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Program Guidelines

Basic Criteria for Participating Cities

1. Make sure the scope of work fits within a 3-4 month time period.

  • Projects of all types and subject matter are accepted as long as the scope of work fits within this timeframe.
  • If a semester is too short to achieve the level of quality the city is seeking in the final work product, consider limiting the scope to 1-2 project activities rather than the full project.
  • Note: Students who take on practicum projects are typically independent, self-motivated learners, but they may not have any prior experience or knowledge on a certain topic. Keep this in mind when determining the scope and timeline of the project. The city may wish to provide reading or reference materials, and/or schedule more meetings at the beginning of the project for the student(s) to get oriented. GMA and the faculty advisor will provide guidance as needed throughout the term.

2. Clearly define and communicate the project deliverables. In other words, what does your city want out of the project?

3. Designate a point of contact for the city.

  • This person must be available throughout the semester to answer questions and work with the student(s) to ensure the project can be completed by the end of the semester.
  • Note: Unlike in an internship, student(s) work mostly independently and there is no need for daily supervision. At least 3 meetings are recommended throughout the semester.

Submit a Project

Ready to submit a project proposal? Click here. 

A city can submit multiple proposals. In this case, please submit a separate form for each project.

Not every project submitted by a city may be assigned that semester. GMA will reach out to confirm if the city wants to keep their project on the list for consideration in the next term.

Next Steps

Once the project assignment is set and all parties have met in a kick-off meeting, GMA will send out an electronic Memorandum of Understanding specifying the project deliverables and deadlines. All parties (client city POC, each student, faculty advisor and GMA staff) will need to sign this agreement. Find a sample MOU here.

GMA staff will serve as a liaison between the client city, the student(s), and the professor and will remain in contact with each throughout the semester.