UNO organizations can apply for office space in the UNO Barbara Weitz Community Engagement Center.
Eligible UNO Applicants
- UNO faculty and staff
- UNO colleges, departments, programs, and/or initiatives
Examples of eligible activities and UNO organizations:
- Short-term grant or collaborative project/program
- A long-term grant or collaborative project/program
- Housing a visiting scholar/researcher focused on community engagement
- Engaged research (e.g., applied research, evaluation study, etc.)
- Engaged teaching (e.g., a P-16 service learning partnership or multifaceted service learning project)
- Engaged service (e.g., a department-based outreach program)
- Space for a visiting faculty or scholar who will be focused on engagement (must have a UNO sponsor)
Please note that applications for space for UNO student-run organizations are not being accepted at this time. UNO students are, however, welcome to request a small meeting or project room for a one-time collaborative class project or study group.
How to Apply for Office Space
- Start by contacting us regarding your interest in office space
- Heike Langdon, the CEC's Manager of Possibilities, will email you to set up a meeting to discuss opportunities for UNO organizations in the CEC and to access the application.
- Review the "before you apply" section below
- Review the "expectations for UNO organizations with office space below"
- Submit your application
- Go through a committee review and approval process
Before You Apply
UNO organizations should consider the following before they apply:
- The online application form for UNO organizations includes a question asking if the immediate chair or director has approved the application. Please attain this approval before submitting the application.
- UNO building partners will be required to sign a rental/space agreement indicating an understanding of an agreement to abide by CEC policies.
- UNO building partners will be required to go through a reapplication process on a regular (2 year) basis.
- The initial maximum occupancy for UNO organizations is 2 years (there will be an opportunity to reapply for space).
Expectations for UNO Organizations with Office Space
UNO building partners located in the CEC are expected to be active participants in the building’s culture and contribute positively to its success. We encourage taking advantage of opportunities to work with our community building partners as well as other community organizations. Here are some examples of how our university building partners support the CEC’s overall purposes and values:
- Leading capacity-building workshops for building partners
- Offering expertise to building partners in research or evaluation design
- Providing insights into best practices
- Connecting students for internships, capstones, or other community-based learning projects
- Collaborating with other community/university CEC building partners in mutually beneficial ways
- Sharing news and lessons learned from the CEC experience through UNO public relations materials, social media, and organizational communications
- Participating in annual surveys and evaluations
While there is no specific expectation regarding how much time any UNO personnel should be present in their CEC workspace(s), our experience is that the enriching benefits of operating programs in the CEC are greatly enhanced through active collaboration, face-to-face interactions with building partners and staff, and participation in CEC partner events. UNO applicants should factor this benefit into their planning for their proposed projects and programs in the CEC. Renewal of space agreements is predicated on the expectation that UNO partners will take advantage of their space in the CEC accordingly.