UND CONNECT

Connecting communities with UND faculty and UND students with hands-on learning.

In line with UND’s vision to “inspire a sense of wonder, a love of discovery, and a commitment to serve,” specifically addressing our desire to “engage in collaborations that serve the evolving needs of our people, tribal nations, and the state of North Dakota,” UND has launched the UND CONNECT program.

The program provides UND faculty and students with the opportunity to engage in community-based research, development, and outreach projects. UND CONNECT sponsors research and experiential learning teams comprised of faculty, students, and community partners proposing a project that affects some aspect of quality of life in the state.

Fall 2026 Funded Projects

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Music Foundations brings weekly, Music Learning Theory-based music sessions to children enrolled at two Grand Forks Head Start campuses, facilitated by UND music education faculty and student assistants. The project provides take-home family music kits, teacher professional development, and curriculum resources to support lasting music engagement-while generating field experience and qualitative research opportunities for preservice music educators.

Project PI

Dr. Whitney Mayo, Assistant Professor of Music

Monthly Spanish Storytime at the Grand Forks Public LIbrary aims to bring UND Students and members of the Grand Forks Latinx community together. While UND Students will engage in experiential learning, the Latinx community will benefit by having a space in which their native language is used, valued, and celebrated.

Project PI

Dr. Christie Cole, Assistant Professor of Languages & Global Studies
Dr. Elizabeth Suazo-Flores, Assistant Professor of Teaching & Leadership

Bridges Community Choir is a unified choir that utilizes the Universal Design for Learning to create an inclusive space for music making. Through weekly rehearsals we welcome people from ages 14 and above, of all abilities, to join in two common goals: strengthen community bonds and engage in music making.

Project PI

Dr. Casey Behm, Assistant Professor of Music & Director of Choral Activities
Professor Carly Flaagan, Teaching Assistant Professor of Music & Director of Music Therapy

The project partners UND with the Greater Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce to help local businesses explore practical uses of AI for marketing communications and customer engagement. Through student-led interviews, applied research, and community workshops, the project will generate usable resources that support local business visibility, digital innovation, and community resilience.

Project PI

Dr. Linqi Lu, Assistant Professor of Communication
Dr. Jessica Schanilec-Gowan, Teaching Associate Professor of Communication

Project and Proposal Guidelines

UND CONNECT supports projects that address need-inspired problems identified by community or state partners, combining faculty research, student experiential learning, and community expertise to create publicly impactful solutions.

UND CONNECT projects must positively and tangibly impact the community and/or the state of North Dakota. The program provides opportunities for faculty to develop projects in partnership with local and state institutions, agencies, and community groups. Projects should create meaningful hands-on learning experiences for students (undergraduate, graduate, or both) while delivering measurable benefits to North Dakota communities.

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Eligibility

Open to all UND faculty members, including special appointment and part-time faculty.
Faculty may submit one proposal as PI but may participate in multiple projects submitted by other faculty.
Previously funded faculty members who have demonstrated successful project completion, including submission of a final project report, may apply for consideration of a new project.
Previously funded projects may be considered, but UND CONNECT is intended as seed funding to help projects move toward long-term sustainability.

Project Objectives

Proposals should clearly articulate how the project will:

Integrate faculty expertise, student learning, and the active participation of at least one North Dakota community organization/partner.
Improve the quality of life for communities within North Dakota.
Involve students and provide unique hands-on learning opportunities (undergraduate, graduate, or both).

Proposal Requirements

Each proposal must include:

Project Description (less than 1,500 words): Explain how the project meets the objectives above; identify all faculty and community partners involved.
Budget: Detailed projected budget for the UND CONNECT request (maximum $5,000). Note any additional funding sources if applicable.
Timeline: Projects may begin July 1, 2026 and must be completed by December 31, 2026.
Letter of Support: From the community partner confirming their role and commitment.

Application Submission and Evaluation

Complete application packets must include:

UND Connect application form signed by the dean
Project proposal, including budget and timeline
Letter of support from the community partner

UND Connect proposal applications will route through a DocuSign Powerform; please ensure the proposal and community letters of support have been compiled into one PDF prior to uploading as an attachment.

Note: UND CONNECT applications do not need to be submitted to Research & Sponsored Program Development through Novelution.

Contact und.facultyaffairs@UND.edu with questions about proposals and application submission.

The Senate Scholarly Activities Committee (SSAC) will review proposals and provide recommendations to the Office of the Provost for final funding approval.

Proposals will be evaluated using the evaluation rubric. Applicants should closely review the evaluation rubric (below) as they prepare their project proposals. 

The strongest UND CONNECT proposals will demonstrate how faculty and community partners co-develop projects that are reciprocal, sustainable, and responsive to community needs. They will also articulate clear student learning outcomes—such as applying disciplinary knowledge to real-world challenges, developing civic responsibility, and building skills in collaboration, communication, and problem-solving.

Up to $5,000 may be requested to support the project.
Funds must be used for project operating expenses, subject to university and SBHE policy.
Funds may not be used for faculty salary, including course buyouts or salary recovery.
Funds may not be used for student wages or ongoing student employment.
- Projects that integrate service-learning experiences into a course are especially encouraged to engage and support students.
- Student stipends of up to $250/ student may be used to support short-term engagement, learning, or project-based contributions. Students who are engaged in UND CONNECT project activities as a part of a course or for-credit internship are not eligible to receive a stipend. Faculty should keep in mind that stipends may affect a student's financial aid eligibility.

Contact Eric Peterson, Assistant Director SSC, with question about allowable expenses and/or to review university and SBHE policy.

April 2, 2026— Proposals due
Week of April 20, 2026— Senate Scholarly Activity Committee (SSAC) submits funding recommendations to the Office of the Provost
Week of April 27, 2026 — Applicants notified of award status
May 8, 2026 10:00 AM— Required budget training session held
July 1-December 31, 2026 — Fall 2026 UND CONNECT projects period of performance

Within one month of the completion of a project, the funded faculty member must submit a brief (1–2 page) post-project report to the Office of the Provost. The report should describe the project’s activities, successes, challenges, and outcomes. These reports will help the university refine the UND CONNECT program, improve outcomes, and promote future initiatives.

report form

Evaluation Rubric

The rubric below outlines benchmarks (5, 3, 1) for evaluating proposals. Scores of 4 and 2 may also be used as appropriate. Zero (0) may be given if the criterion is not addressed.

Category	Score: 5 (Exemplary)	Score: 3 (Adequate)	Score: 1 (Insufficient)
Community Engagement / Impact	The quality-of-life issue is specifically defined, stems from an identified community need, and the community partner’s role is clearly articulated. Anticipated outcomes are specific and measurable.	The quality-of-life issue is defined but may need elaboration; the community need or partner role is not fully clear; outcomes need more detail.	Community need or partner role is absent or vague; outcomes are vague or missing.
Student Learning	Specific student learning outcomes and roles (undergraduate and/or graduate) are clearly stated and thoroughly described.	Student learning outcomes and roles are present but need additional explanation.	Student learning outcomes and roles are vague or insufficiently addressed.
Faculty Expertise & Integration	Clear and specific purpose with appropriate integration of faculty expertise into the project design.	Faculty expertise is present but not fully explained or balanced.	Faculty expertise is vague or missing.
Timeline and Budget	Timeline is detailed and realistic; budget is specific and includes only allowable expenses.	Timeline or budget requires more detail or refinement.	Timeline is unclear or unrealistic; budget lacks detail or includes unallowable expenses.