Our programs are opportunities for you to go to work solving problems that matter for partner organizations in the region. You’ll receive a scope of work and work with a team of fellow students and recent grads from CC, PPCC, UCCS and the Air Force Academy to complete the project on time. It’s intense, but the outcome is an unmatched opportunity to generate real impact and jumpstart your car

Your work on a Quad team will provide practical skills that are transferable to all professional sectors – including military service. All of our projects ask you to solve a somewhat vague and very convoluted problem in the real world. You’ll gain comfort and fluency in ambiguous professional situations; you’ll gain resiliency in the face of evolving circumstances; you’ll learn how to lead a diverse team; you’ll improve your business fluency – both in written and verbal communication; you’ll have to teach yourself things you don’t know, and build collaborative relationships with business and community leaders to accelerate your learning. So far, 98 percent of the students we have worked with have reported feeling “more” or “much more” prepared for the professional world after finishing a project, even those who don’t want a career in the same field as their project. The Quad is here to help you gain control of your own professional destiny.

Teams typically include 4-8 students from all academic disciplines, partner schools, and backgrounds. During the academic year, you’ll be expected to work about 10 hours per week on the project – two, 2-hour work sessions in the room with your teammates and 6 hours of independent work. During the summer, you’ll be working 40 hours/week in the room with your team. You and your team will build your own work plan, hold yourselves accountable, and be in the drivers’ seat making decisions about project outcomes. Along the way, you’ll be supported by a team of dedicated faculty advisors, a project manager from the Quad staff, and resources from the community ranging from mentorship to behind-the-scenes examples of how things get done. We believe that impact comes from hands-on experience, resiliency in the face of ambiguity and evolving circumstances, and a healthy dose of figuring it out as we go alon

You’ll submit an online application first for all of our programs; links to the applications are on the Programs page (hyperlink). On the application, you’ll be able to indicate which project or which kind of work you’re interested in doing. Next, we’ll reach out to schedule an interview. From the interview, you’ll get an offer. Due to the volume of applications we receive, not all candidates will proceed to the interview stage nor will all interviewed candidates receive an offer.

We’re looking for genuine candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds who can demonstrate their attitude and aptitude in fast changing environments. Teams are all interdisciplinary, so we welcome candidates from all academic backgrounds. We also welcome candidates from all personal backgrounds …we want to see that you have something tangible to offer your project team, and we’re not too picky about what that is. Maybe it’s relevant academic work, maybe it’s real life experience that give you a unique perspective or in-depth understanding, or maybe it’s your pure passion for the material. We’re less concerned about how many things are on your resume and more concerned about how well you’ll get the work done. Don’t skimp on your letter of intent. Tell us who you are, why we should care, and show us that you can communicate effectively.

Civilian students and recent grads receive a grant alongside their participation in the program. This grant is for your living expenses and we hope it will free up time in your schedule to participate on your team fully and comfortably. Grants are $1,200 for a semester or $1,000 for the four-week Global Ideas Accelerator. Unfortunately, Air Force cadets are not eligible for these grants.

Federal Government regulations limit compensation to active duty military from non-DOD entities. Unfortunately, we’re one of those non-DOD entities. Cadets are frequently able to get academic credit for participation, though.

The Quad does not offer academic credit. However, many students have found independent study or internship credit opportunities at their schools by working with their academic advisor or department head.

All of our projects are built through partnerships with area companies, nonprofits and government organizations. We only support work on projects through these partnerships because we don’t want your work to exist in a vacuum. Through these partnerships, the outcomes you deliver are immediately put to work. Instead of sitting on shelves, they are incorporated into the day-to-day work of these organizations, generating impact the day after you finish your work.