Greene County is a rural community in southern Indiana with a population of 32,177. Several towns and cities comprise Greene County, including Bloomfield, Linton, Jasonville, Stockton, Switz City and Worthington.
Residents and tourists alike enjoy the recreational and cultural resources of Greene County, home to Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area, Greene-Sullivan State Forest, Redbird State Riding Area, Shakamak State Park, Shawnee Theatre, Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum and the Linton Freedom Festival, which features the largest Independence Day parade in Indiana. Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane and WestGate at Crane Technology Park are large economic drivers in the area, and the newly completed portion of Interstate 69 has added a major transportation thoroughfare.
IU students and faculty worked with Greene County leaders and residents on projects ranging from promoting tourism, to developing public relations campaigns for the Linton Farmers' Market and Shawnee Theatre, to educating 4-H youth on mental health.
The Tulip Trestle Restoration Inc, with a three-fold mission of community, preservation, and conservation, plans to build a multi-functional visitor center in the future. Dorian Bybee's interior design students created two sets of plans for the visitor center: a short-term plan with basic features like gathering space and restrooms, and a long-term plan with supplemental features like a conservationist residency space.
Community Partner Rita Sharr and Malea Huffman, Tulip Trestle Community Restoration, Inc.
IU Instructor Dorian Bybee, Eskanazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
With a local innkeeper’s tax implemented quite recently, the Greene County Tourism Advisory Board is better positioned to utilize resources and promote the county’s many tourism resources. To bring a new design style to these promotion efforts in Greene County, Jenny El-Shamy’s graphic design students created new communications assets, including a logo for the county, a brochure, and kiosks for key sites.
Community Partner Brianne Jerrels, Greene County Tourism Advisory Board
IU Instructor Jenny El-Shamy, Eskanazi School of Art, Architecture + Design
To support art activities, build community, and attract tourism, the Greene County Tourism Advisory Board worked with 180 Degrees Consulting in the Kelley School of Business to design a business plan for an artist cooperative at The Cabin.
Community Partner Sharon Galloway, Greene County Tourism Advisory Board
IU Instructor Steven Kreft, Kelley School of Business
Project Course BUS-A 569: Field Consulting, spring 2020
Greene County is seeking a facility where residents can participate in recreation activities year-round. To initiate the planning process for a recreation center, Dr. Bree Josefy’s graduate accounting students surveyed community members and modeled potential financial futures for a recreation center, helping the Greene County General Hospital determine how to organize and operate the recreation center on behalf of the community.
Community Partner Kyle Cross, Greene County General Hospital
IU Instructor Bree Josefy, Kelley School of Business
Project Course BUS-A 569: Field Consulting, 4 graduate students, fall 2019
Geography
To increase access to the Linton Farmers’ Market, Dr. Olga Kalentzidou’s students in Edible Education evaluated the market’s position within the local food system, identifying stakeholders, needs, and access points for SNAP recipients.
Community Partner Mark Stacy, Linton Farmers Market
IU Instructor Olga Kalentzidou, Department of Geography
With a local innkeeper’s tax implemented recently, the Greene County Tourism Advisory Board is better positioned to utilize resources and promote the county’s many tourism resources. Dr. Minjeong Kang’s students in Public Relations Planning and Research conducted a situational analysis through primary and secondary research and created a comprehensive public relations campaign book with practical recommendations for advancing the board’s public relations efforts.
Community Partner Richard Nichols and Rita Sharr, Greene County Tourism Advisory Board; Brianne Jerrels, Greene County Economic Development Corporation
IU Instructor Minjeong Kang, Media School
Project Course MSCH-R 348: Public Relations Planning and Research, 25 undergraduate students, fall 2019
To better engage key audiences for Shawnee Theatre, such as youth and families, Dr. Minjeong Kang’s students in Public Relations Campaigns conducted a situational analysis through primary and secondary research and created comprehensive public relations campaigns with practical recommendations for advancing Shawnee Theatre’s goals.
