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/staff 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 to be 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.
Students who are interested in collaborating with a UNO faculty or staff member in the development of a proposal, but seek assistance in making a connection, may contact Sara Woods, Chief Engagement Officer.
Apply for the Mini-Grant
The call for Civic Participation Project Proposals is open. Future application openings will be announced here and in the MavDaily.
Successful awardees will receive up to $1,000 per grant. Please note that conference travel will not be funded by these grants.
View the GuidelinesProposals are accepted once a year and must be submitted online via the link above. The proposal must include:
- Project description and title
- Project learning outcomes
- Evaluation/assessment strategy(ies)
- Articulation of student involvement
- Budget description (maximum of $1000)
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.
2020-21 Recipients
| Recipient Name | Department | College or Main Units | Project Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calvin Williams; Phani Tej Adidam | Business Administration | Business Administration | Freedomtainment |
| Derrick Fox | Music | Communication, Fine Arts, and Media | Reflections of Us: Celebrating Diversity Through Literacy |
| Ali Alghaithi; Mahbubul Majumder |
Mathematics |
Arts and Sciences | Civic Participation Data Visualization Competition |
| Janet Reilly | Political Science | Arts and Sciences | Human Rights Advocacy in the Time of Covid-19: Virtual Conference |
| Shelly Cooper; Katrina Cox | Music | Communication, Fine Arts, and Media; Education, Health, and Human Services | Ukulele at UNO |
| Josie Gatti Shafer | Center for Public Affairs Research | Public Affairs and Community Service | Student Election Survey |
| Jodi Benenson | Public Administration | Public Affairs and Community Service | Women in Public Policy Week 2021 |
View a PDF of all current and previous mini-grant recipients.