Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships

SERV: Student Engagement for a Resilient Vermont

The Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships is pleased to announce the Student Engagement for a Resilient Vermont (SERV) grant, which provides up to $10,000 for faculty and community partners building applied learning opportunities that address rural challenges in Vermont.

Over the last year, the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships has worked closely with the Office of Community-Engaged Learning (CELO) to facilitate meaningful partnership development as a complement to the Faculty Fellows professional development opportunity, specifically for faculty engaged in community resilience efforts in Vermont.

The Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships supports opportunities for students to participate in community-engaged learning and the subsequent opportunities that arise from partnerships that center both community needs and student experience. In 2026, we are launching a pilot grant program that provides 14 months of support for faculty and community partners to develop, carry out, and report impact on a new or existing community-engaged learning opportunity. 

What We Fund

Students walking in forest
Support for faculty developing or enhancing service and community-engaged learning courses with a Vermont-based rural community focus
Community
Support for community partners who are contributing to the development and execution of courses
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Additional funding needs to support the successful execution of the course, including program support, professional development, transportation costs, intern support, etc.
Students working together

Apply for a SERV Grant

Full details of the grant, including application instructions and
required forms

Click here

Eligibility and Requirements

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  • Faculty, including tenure-track professors and lecturers, teaching courses in undergraduate and graduate departments at the University of Vermont 
  • Courses must be running during either the Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 semester   
  • Courses must have or plan to have a Vermont-based community engaged learning component 
  • Projects must address a Vermont-based rural challenge, and can fall into one or more of the following categories: 
     
    • Regenerative agriculture 
    • Community schools 
    • Transit and housing solutions 
    • Remote and co-working practices 
    • Healthy ecosystems 
    • Resilient energy systems 
    • Access to health care in rural areas 
    • Policy and governance   
       
  • Dean and/or Department Chair letter of support required 
  • Community partner letter of support required   
  • Funded faculty must administer a survey to their students following the completion of the course 
  • Funded faculty must participate in two workshops over the course of the year to discuss this funding model for community-engaged learning coursework

Award Amounts

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Applicants can request between $1,000 and $10,000. Please note that funds from the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships are subject to a 1% indirect cost rate as mandated by our funder, USDA/NIFA.

Timeline Details

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  • Application Deadline: April 17, 2026
  • Notifications will arrive by May 22, 2026
  • Period of Performance: June 1, 2026 - August 31, 2027

Contact us

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If you have questions about eligibility, proposal development, or submission, please contact Emma Spett (emma.spett@uvm.edu) at the Leahy Institute for Rural Partnerships.