Students from four Colorado Springs higher-institutions tackle community issues through Quad Partnership

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Students across four Colorado Springs schools, the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado College, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs, and Pikes Peak Community College are collaborating through an innovative program called the Quad Innovation Partnership.

Over the course of a semester, a summer, or a year, teams of interdisciplinary students advance research and strategic work for area companies and organizations. Essentially, the partnership connects students and recent graduates with opportunities to do meaningful, professional work.

“The idea of getting a middle-aged student from our welding program together with a well-pressed Academy cadet, a CC undergrad, and a UCCS student, working on a project to benefit our community—what an inspiring thing,” said Pikes Peak Community College President Lance Bolton.

Students are encouraged to apply for the Spring Quad Semester, which will be conducted virtually this semester due to COVID-19. The students put in 10-15 hours a week for the duration of the 11-week program, and are allotted a $1,350 stipend.

Among recent projects, students have improved quality of life for seniors, developed 400 units of multi-family, intergenerational affordable housing in Colorado Springs, informed $2.5 million worth of philanthropic funding, studied public safety in the area, and worked on suicide prevention.

Students across the four higher-education institutions unite through community engagement work, survey creation and data collection, data analysis, and interviewing local stakeholders.

The unique Quad Innovation Partnership is now in it's fifth year.