EPA Region 7 and Donnelly College Partner to Promote Environmental Education & Career Opportunities

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 7 – 11201 Renner Blvd., Lenexa, KS 66219

Serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Nine Tribal Nations

EPA Region 7 and Donnelly College Renew Partnership to Promote Environmental Educational and Career Opportunities for Donnelly College Students

Contact Information:  Ben Washburn, [email protected], 913-551-7364

(Lenexa, Kan., Sept. 21, 2020) – EPA Region 7 and Donnelly College of Kansas City, Kan., have renewed a partnership to provide environmental educational and career opportunities for Donnelly College students. The parties signed a five-year Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) today.

“EPA Region 7 looks forward to working with Donnelly College and its talented students to promote education and careers in the environmental field,” said EPA Region 7 Administrator Jim Gulliford. “By working together, EPA Region 7 and Donnelly College will increase awareness, access, and opportunity for students in this critically important field of study, which will lead to increased career opportunities for the students as well.”

“We are so grateful to the EPA for their ongoing work for all of us,” said Donnelly College President Monsignor Stuart Swetland. “We are also very grateful for this partnership and all of the opportunities that it will bring to our students.”

Located in Kansas City, Kan., Donnelly College is recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and serves as the only HSI in the state of Kansas. 

The new MOA outlines nine areas of cooperation and partnership between EPA Region 7 and Donnelly College:

Joint Research Projects – Donnelly and EPA R7 will coordinate on a regular basis to identify mutually beneficial research priorities.

Faculty Research Participation – EPA R7 and Donnelly will encourage and facilitate visits of faculty, staff, scientists, and students to each other’s facilities for consultations, meetings, workshops, short courses, tours, and research participation. Temporary faculty appointments may be offered, when appropriate in conjunction with classes or research.

Student Internships and Employment at EPA Region 7 – EPA will share information as appropriate regarding programs which are designed for student employment, participation, and training. Donnelly will work to facilitate the participation of students and staff in EPA internship outreach opportunities (such as inviting EPA to speak to classes, facilitating USAJobs computer workshops, and inviting EPA to relevant job fairs and career fairs).

Technical Assistance – EPA R7 and Donnelly will work together to partner on consultations, meetings, workshops, and seminars. EPA R7 may assist Donnelly with development of syllabi for on campus course work as requested and as EPA R7 resources are available. EPA R7 will endeavor to make key training tools available as Donnelly seeks opportunities to acquire federal funding. 

Mini-Courses, Lectures and Seminar Speakers – EPA R7 and Donnelly will inform each other about technical training support which may be offered including mini-courses, inspections/certification courses, lectures, and seminars covering biology, chemistry, engineering, physical science, environmental science, waste disposal, diversity and inclusion, and other subjects based on the unique internal expertise of each party, school requirements, and interests.

Equipment – EPA R7 may provide excess and surplus research, scientific equipment, publications, periodicals, and office furniture to Donnelly that meet the needs of current and planned education, or research/training programs, to the extent it is consistent with all requirements of Federal property regulations. 

Outreach Program – EPA R7 staff will make best efforts to attend college-sponsored career fairs and other outreach events, as appropriate. Donnelly will work to ensure that EPA staff are made aware of relevant outreach activities. EPA R7 will encourage Donnelly students to apply for paid and unpaid internship opportunities.

Grant Opportunities – EPA R7 may provide grant application assistance to Donnelly in accordance with applicable grant regulations, Donnelly’s respective mission and purpose, and the resource capacity of EPA R7. EPA R7 may participate in grant writing workshops sponsored by Donnelly and provide training and assistance where needed.

Environmental Student Initiatives – EPA R7 will support Donnelly in its quest for environmental awareness on campus via student-driven activities such as helping Donnelly educate students on environmental sustainability and providing presentations on topics that support sustainability and the environment.

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