The Department of Community Development and Applied Economics will host a workshop on September 9, 2026 to help Vermont businesses, nonprofits and community organizations explore new ways to partner with UVM students.
“Partnering with UVM CDAE Classes” will take place at 11:30 a.m. in the Isthmus Conference Room at Hula Lakeside in Burlington. The event is free and open to both Hula members and nonmembers, providing an opportunity for organizations throughout the community to learn how they can engage with UVM students.
The workshop will introduce organizations to opportunities to work with UVM students through internships, service-learning courses and capstone projects. CDAE students bring skills and perspectives in areas including public communication, design, entrepreneurship, community development and public administration.
The event was organized with the support of Kerry Daigle, CDAE Internship Coordinator and Academic Advisor, who helped bring together the department’s experiential learning opportunities and community partners. Daigle works with CDAE students and organizations to facilitate meaningful connections between classroom learning and professional experiences.
For participating organizations, working with students can provide additional capacity to tackle projects while bringing fresh ideas and perspectives to their work. For students, these partnerships provide an opportunity to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges and build valuable professional experience.
“Our students have a tremendous amount to offer organizations in our community, and these partnerships give them an opportunity to put their skills into practice in meaningful ways,” said Jason Konefal, chair of CDAE. “We want to make it easier for organizations to connect with our students and faculty and find opportunities that benefit everyone involved.”
The workshop reflects CDAE’s broader commitment to experiential learning and community engagement. Through internships, applied courses and capstone experiences, CDAE students regularly collaborate with organizations to address real-world communication, design, community development and organizational challenges.
The September 9 workshop is designed both for organizations interested in working with students now and for those who want to learn more about opportunities for future collaboration.
Organizations interested in partnering with CDAE on future projects are invited to submit a Community Partnership Intake Form. The form is designed for community organizations, nonprofits, government offices, and businesses interested in connecting with UVM students and faculty.
