Nearly 30 years ago faculty and administrators in Minnesota came together to decide how academia could respond to the turmoil in our cities. Programs are recognized nationally as representing the best in international and domestic study. This is a formula for extraordinary intellectual and personal growth that cannot be achieved in the same way on campus. Students develop critical self-awareness and are empowered toward greater academic and civic engagement. All programs include internships or structured field projects as a way to connect theoretical studies with current realities.
Scholarships are available.
These partners in the teaching-learning enterprise supervise students in internships, engage students in community projects, provide direction for group and independent study projects, and serve as resource persons in student and faculty seminars. This has created a remarkable breadth and depth of connection with policymakers, community activists, academics and agents of social change who are part of our work. The vision is based on a solid and successful foundation of programs, clarity of mission and soundness of pedagogy. We are attentive to the experiences of students, faculty and practitioners and recognize the need for quality and intentionality in preparing future citizen leaders. An institute would connect the academy and the community in new, creative, integrated ways, including conferences, roundtables, leadership circles, research, consulting, outreach and new realms of collaboration.