Community Partner Jack Terrell, Shawnee Theatre
IU Instructor Minjeong Kang, Media School
Project Course MSCH-R 429: Public Relations Campaigns, 10 undergraduate students, fall 2019
To better engage key audiences for the Linton Farmers’ Market, such as SNAP recipients and potential volunteers and sponsors, Dr. Esi Thompson’s students in Public Relations Campaigns created comprehensive public relations campaigns through a situational analysis including primary and secondary research and offered practical recommendations for advancing the goals of the Linton Farmers’ Market.
Community Partner Mark Stacy, Linton Farmers’ Market
IU Instructor Esi Thompson, Media School
Project Course MSCH-R 429: Public Relations Campaigns, 9 undergraduate students, fall 2019
The Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museums is home to more than 150 iron sculptures made by artists from across the world. Despite the strong international network, there remains opportunity to engage community members in the region. Students in Esi Thompson's public relations campaigns class created campaigns to engage residents of Bloomington and attract volunteers for the organization.
Community Partner Gerry Masse and Hugh Patton, Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum
IU Instructor Esi Thompson, Media School
Project Course MSCH-R 429: Public Relations Campaigns, 18 undergraduate students, spring 2020
The Tulip Trestle is a dearly held landmark outside of Solsberry. Although it attracts admirers from across the nation each year, more could be done to encourage community members to support the nonprofit that stewards the site. Students in Victoria Field's public relations campaigns class created campaigns to gather volunteer and financial support for the Tulip Trestle.
Community Partner Rita Sharr and Malea Huffman, Tulip Trestle Community Restoration, Inc.
IU Instructor Victoria Fields, Media School
Project Course MSCH-R 429: Public Relations Campaigns, 17 undergraduate students, spring 2020
Nursing
To increase the accessibility of health care for those with chronic illness, Erin Wyatt’s nursing students in Transitional Care for Families and Populations created a set of resources and videos to inform local residents of safety and good practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community Partner Kyle Cross, Nicole Page and Angel Overton, Greene County General Hospital
IU Instructor Greg Carter, School of Nursing
Project Course NURS-B 334: Transitional Care of Families and Populations, 56 undergraduate students, fall 2019 and spring 2020
Public and Environmental Affairs
The Shawnee Theatre has a history to be proud of in Greene County. Arts administration students helped the theatre identify community engagement strategies to capture the interest of families and youth, positioning the theatre on a path toward sustainability.
Community Partner Jack Terrel
IU Instructor Adrian Starnes, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Project Course AADM-Y 500 Topics in Arts Administration SPEA-A 450 Seminar in Rural and Grassroots Arts
The Romans Warrior Foundation has a mission to provide cost-free, therapeutic weekend retreats for Greene County veterans, Gold Star families, and first responders. Students in Laura Littlepage's human resources class developed plans for volunteer management to assist the growing nonprofit.
Community Partner Brian Romans, Romans Warrior Foundation
IU Instructor Laura Littlepage, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Project Course SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (Human Resource Management in Nonprofits), 28 graduate students, spring 2020
The Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum funds its projects through donations and grants. Students in Laura Littlepage's human resources class prepared materials to manage volunteer recruitment and coordination efforts required to staff and support the various activities of the nonprofit.
Community Partner Gerry Masse, Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum
IU Instructor Laura Littlepage, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Project Course SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (Human Resource Management in Nonprofits), 28 graduate students, spring 2020
For the City of Linton and many other organizations and residents, connecting Greene County via a recreation trails system is a high priority and something the county currently lacks. Bill Brown’s graduate students in Sustainable Communities engaged consultants to identify how to start a trail development project, inventory potential funding sources, and launch a planning committee with a clear timeline and deliverables in order to develop trails across the county.
Community Partner Mayor John Wilkes, City of Linton
IU Instructor Bill Brown, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
To foster more economic activity in Downtown Linton, Mark Levin’s students in Local Economic Development identified potential businesses to occupy a vacant downtown building that needs rehabilitation, and they assisted the Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce and the Greene County Economic Development Corporation with applying for relevant grants.
