Community Development Work Study Program (CDWSP)

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Summary:
Community Development Work Study offers work stipends, tuition support, and other assistance to attract economically disadvantaged and minority graduate students to careers in community and economic development.

Purpose:
Community and economic development, like many other fields, is continually in need of dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds and a deep understanding of the problems-and potential-of economically distressed and socially isolated communities. This program is designed to ensure that students from disadvantaged and minority backgrounds are able to gain the training and experience needed to join the ranks of those who will direct and implement the development of America's communities.

Type of Assistance:
CDWSP awards 2-year grants on a competitive basis to institutions of higher education, areawide planning organizations (APOs), and States. These entities then award funds to qualified students in any of the several forms identified below (see ELIGIBLE ACTIVITIES).

Eligible Grantees:
Those eligible for assistance under the CDWSP are institutions of higher education offering degrees in a community development academic program, areawide planning organizations (APOs) which apply on behalf of two or more institutions of higher education, and States which apply on behalf of two or more institutions of higher education located in the State. Two-year academic institutions are not eligible for grants.

Eligible Customers:
Economically disadvantaged and minority students enrolled in full-time graduate programs in community and economic development, community planning or management, or other related fields of study are eligible to receive assistance. Related fields include public administration, urban management, and urban planning, but exclude sociology and humanistic fields such as law, economics, education, and history.

Eligible Activities:
CDWSP funding helps colleges and universities meet their students' financial needs. The grantee organizations select up to 10 program participants, secure work assignments, disburse funds, and monitor student performance. Assistance may be provided to students in the form of: -- Work Stipends-up to $9,000 per year per graduate student. -- Tuition Support and Additional Support-up to $5,000 per year per graduate student for tuition, fees, books, and travel costs. Grantees may retain up to $1,000 per year per participating student to cover administrative expenses.

Application:
HUD publishes an annual Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) and an application kit for the CDWSP Program. For application kits, call the University Partnerships Clearinghouse at 1-800-245-2691, or visit the University Partnerships website. Award amounts depend on the following factors: the number of student grants requested, applicant's rank in the competition, and the total number of applicants funded.

Funding Status:
Congress appropriated $2 million for CDWSP in FY 1998. Historically, CDWSP has been funded at $3 million, allowing the program to assist approximately 100 additional students annually.

Technical Guidance:
Section 107 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, (42 U.S.C. 5301 et seq.) authorizes the CDWSP. It is administered by the Office of University Partnerships, Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), (202)708-3061. Hearing- or speech-impaired individuals may access this number via TTY by calling the Federal Information Relay Service at 1-800-877-8339. Program notices related to CDWSP may be viewed on the OUP website.

For More Information:
Persons interested in learning more about CDWSP should visit HUD's University Partnerships website. The Office of Policy Development and Research publishes a free brochure called Community Development Work Study Program: Nurturing the Next Generation of Community Development Professionals (Bro- 57), which provides an overview of the program. It is available free from the University Partnerships Clearinghouse (800-245-2691). Other related PD&R publications available from the Clearinghouse include An Introduction to HUD for Institutions of Higher Education (HUD-7485).

Success Stories:
The CDWSP has a long list of accomplished alumni. Examples can be found even in the metropolitan Washington area, where participants under a grant to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments have gone on to hold such positions in the District of Columbia government as public works director and city manager, and one (Bob Nash) has even gone on to become White House Director of Presidential Personnel. Hundreds of other CDWSP alumni around the country have gone on to leading positions in State or local government or the nonprofit sector, positions including city manger, treasurer, agency director, budget director, community development corporation executive director, city economic development director, and state representative.