About CCDD

The Center for Community Development & Design (CCDD) has operated successfully at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs for 19 years. Its mission is to blend service, education and research to assist communities in Colorado while also serving the needs of faculty, students and the university as a whole. With the Center's help, students, faculty, community professionals, and volunteers join forces in projects that are productive and meet the diverse needs of all participants.

CCDD is the only organized unit on the campus capable of responding to a wide variety of community needs for applied research in any field, while facilitating citizen involvement, nonprofit and governmental management training, and community development advice. Through its reputation, networking, and marketing efforts, the Center provides a one-stop resource center for communities, agencies, neighborhoods, schools and special districts to access University resources and develop short-term and long-term partnerships.

CCDD's commitments include the building and strengthening of a community's ability to solve problems. While the Center is striving to provide educationally oriented public service to communities, it also affords students a chance to apply classroom learning through professionally supervised field experiences. The Center provides faculty with funding and logistical support for numerous types of research opportunities. CCDD's Community Development Monograph Series provides a publication forum for research results.

Since 1980, CCDD has

• Raised nearly $4 million;
• Provided faculty with over $300,000;
• Provided students with nearly $1 million;
• Provided CCDD staff with over $2.1 million;
• Provided nearly $800,000 for service, education and research expenses;
• Worked with 368 faculty;
• Worked with 2,234 students;
• Worked with over 61,000 people in 237 communities and in all 63 Colorado counties;
• Worked on over 300 major projects;
• Published 89 monographs and produced over 300 other products, and
• Received numerous local, state, and national awards for innovative and productive work.

CCDD is one of the major centers on the CU-Colorado Springs campus assisting the University with its outreach and service missions. Its ability to serve the needs of communities, faculty, and students in ways identified in all major strategic planning initiatives makes it a valuable resource for the campus, the University and communities throughout Colorado.

Purpose of CCDD

CCDD's mission is to integrate service, education, and research efforts on and off the CU-Colorado Springs campus. With the Center's help, students, faculty, community professionals, and volunteers join forces in projects that are productive and meet the diverse needs of all participants. While the emphases vary, in general, CCDD structures each project or program so that goals in all three mission areas are met.

Discipines that work with CCDD

CCDD is not limited to working in one particular discipline. It has worked with faculty and students in every college on campus except the new Beth-El School of Nursing; however, we are currently discussing options with their staff. Most projects involve faculty and students from the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, but work usually involves multiple disciplines.

Read about our history...