SERVES: Community organizations and government agencies in Greater Minnesota

GOALS:

• Enhance the capacity of community-based groups in rural Minnesota to meet their goals by providing relevant applied research that supports community projects
• Provide students with opportunities to apply their research and technical skills to real-world community challenges and gain experience that provides an advantage in the job market.

PROGRAM: CAP provides approximately 200 hours of student time (260 hours during summer) to work on a project defined by the community. This is a competitive program and only the best projects are funded. These projects typically have a clear product that will be used to achieve an organizational goal. CAP projects endorsed by a local Minnesota Initiative Foundation can be filled with a student from the University of Minnesota or any institution that is part of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) system. You can search the CURA Project Database for examples of successful CAP projects.

CAP travel reimbursement policy: CAP pays mileage, at the University of Minnesota reimbursement rate, for up to two student trips to the project region if located outside the 7-county Twin Cities metropolitan area. Reimbursement for additional trips can be negotiated with program staff. CAP expects the supporting community organization to provide lodging, meals, and project related expenses.

CAP is supported, in part, by grants from the Blandin and McKnight Foundations.

APPLICATIONS: Applications from community organizations are accepted three times a year, and are reviewed by the CAP Advisory Committee. Visit the CURA Community Application Information page for deadlines and information on how to apply for assistance.

Student job opportunities available through CAP (and other CURA programs) are listed on the University of Minnesota Job Site. Students interested in applying for a position should identify a job opening for which they are qualified and follow the instructions provided for how to apply.