University of Minnesota Programs
The University of Minnesota wants to be one of the partners working to maximize the health, vitality, promise, and opportunity of North Minneapolis by providing services to professionals, practitioners, and the public; investing financial resources for economic development and offering educational opportunities within the community.
Specific University of Minnesota program areas include:
Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA)
The Office of Business and Community Economic Development
Office for Public Engagement (OPE)
The Center for Early Education and Development (CEED)
The University of Minnesota Child and Family Center
It is the goal of the University Northside Partnership to enhance the quality of life in North Minneapolis by focusing on real world issues like education, business, unemployment, poverty and health.
The University of Minnesota offers the unique resources and capacity of the University to help community organizations serve their constituents.
The University will partner with community organizations to establish a physical presence where services can be offered and where the community will have easier access to University education, programs and jobs.
University of Minnesota leaders and faculty will work with community leaders, agencies, and residents to identify areas of alignment between community wants and needs and the University resources that can best serve them.
Focus on Families
The University can contribute to North Minneapolis through their expertise and capacity related to children and families. The University has a wealth of resources devoted to child development and healthy families, including the Center for Early Education and Development (CEED), the Center for Applied Research on Educational Improvement (CAREI), the Children, Youth and Family Consortium (CYFC), and 4H Youth Development. The University Northside Partnership will leverage the capacity of these programs by focusing their efforts on high-priority needs identified by the community.
Educational Success
University President Robert Bruininks recently created the Consortium on Post-Secondary Academic Success (CPAS), whose mission is to commit University resources and expertise to enhancing PreK-12 education, narrowing achievement gaps between groups of students, setting high standards and aspirations for all children, and helping prepare students for post-secondary success.
In addition, the University is working to remove financial barriers to a college education, through the new Founders Opportunity Scholarships. Students admitted to the University will receive free tuition and fees for four years if their family income is less than $50,000.
Economic Development
Community leaders have asked the University to play a role in the economic growth and vitality of North Minneapolis. By working with Mayor Rybak and the city, with Hennepin County, and with community-based groups we can help leverage resources through our Business and Community Economic Development office and other key programs.
Assisting Community Organizations
The University regularly provides assistance to organizations by helping conduct economic impact studies, surveys, and needs assessments, and by providing tools and expertise that help these organizations develop their programs and provide their services. They would like to expand and focus this assistance on the Northside to help the organizations that help Northside residents.
Beginning in the fall 2006, the University will award $50,000 per year in seed grants to North Minneapolis community organizations who partner with University faculty to provide services and benefits to the community.
Readiness to Serve
These are just a few ways the University can apply its unique assets to serve North Minneapolis. University faculty, staff, and students will work with the community to find meaningful, sustainable, collaborative teaching, service, and research activities that contribute directly to improved lives and enriched communities.
Office of System Academic Administration
120 Morrill Hall
100 Church Street S.E.
Phone: 612 624-6876
Minneapolis, MN 55455
For more information about the University Northside Partnership, please contact Dr. Robert Jones, University of Minnesota, Senior Vice President for System Academic Administration at northside.partnership@umn.edu.