Forming a neighborhood block

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Block in the making status

(Begin the conversation with neighborhood leads and CEHD community)

Step one (2+ months):

1. Contact any neighborhood lead and/or lead associate dean to tell them about interest in the starting a block by submitting the Application for Block in the Making Status.
   1. Family, Organization, and Community Systems and Contexts (Bill Doherty, bdoherty@umn.edu and Heidi Barajas, hbarajas@umn.edu)
   2. Social, Psychological, and Physical Development (SPPD) (Nicki Crick , crick001@umn.edu; Terri Wallace, walla001@umn.edu and David R. Johnson, johns006@umn.edu)
   3. Teaching and Learning (TnL) (Matt Burns, burns258@umn.edu; Kyla Wahlstrom, wahls001@umn.edu, and Mary Bents, mbents@umn.edu)
2. Work with the neighborhood lead(s) to identify others who have expressed interest and to determine a plan for invitation to the University community to join this block in the making.
3. Hold initial meetings for planning and discussion regarding the purpose of the block. Continue inviting interested parties and spreading the word broadly throughout the University community and beyond.

Apply for block status

(Formalize plans and apply to begin work as official block)

Step two:

4. Submit a Block Application online at the neighborhood Web site. Provide block application information for the neighborhood leads (1-2 pages) on the following:
   1. Background (planning meetings, etc.)
   2. Purpose
   3. Indicate how the block lives into the mission of the College (e.g., multicultural, multidisciplinary, model of engagement)
   4. Short-term and long-term (e.g., process and product) outcomes
   5. Anticipated activities
   6. Identify resource needs (e.g., release time, expertise)
   7. Membership (e.g., cross college, University, community)
   8. Neighborhood affiliation
   9. Key contact(s) for block (names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses)
   10. Recruitment and dissemination strategies (e.g., Web, e-mail, CEHD Insider, etc.)
   11. If appropriate, identify possible sources of income generation

Then, await response (within 2 weeks).

Step three:

5. Await formal block status collegewide announcement by neighborhood leads and associate deans.
6. Expect a block Web site presence created and linked to the neighborhood Web site.
7. Schedule and communicate with block members while working toward goals.
8. Complete a brief block status report (1 page) on plan/purpose in December and April.
9. Stay in contact with neighborhood leads, fellow and associate dean as necessary.
10. Complete a summary report (1-2 pages) to be submitted to the neighborhood leads.
11. If the block is to continue, submit a new application (Step two)
    
    -OR-
12. Dissolve the block officially after the final summary report is submitted and the task/project/dialogue is complete.