Community Partner Brianne Jerrels, Greene County Economic Development Corporation; Cheryl Hamilton, Linton-Stockton Chamber of Commerce
IU Instructor Mark Levin, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Project Course SPEA-L 622: Local Economic Development, 15 undergraduate students, fall 2019
The Romans Warrior Foundation has a mission to provide cost-free, therapeutic weekend retreats for Greene County veterans, Gold Star families, and first responders. Students in Laura Littlepage's grant writing class prepared materials to apply for grants that will fund key projects for the nonprofit.
Community Partner Brian Romans, Romans Warrior Foundation
IU Instructor Laura Littlepage, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Project Course SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (Grant Writing), 30 undergraduate students, spring 2020
The Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum is an active operation supported almost entirely by volunteer efforts. Students in Laura Littlepage's human resources class developed plans for volunteer management to assist the nonprofit.
Community Partner Gerry Masse, Sculpture Trails Outdoor Museum
IU Instructor Laura Littlepage, O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs
Project Course SPEA-V 450 Contemporary Issues in Public Affairs (Grant Writing), 30 undergraduate students, spring 2020
Public Health
Greene County is seeking a facility where residents can participate in recreation activities year-round. To initiate the planning process for a recreation center, Alison Miller’s students in Living Well identified benchmark recreation centers in similar communities and created reports on key aspects of operations, such as budget models and available services.
Community Partner Kyle Cross, Greene County General Hospital
IU Instructor Alison Miller, School of Public Health
Project Course SPH-R 142: Living Well, 72 undergraduate students, fall 2019
Following the Bloomfield Pool's renovations in 2018, there is a need to continue attracting residents to enjoy the pool. Alison Miller’s students in Recreational Sports Programming drafted programming proposals that will creatively use the pool facilities during and after swim season.
Community Partner Judy Wise and Sophie Haywood, Bloomfield Pool
IU Instructor Alison Miller, School of Public Health
To increase the supply of recreation activities for the youth in Bloomfield, Dr. Julie Knapp’s students in Foundations of Public, Nonprofit and Community Recreation created a needs assessment, a variety of activity plans, and a database of relevant grants.
Community Partner Austin Stroud, Bloomfield-Eastern Greene County Public Library; Beth Burcham, Greene County Literacy Coalition; Kyle Cross, Greene County General Hospital; Tonjua Toon, Resident of Bloomfield
IU Instructor Julie Knapp, School of Public Health
Project Course SPH-R 220: Foundations of Public, Nonprofit, and Community Recreation, 17 undergraduate students, fall 2019
Purdue Extension-Greene County is developing a youth council to provide space for youth to take leadership on a number of pressing issues. To spread awareness and reduce stigma, Dr. Deb Getz’s students in Introduction to Lifespan Development designed short educational interventions about mental health and other health topics for youth and deliver them to the new youth council.
Community Partner Malea Huffman, Purdue Extension-Greene County
IU Instructor Deb Getz, School of Public Health
Project Course SPH-F 150: Introduction to Lifespan Development, 137 undergraduate students, fall 2019
To educate visitors at Shakamak State Park about the importance of native plants, Dr. Brian Forist’s students in Integrated Resource Management designed native plant beds and create accompanying interpretative signage for installation next to the park’s busy swimming pool and lake.
Community Partner Kenna Duguay, Shakamak State Park
IU Instructor Brian Forist, School of Public Health
The Greene County Youth Council, formed in fall 2019, provides a platform for high school youth to address relevant health topics among their peers, including topics like substance misuse and sexual health. Students in Deb Getz's youth workers class created educational materials for the Youth Council to ensure they have access to accurate and appropriate information.
Community Partner Malea Huffman, Purdue Extension-Greene County
IU Instructor Deb Getz, School of Public Health
Project Course SPH-F 180: Survey of Practice with Youth and Families and SPH-F 330 Leadership Theory and Practice in Youth Development, 36 undergraduate students, spring 2020
Center for Rural Engagement resources and social media channels
