Program Description, Guidelines and Application for the:

Kris Nelson Community Based Research Program & Community Assistantship Program.

2015 Program and eligibility guidelines

Kris Nelson Community Based Research Program (Nelson Program)—community and neighborhood organizations in Minneapolis and St. Paul; Community organizations and government agencies in Twin-Cities metro area suburbs.

Community Assistantship Program (CAP)—community organizations and government agencies in greater Minnesota and projects that would serve the entire state.

The Mary Page Community-University Partnership Fund supports CAP students working on community identified and requested research projects, honoring the spirit of “community-driven” work between the land-grant University and the communities they serve. The Regional Partnerships facilitate Community-University projects in the areas of sustainable agriculture and local food, natural resources, tourism and resilient communities, and clean energy. If your proposal addresses these issue areas it will be considered for funding through the Mary Page fund. Should a decision be needed among proposals of equal merit, special consideration will be given to projects in Southwest Minnesota.

Both programs provide graduate or undergraduate student assistance for applied research projects, program planning, program evaluation, and other short-term projects. Student assistantships are generally 10–20 hours per week for three to four months.

Kris Nelson Community Based Research Program Impact Areas:

  1. People and Places - Builds the leadership and power of low income communities, communities of color, immigrant communities, seniors, people with disabilities, youth, renters or other historically excluded communities in a neighborhood or specific geographic area. Addresses a local community issue, need or opportunity.
  2. Organizations - Supports the capacity of community-based, neighborhood or other place-based organizations to more effectively and equitably engage and involve the diversity of their community into the leadership of their organization. Makes neighborhood or other place-based organizations more representative of the communities in which they work.
  3. Collaborations - Builds strong networks and relationships within and/or among diverse cultural or geographic communities.
  4. Systems - Expands the influence of community members on neighborhood systems, practices, initiatives and policies that lead to greater racial, social and economic equity.

What makes a good research question?

Research cannot tell people what to do but it can gather information that helps people make decisions. So focus research questions on facts and conditions not what an organization should do. Frame as ‘what is’ or ‘what are’ questions not ‘what should’ or ‘how do we’ questions.

Instead of asking: How do we improve our communities housing stock?

Ask questions like:

  • What is the neighborhood’s housing stock?
  • What are comparable communities doing to improve their housing stock?
  • What are the demographics of people living in the community?
  • What government programs are available?
  • What new housing development has occurred in the last 5 years?

Application Process

1.Complete a CURA Community-Based Research Programs Application Form for each research project you would like assistance with. Use the attached application form.

2.Submit applications via e-mail to:

3.Your application will be reviewed and you will be notified as soon as possible of the committee’s decision regarding your application.

4.If approved, a job description is developedby CURA, approved by the community organization, and posted online for students to see.

5.Students apply on the U of M’s online job application website and the community organization reviews those applications.

6.The community organization chooses interview candidates from among those students who apply for the position. The organization is responsible for scheduling and conducting interviews, and selecting the candidate of its choice.

The CURA Community-Based Research Program staff can help you with your application. You are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate program director to discuss potential projects prior to submitting your application:

  • Jeff Corn, 612-625-0744, (Nelson or CAP)
  • Neeraj Mehta, 612-624-8988, (Nelson)

Application Deadlines

The CURA Community-Based Research Programs consider applications for applied research assistance three times a year. Proposals are due by the following dates for assistance during the time periods indicated:

Submission Date / Notification Date / Project Dates
October 30 / November 30 / Spring Semester: January – May
March 15 / April 15 / Summer Semester: June- August
June 30 / July 30 / Fall Semester: September - December

CURA Community-Based Research Programs

Application Form

NOTE: This form serves the Nelson Program and the Community Assistantship Program (CAP)

Type answers to the following questions on this form. We prefer applications to be no more than five pages long (not including cover) and to be submitted as an e-mail attachment.

Organization Name:

Street Address:

City:State:Zip:

Main Phone:

Which of the following best describes your organization:

__ Neighborhood organization

__ Nonprofit organization

__ Government agency

__ Other (please specify) ______

What other CURA programs is the organization connected to?

__ Minnesota Center for Neighborhood Organizing (MCNO)

__ Community Geographic Information Systems (CGIS)

__ Neighborhood Partnership Initiative (NPI) or Artist Neighborhood Partnership Initiative (ANPI)

__ Community Visualization

__ Resilient Communities partnership

__Hennepin University Partnership

__ Other (please specify)

Primary Contact Person:

Phone:E-mail:

Project Supervisor (person who will directly supervise the student):

Phone:E-mail:

Provide the following information in your application. Please do not exceed 5 pages, not including the cover page.

  1. Mission or purpose of your organization.
  1. Title of the project.
  1. In 50 words or less describe the research project.
  1. Briefly describe your project, including information about:
  2. What issue/challenge/opportunity the project is centered on.
  3. What are the goals and outcomes of the project?
  4. How will the research support your efforts?
  5. How the project fits one or more of the CBR program goals listed above?
  6. Any partnerships involved in this project.
  1. Tell us more about the research project itself:
  2. What is your specific research question(s)?
  3. What data will you need to address the research question(s)?
  4. Does the data already exist? If yes, where?
  5. What format is the data in and do you have access to it?
  6. What is the final research product you desire (written report, slides, etc.)
  7. How will you use the final product to achieve your desired impact?
  1. Who benefits and how from this project?
  1. Duties and Responsibilities. You will have a limited amount of time to complete the project: 195 student hours in the spring and fall semesters, and 260 hours over the summer.

a)Task list. What 4-7 separate tasks will need to be completed to yield the final product you want?

b)Task Assignment. For each task, what duties and responsibilities do you expect the student to complete? What will be completed by the supervisor?

c)What specific skills, experience, and qualifications will be required of the student research assistant?

  1. Organizational Support

a)What material support (e.g. desk, telephone, access to a computer, access to a copy machine, etc.) can your organization provide for the research assistant?

b)What financial support (i.e., contributions toward the cost of student wages, funds for travel or other expenses, etc.) can your organization provide for this project?

c)What additional support will be required for this project that your organization cannot provide, and how might it be obtained?

Submit applications as an e-mailattachment to:

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation

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