The Civic Participation Project at the University of Nebraska Omaha, a member of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities' (AASCU) American Democracy Project (ADP), seeks to engage our university community - students, faculty, staff, and administrators - to understand and participate in activities designed to increase their civic engagement.
Aligned with the UNO metropolitan mission and strategic plan - the goal of the project is to promote the development of an informed and contributing citizenry for the United States in the 21st century.
Civic Participation Project Mini-Grants
Projects, activities, initiatives and coursework most reflective of the Civic Participation Project involve significant undergraduate student participation; engage the local, regional or national communities; and promote the quality of life in those communities by working to make a difference utilizing a combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation, pursuant to the national American Democracy Project initiative.
Faculty grants are awarded annually for up to $1,000 to implement projects. The projects may be part of a regular academic course or be a special project that involves students from multiple academic departments.
Grants are awarded based on the significance of the issue or need being addressed, the depth of potential student learning, and the likelihood that the grantee may be able to use the civic participation grant as “seed” funding to leverage additional external funding in the future.
Apply for the Mini-Grant
The call for Civic Participation Project Proposals is currently closed. Check back in DATE for information on the application.
Successful awardees will receive up to $1,000 per grant. Please note that conference travel will not be funded by these grants.
Guidelines
Proposals should be no more than two pages (including budget) and contain the following information:
- Purpose of project
- Potential student-learning outcomes
- Nature of student involvement
- Alignment with the ADP goals and UNO Strategic Plan
- Budget outlining planned expenses
By accepting funding, applicants are expected to submit a final report detailing the outcomes of the project and be willing to participate in a campus discussion related to their work.
2016-2017 Civic Participation Mini-Grant Recipients
| Individual | Campus Unit | Project Name |
|---|---|---|
| Rebekka Erks and Joe Allen | Psychology | Assessment of Service Learning on Non-Profits |
| Cecilia Tocaimaza-Hatch | Foreign Languages | Creating Bridges Through Language |
| Kelly Welsh | Education |
A Cross-Curriculum Proposal To Teach About the Holocaust That Stimulates Engagement and Critical Thinking |
| Melissa Berke and Shelly Cooper | Music |
Engagement through Song |
| Chris Allen | Communication |
Vote 2016 - Election Night |
| Holly Miller and Barb Pickering | Communication |
DebateWatch 2016 |
| Nancy Gillespie | Social Work |
Grandparents raising grandchildren |
| Kate Dempsey Cooper | College of Information Science & Technology |
ActivIIST |
| Jeanette Harder | Social Work |
Educating donors about program evaluation |
| Sarah Burke and Emma Bradley | Goodrich | Every Bite Counts/YES |
| Christina Wilcoxen | Education |
Lewis & Clark-Summer of Success retreat |
| Elaine Nelson | History | History of Native American women |
| Mary Perkinson | Music |
“Sound” health |
2015-2016 Civic Participation Mini-Grant Recipients
| Individual | Campus Unit | Project Name |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Mary Perkinson | School of Music | Partners in Performance |
| Dr. Wilma Kulhman | Oxbow Writing Project | |
| Dr. Matt Germonprez | College of Information Science and Technology | Social and Science |
| Dr. Amanda Duffy Randall | Grace Abbott School of Social Work | Transgender Youth Education |
| Ms. Patty Carlson | Grace Abbott School of Social Work | Sober Indian - Dangerous Indian Film Showing |
| Dr. Brian C. McKevitt | Department of Psychology | Reading Interventions for At-Risk Youth |
| Dr. Lisa Scherer | Volunteer Program Assessment | VPA and CASA Association |
| Dr. Alan Kolok | Nebraska Watershed Network | Lil' Miss Atrazine |
| Ms. Ferial Pearson & Dr. Becky Pasco | Teacher Education Department | Diversity Education |
| Dr. Connie Schaffer | Teacher Education Department | Economic Education Summit |
| Dr. Kathy Danielson | Teacher Education Department | Autobiographical Writing |
| Dr. Lisa Kelly-Vance | School Psychology | Jumpstart Summer Reading |
| Ms. Christi Krehbiel | Teacher Education Department | Teacher Recruitment |
| Dr. Debora Wisneski | Early Childhood Education | Kaneko-UNO Collaborative Play: Kaneko i participants |
| Dr. Ethel Williams | School of Public Administration | Engaging MPA Nonprofit Students to Serve on Nonprofit Boards |