The University College of Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS) is continuing to expand its operations and has implemented a formal application process for individuals and groups seeking funding for community service projects. The program is the latest in a series of initiatives that the UCCPS has developed this year as a result of a donation from alumni Pierre and Pam Omidyar.
The grant program, designed to encourage active citizenship at Tufts, is now accepting proposals from interested groups, students, faculty, and staff.
"This is a terrific opportunity to seed new ideas and expand the dialogue on campus about active citizenship," Education for Active Citizenship Grants program coordinator Nancy Gabriel said in a press release.
The grants are designed to bring together different community groups to promote creativity and civil service, according to Gabriel.
"The idea is to find ways to partner students, faculty, and community organizations in looking for what will have a lasting impact long after those involved have moved on," she said.
The initiative is organized through UCCPS's Education for Active Citizenship Grants program and the Omidyar Scholars program. Money from eBay founder Omidyar's $10 million donation to the University last year will be used to help fund the grants.
Awards will span from $500 to $5,000 each, and will be distributed in three cycles, the first of which is already in progress. The remaining grants will be awarded in October 2001 and February 2002.
In total, about $100,000 has been allotted to fund the grants.
Gabriel said she did not expect a large number of student applications for this round because this is a busy time of year, but that she expects more applicants in the fall and next spring. "We felt it was really important to get the process out, so we'll just fund what we can for now," Gabriel said.
Grant recipients will be decided by a committee comprised of four faculty members from the UCCPS faculty steering committee, three students from either the UCCPS student advisory board or Omidyar Scholars, and Gabriel.
"We tried to make sure that the faculty was fairly interdisciplinary, so it won't simply be UCCPS deciding," Gabriel said. The committee may expand the number of student members next year to further diversify its makeup.
Many faculty members are optimistic about the implications of the program for Tufts and surroundings areas.
"This represents an opportunity to provide for the Tufts community and the community that we serve outside," said child development Professor Richard Lerner, a prominent expert in his field and a member of the UCCPS grant committee. "It is a means to collaborate around important projects that serve civil societies."
The decision to create a more formal grant process comes a year after the establishment of the UCCPS, which was founded after the Omidyar donation in 2000. Though a number of grants were awarded last year, the funds were given out on a relatively informal basis.
"This year, we wanted to make it a more formal grant cycle and more outlined application procedure," UCCPS staff member Louise Dyer.
Funding will be awarded based on a number of factors, including the project's ability to promote active citizenship skills Tufts' student body, develop tools for further enhancement of public service, and build community partnerships. Those who submit proposals must also outline how they plan to use the money and resources, as well as attract funds from other sources.
The UCCPS was founded last year with the intent of shaping young public servants and leaders both in and out of the Tufts community. Its mission is to encourage involvement in solving community challenges by developing and sharing knowledge on citizenship and public service.
Previous UCCPS grants to student groups have included funding for United Leaders, and the Nia project, which connects Tufts' black community to area high school students. A number of the grants typically go toward graduate students in search of funding for specific projects.
Gabriel stressed the importance of undergraduate student involvement in the program.
"The students we have funded so far have really made a lot out of the money they have received. Some of the best projects have been from the students," Gabriel said.
Proposals for the first round of grants must be submitted by May 15. Grant awards will be announced on June 1.
