites: Senior in the UPSD major currently in the urban planning studio and/or has experience completing land capacity analysis.

Project 2. Historical Data Collection, Integration, and Update. In-person. (Independent study or Senior project).

La Conner has a lot of out-of-date property files that need to be updated, and a lot     of historic maps/records that we need scanned and archived. Its a great project for learning about the past lived realities of plans and property.  Laptop and scanner provided. Chance to work in the planning office and interact with staff. Required,     free online public records training.

Preferred Qualifications/Prerequisites: Pre-major, Junior, or Senior in UEPP program; could be a pre-major but would need to confirm if you would be eligible to sign up for senior project credits.

Project contact: Ajah Ellis planning@townoflaconner.org

Ongoing/Opportunities for Project Definition and Timelines

Housing for College Students (Independent study or Senior project)

During the October 2024 Whatcom Housing Week, representatives from WWU, Whatcom Community College (WCC) and Bellingham Technical College (BTC) hosted a panel to explore “Creatively Housing College Students in Whatcom County.” The outcome from the session is a list of brainstormed ideas looking for more research. This project would research ideas from the session.

Preferred Qualifications/Prerequisites: pre-major, Junior, or Senior in UEPP; interest in affordable housing; interest in collaborating with students/staff from WWU, WCC and BTC.

Link to Brainstormed Ideas: Creatively Housing College Students in Whatcom County

Project Contacts: 

• Jon Stubblefield – WWU Student Success Initiative stubblj@wwu.edu

• Gina Ebbeling – WWU Student Life – Office of Basic Needs ebbelig@wwu.edu
   

La Villa de Las Americas (Birchwood Cultural District) Senior Project – could be a team project

Bellingham is home to a large and vibrant Latine community that is underrepresented in both policies and the built environment. Melida Baca-Lopez, a community activist with a vision of change, has proposed the idea of a cultural district. Her concept incorporates Spanish Colonial architecture, spaces for Latine business owners, and community spaces and events celebrating Bellingham’s Latin American presence. Since 2023, UEPP students and Dr. Laninga have worked with Melida to conduct research and identify community support and partners to help carry the idea forward. 

Students would continue to support Melida to help with development of a non-profit, connect with partners, and help draft a proposal to share with the Birchwood Neighborhood Association, the Mayor’s Neighborhood Council, and city staff.

Preferred Qualifications/Prerequisites: Junior/Senior in UEPP; Spanish-speaking; completed UEPP 475. Interest in community organizing.

For more information, check out this report.

Project Contact: Tammi Laninga, laningt@wwu.edu

Diversity and Student Outreach Community (Senior Project)

The Urban and Environmental Planning and Policy (UEPP) Department is committed to supporting and enhancing accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion (ADEI) in the department. DSOC undertakes activities and actions that retain and recruit a diverse community. Students may earn 1-2 senior project credits or independent study credits as a student member of the committee each quarter. 

Preferred Qualifications/Prerequisites: Junior/Senior in UEPP; commitment to ADEI; willingness to bring ideas and be engaged with activities and events that support current students and recruit new students to the department.

For more information, check out the draft UEPP Diversity Plan

Project contact: Tammi Laninga laningt@wwu.edu