Miami Dade College / Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U)
Instructions and Application
www.mdc.edu/cgiu
MDC Internal Deadline: Friday, November 13, 2015
CGI U Final Submission Deadline: Tuesday, December 1, 2015
CGI U Dates: Friday – Sunday, April 1-3, 2016, University of California, Berkeley
President Clinton and Chelsea Clinton will host the ninth annual CGI U meeting from Friday April 1 to Sunday,
April 3, 2016 at the University of California, Berkeley. The meeting will bring together more than 1,000
innovative student leaders to make Commitment to Action that address some of the world's most pressing
challenges. Commitments to Action are new, specific, and measurable initiatives that address pressing
challenges on campus, in local communities, or around the world.
To be considered for admission, applicants are required to make a Commitment to Action in one of CGI U's
five focus areas: Education, Environment and Climate Change, Peace and Human Rights, Poverty Alleviation,
and Public Health. Applications from groups (up to three members of a group can be part of the application)
and individuals are accepted. If accepted, attendance is free*. The internal MDC application deadline is Friday,
November 13, and the final application deadline to CGI U is Tuesday, December 1, 2015.
Miami Dade College is proud to be a member of the Clinton Global Initiative University Network, meaning that
we provide support and mentorship to students who wish to apply to CGI U. Students selected to attend CGI U
will continue to receive on-going support and can apply for funding from MDC for their commitment (limited
funding available).
In order to be eligible to apply for funding and to have a better chance of acceptance, all MDC applicants must
follow the steps and deadlines outlined below. This includes preparing a draft application using the form
below and submitting it to their iCED representative by November 13 for review. iCED will provide feedback
and help you refine your application before you submit it to CGI U so you will have a greater chance of
success. Do not apply directly with CGI U without first having your commitment reviewed and approved by
the iCED office.
*To attend CGI U, you must be selected and approved by CGI U and MDC (including having at least a 2.0 GPA,
be enrolled in at least 6 credits, and be in good academic standing).
To apply, follow these steps:
1. Visit www.mdc.edu/cgiu to learn more about CGI U, to develop your commitment, and to review the
process to apply.
2. Become inspired by watching this 3-minute video: www.cgiu.org/about
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3. Explore the CGI U website (www.cgiu.org). Be sure to carefully review the information on the
‘Commitments’ page, especially Commitment Basic, Commitment Ideas, and Commitment Resources.
4. After you’ve learned more about CGI U, be sure to get in touch with your campus iCED office so they can
review the application process, connect you to resources, review your Commitment to Action idea, and
help you refine your application.
5. Find an advisor! This person could be a professor, a local nonprofit leader, an advocate, or an expert in a
field related to your commitment. This person can help you figure out exactly what you need to do to
make the biggest impact possible. They can help you develop your Commitment to Action and help you
put your plan into action after the CGI U event. If you are having trouble finding an advisor, iCED may be
able to find a local nonprofit that works in your area of interest.
6. Think about your budgeting needs. The lower the cost of your commitment, the more likely it is that it will
be achievable. Ideally, you should be able to do your commitment with no funding, or just a small amount
of funding. If your commitment is going to require funds, make sure you have a fundraising plan in mind
(remember that you can use websites such as IOBY – www.ioby.org, www.IndieGogo.com,
www.GoFundMe.com or kickstarter www.kickstarter.com/). Finally MDC will be allocating funding of up to
$10,000 to MDC student commitments via a competitive process after CGI U in March. Typically the range
of seed funding will be $200 to $1,000, depending on the number of applicants and the needs of the
projects. CGI U itself also awards some funding. However, these are very competitive as you will be
applying for seed funding in competition with all the applicants, not just the students from MDC. Do not
count on seed funding from MDC as you develop your project – make sure you have a plan B.
How to submit your application:

Talk to your iCED representative on your campus (www.mdc.edu/main/iced/locations/).

Write up your commitment and review it in depth with your advisor.

Email your commitment to your iCED representative by Friday, November 113.

iCED will review and provide feedback on your application.

Review and finalize your commitment and submit it via the CGI U website by December 1, 2015 by
cutting and pasting your approved application into the CGI U web-based form. CGI U will make
selections by early February.

