​Quinnipiac Public Service Award (QPSA)

ELIGIBILITY 

The Quinnipiac Public Service Award was created to support a broad range of student, faculty, and staff public service activities designed to benefit the larger community. As the University of the Future, Quinnipiac understands that in addition to nurturing its own faculty, staff, and current students (only students currently enrolled are eligible to apply for the award), it should also apply its intellectual, technical and community assets to support the needs of local communities. Awards are for public service projects of students who have a faculty and/or staff mentor, that serve a municipality, non-profit organization, school, or business and benefit the larger community, with preference for those providing service in the region.

 Click here for the application

GUIDELINES

The Quinnipiac Public Service Projects Fund guidelines:

  • Invitations for short proposals for an award will follow the following schedule:
  •  Summer Projects: Applications and Proposals accepted from March 1 – April 15 at 5:00 p.m.
  • Fall Projects: Applications and Proposals accepted from June 1 – August 15 at 5:00 p.m.
  • Spring Projects: Applications and Proposals accepted from November 21 – January 6  at 5:00 p.m.
  • We will consider funding for 3-month project executed in the following timeframes:

May 1 – August 31

September 1 – November 30

February 1 – April 30

  • All student projects must include a faculty or staff member. The award is up to $3,000 for students and $1,000 for faculty or staff mentors. Students must be currently enrolled at time of application and at time of project completion.
  • Proposals should be no more than 400 words from faculty, staff or students for innovative projects or programs that support the needs of communities mentioned above.
  • All applications must include the project description, and the role of the faculty or staff mentor, including a letter of support from a faculty or staff member who will guide or advise on the project. The letter of support should 1. identify the faculty or staff role in guiding the student’s project, 2. the merits of the project, and 3. evidence that the project is doable in the proposed timeframe.
  • All applicants should be prepared to answer follow-up questions from the Public Service Awards committee and to meet with the committee during the application review period.
  • To expand knowledge of resources and community work being done through this funding, recipients are required to support visible public outreach efforts and at a minimum to write a one-page press release on the impact of their project to be added to the QU Community Service landing page. Suggested outreach may include video and written coverage. Applicants should speak to their public outreach efforts in their short proposal.
  • A one-page final report describing the outcomes of the project must be submitted within three months of the project completion.

Through these awards, QPSA seeks to benefit:

  • a municipality, non-profit organization, school, or business that provide services, preferably in the region, in the following areas:

o   Improving the efficacy and impact of the target organization

o   Advancing public engagement in communities

o   Advancing women, URMs and other marginalized groups

o   Reducing food insecurity and homelessness

o   Driving positive environmental and sustainability efforts

A competitive project will positively impact, nurture and support the needs of local communities.

Vetting Process:

  • Completed applications will be reviewed by a committee of faculty, staff, and students, chaired by the VP for Strategy and Community Outreach. Award decisions will be made within 3 weeks of the application closing period.

Note: Quinnipiac Public Service Awards will be considered taxable income and any tax implications are the responsibility of the individual receiving the funding.

View Resource