University of Minnesota, Morris
IN-1: Innovation 1

An innovative collaboration between University of Minnesota, Morris (Morris) and the West Central Regional Sustainable Development Partnership (WCP) of the University of Minnesota. Morris collaborates with the WCP to engage students with sustainability-focused projects in the region. For example, WCP and Morris helped to place students in a clean water advocacy non-profit and worked with them to develop their citizen-engaged outreach program. Other projects have included working on wind policy, monitioring lake contaminants, local food system development and more. WCP serves 12 counties of the Upper Minnesota River basin including Big Stone, Chippewa, Douglas, Grant, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Pope, Renville, Stevens, Swift, Traverse, and Yellow Medicine. The University of Minnesota West Central Partnership is a citizen-driven Board of Directors working with citizens in the watershed to create and sustain healthy ecosystems, strong local economies and vibrant, self-reliant communities. Its mission--launching education and research that help people understand and achieve sustainability in their region--supports projects that demonstrate public purpose and builds partnerships with citizens of the watershed to local assets and University of Minnesota research and educational resources. The Regional Sustainable Development Partners of the University of Minnesota engages citizens in partnership with the University. It aims to support sustainable development in Minnesota by using the resources of the University to address community-identified issues. The extent of the University of Minnesota allows for numerous local issues to be addressed on multiple campus or extension locations all at once, giving the institution a large capacity for sustainable research, education, and outreach. Programs are launched throughout the state and then developed and innovated locally to match the needs of the region. The Partnership encompasses five regions in the state of Minnesota. The Regional Sustainable Development Partnership is an innovative partnership to connect communities, Universities, and governments, allowing for flexibility to further sustainability statewide.