If selected and approved by CGI U and MDC, be ready to open your mind, meet other inspiring college
students, learn more about social entrepreneurship, and maybe even shake hands with President
Clinton!
Tentative CGI U Schedule:
Friday, April 1:
3 pm – 9 pm
Saturday, April 2:
7:30 am – 8:30 pm
Sunday, April 3:
7:45 am – 1 pm
NEED MORE HELP PERFECTING YOUR IDEA? The Idea Center serves as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship at
MDC. The Idea Center produces and hosts a wide variety of programs to help students build their ideas (browse all
programs at www.theideacenter.com). Also within The Idea Center is CREATE(Center for Research and Transformative
Entrepreneurship), an incubator and accelerator that helps students develop their ventures. CREATE has partnered with
iCED to provide 1-on-1 coaching to CGI U projects. Starting October 5th, Students can book a session at
http://createmiami.setmore.com and contact CREATE Director Wifredo Fernandez at wfernand@mdc.edu.
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MDC / CGI U Application
(Submit this application electronically to your iCED office by Friday, November 13, 2015 – the
questions on this application are the same ones you will have to submit to CGI U by December 1st.)
Questions: contact Rebecca Pelham at rpelham@mdc.edu
SECTION 1: PERSONAL INFORMATION
Your Name:
Applying as: GROUP or INDIVIDUAL (highlight one)
If “GROUP,” who are your group members (there is a limit three members per group who can be part
of the application) – write their names, primary email, and phone number below:
Your Cell Phone #:
Secondary Phone #:
Your Email:
Secondary Email:
Your MDC Campus:
Major:
Expected date of graduation:
In the third person, write a short biography about yourself and include any relevant campus
activities, leadership roles, or organizational affiliations (150 word limit):
Have you attended or been invited to attend any previous CGI U meetings, and if so, please update
us on any progress you’ve made?
SECTION 2: COMMITMENT INFORMATION
What is the name of your commitment?:
Commitment focus area (education, environment and climate change, peace and human rights,
poverty alleviation, or public health):
City, State, and Country where your commitment will take place (be specific):
What is the timeline for your commitment? When do you plan to begin implementation, and when
do you foresee completion?
1.
Write a 2-3 sentence description of your Commitment to Action in the third person (100 word
limit):
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2.
What is the problem or issue you are working to address? What is your target population? [If
you reference statistics or facts, cite your sources.] (150 word limit)
3.
What activities will you/your group (and, if appropriate, your partners) undertake to address
this issue? (In this section, we want to understand how your commitment is SPECIFIC and attainable.
Define your goals, outline your planned activities, discuss how they will be carried out, and include a
timeline for these activities.) (250 word limit)
4.
How is this different from what you have done before? (In this section, we want to make sure
your commitment is NEW. Each commitment must be a new project for the individual or group making
the commitment. If the commitment is an expansion of an existing effort, consider focusing on a
different geographic area, or working with new partners.) (150 word limit)
5.
How will you gauge and determine your commitment’s success? (In this section, we want to
know how your commitment is MEASURABLE. Identify specific data and results you will measure and
report. The impact of your commitment can be determined in many ways, whether you're measuring
funds raised, volunteers engaged, or progress towards goals.) (150 word limit)
Extra MDC Questions:
What resources will you use to help you complete your commitment? Who can you collaborate with,
what organizations could you partner with? (iCED or your advisor may be able to help you find
resources in the community), but the best projects require minimal funding, or a strong fundraising
plan).
What is your proposed budget? How will you attain the necessary funds? Be specific (remember, the
best projects require minimal funding, or a strong fundraising plan):
Turn this application in via email to your campus iCED office:
Hialeah: Corrinne Lockamy, clockamy@mdc.edu
Homestead: Linda Levin, llevin@mdc.edu
InterAmerican: Corrinne Lockamy, clockamy@mdc.edu
Kendall: Cristy Calderon, ccalder1@mdc.edu
Medical: Tamica Ramos, tramos@mdc.edu
North Campus & EEC: Harold Silva, harold.silva@mdc.edu
West Campus: Harold Silva, harold.silva@mdc.edu
Wolfson: Tamica Ramos, tramos@mdc.edu
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