Program Overview
The Office of Community Enrichment invites applications for CoLAB Partnerships — a collaborative initiative designed to support bold, creative ideas that strengthen and enrich the Northwestern community. CoLAB stands for collective Learning, Action, and Building — and that’s exactly what this initiative makes possible. It’s more than a funding opportunity: it’s a space for shared design, deep collaboration, and practical problem-solving.
CoLAB is more than a funding opportunity: it’s a space for shared design, deep collaboration, and practical problem-solving. Selected partners will receive hands-on support from our Education Team — including strategic thinking, project development, facilitation, and (when possible) financial investment — to turn promising ideas into impactful programs, resources, and experiences.
Whether you’re refining an emerging idea or building on existing work, CoLab provides the structure, staffing, and partnership needed to bring your vision to life.
Apply by November 7, 2025.
Program Details
What We Offer
- Collaborative Design and Development: Our team will partner with you to shape and launch your initiative, program, or resource.
- Funding Support: Access to seed funding or full support depending on scope and alignment.
- People Power: Dedicated hours from our facilitators, educational designers, and project managers.
- Thought Partnership: Strategic insight from experienced educators and collaborators to make your idea sustainable and impactful.
Who Should Apply?
- Faculty interested in creating new tools, programs, or cross-campus learning initiatives.
- Staff seeking to build workshops, resource hubs, or pilot programs for their department or team.
- Students hoping to develop tools or experiences that connect with the broader campus community.
- Campus Offices looking to bring creative ideas to life with support from a skilled education team.
What We’re Looking For
- Respond to emerging needs or opportunities on campus.
- Bridge roles, disciplines, or departments.
- Offer new approaches to learning, working, or building connection.
- Can be adapted, scaled, or shared across the university.
- Contribute to a more engaged and responsive campus environment.
Examples to Spark Ideas
- Partnering with an office to develop a Digital Wellness Toolkit for navigating campus tech tools more mindfully.
- Collaborating with students and faculty to build a Pop-Up Exhibition on Local and Global Migration Stories.
- Creating a Workshop Series on Navigating Uncertainty and Change, tailored for department staff or advisors.
- Co-creating a Conversation Guide and Resource Collection for teams going through internal transitions.
- Designing a Cross-Unit Training Module to support onboarding and shared team culture.
Apply to CoLAB
Submit your application by 11:59 p.m. CST on November 7 to be a part of CoLAB!
Apply