UK Joins Clinton Global Initiative University Network

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 6, 2014) — University of Kentucky has joined the Clinton Global Initiative University Network, a growing consortium of colleges and universities that support, mentor and provide seed funding to student leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs who are developing solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. UK is now one of more than 40 colleges and universities worldwide that have joined the CGI University Network.

"The Clinton Global Institute University Network is garnering increasing recognition worldwide for the ways that it is harnessing the energy of new ideas and ways of thinking, to solve challenging world problems. The chance to tackle these big issues, in ways that are linked to students’ intellectual and professional development, is irresistible," said UK Associate Provost for Internationalization Susan Carvalho.

UK will provide $10,000 in funding to be divided among UK students who are selected to pursue their Commitments to Action at CGI U 2015 to be held March 6-8, at University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida. Commitments to Action, a unique feature of the CGI U model, are new, specific and measurable initiatives that address global challenges across CGI U’s five focus areas:

·       education,

·       environment and climate change,

·       peace and human rights,

·       poverty alleviation, and

·       public health.

UK will also mentor student commitment-makers as they develop and implement their plans in the coming months.

Carvalho is excited UK students will now have this opportunity. "So many of our most forward-thinking students have a passion for solving big real-world challenges. This is their chance to engage with those questions, in a hands-on and informed way. It gives them the opportunity to test their best ideas against the best ideas from other universities and other creative minds. The energy of the project is enormous, and I think it will draw students in, in ways that help them as well as the problems they tackle."

Students interested in pursuing a Commitment to Action should contact the campus liaison in the UK Academy for Undergraduate Excellence, Lisa Broome, at lisa.broome@uky.edu or 859-257-1537. UK undergraduates and graduate students in any discipline are eligible to apply. Students may apply individually or in small teams.

Since its inaugural meeting in 2008, CGI U has brought together more than 5,500 student leaders from 135 countries and more than 800 schools. Past speakers include Madeleine Albright, Jack Dorsey, Jimmy Wales, Muhammad Yunus, Hawa Abdi Diblawe and Jon Stewart. For more information about the meeting, visit www.cgiu.org.

The deadline to apply for CGI U 2015 is Dec. 1, 2014, and students can apply online at http://www.cgiu.org/apply /.

CGI U brings together college students to address global challenges with practical, innovative solutions. CGI U participants do more than simply discuss problems — they take concrete steps to solve them by creating action plans, building relationships, participating in hands-on workshops, and following up with CGI U as they complete their projects. Previous CGI U meetings have convened more than 6,500 students from over 875 schools and 145 countries. To learn more, visit cgiu.org.