University of Minnesota, Morris students are employed in all of the Center for Small Towns' (CST) program components and provide organizations with valuable, specialized assistance across a variety of projects. Being employed by CST allows students to enrich their Morris education with hands-on experiences, which have a direct effect on surrounding communities. Examples of the types of activities provided by students in previous activities include: applied research, coordination of programs or projects, resource assessments, and promotional writings.
There are a number of ways in which Morris students become involved in community projects including civic engagement, community services, course offerings, directed studies, employment, internships, service learning (through course work), and volunteerism.
Current Projects
STARS
The student is surveying everything the campus is doing to be sustainable. The University gets “points” in three major categories: education/research, operations, and planning/administration/engagement. The survey was created by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
Upper Sioux Community – Renewable Energy
The student is doing research in renewable energy options of the Upper Sioux Community to implement. The student is determining what combination of wind and solar energy makes the most economic sense and will present the information to the tribal council at the end of his term.
Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission
The student is working with the UMVRDC to help small communities identify their priorities. The student will then help provide the communities with the tools, ideas, and resources they need to reach their goals.
Core Sampling in Lake Wakanga
The student is working with University of Minnesota, Morris professor Jim Cotter to take core samples from Lake Wakanga near Willmar, MN. The samples will be used to determine the effect of a ditch that has been depositing run-off water into the lake for the past 50 years.
CST Student Handbook [PDF]
Supervising Students guide book [PDF]
CST student projects:
