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Call for Capstone Proposals!

Applications for Capstone Proposals are now open! Deadline to apply is Sunday, August 24th, 2025 at 11:59PM. 

The Yosemite Leadership Program (YLP) at the University of California, Merced is seeking Project Proposals for our 2025-2026 Social Change Practicum. The Capstone Project serves as the culminating leadership experience for YLP participants prior to the completion of the 2 year program. The Capstone Projects will be conducted from October 8th, 2025 - May 1, 2026.

Please review our Capstone Proposal Requirements before submitting your proposal. Additional requirements include: 

  1. Capstone Proposal Timeline: Capstone projects should be manageable for a group of 3-5 undergraduate students spending extracurricular time (1 - 4 hours per week) over the span of 6 months (October 8th, 2025 - May 1st, 2026).
  2. Capstone Project Topics: Appropriate project topics address social, environmental, economic, education-related and/or public health problems or community needs that require background research of root issues, time spent building rapport with community, and quantativative/qualitative analysis to provide an impactful service, product, and/or recommendations to the community and project partner.  
  3. Funding: Students will be donating their extracurricular time to execute these Capstone Projects. External funding from the project partner for the project (e.g., summer internships or supplies, sampling and analysis) is one of several factors considered in project selection. If the proposal requires substantial resources, you must include a clear commitment of financial support for the proposed project. 

More information on Capstone Project requirements, please read: YLP Capstone Requirements

For more information we invite you to join one of our Virtual Info-Sessions to learn more! Please RSVP for a info-session here. 

  • All proposers are strongly encouraged to contact the Yosemite Leadership Program Co-Director, Stephany Barrera, as a first step in project proposal development. All Capstone Project Proposals are due on Sunday, August 25th by midnight!

 

 
1 Start 2 Complete
Please identify a main point of contact for the student group.
Please write the name of your organization, department, entity, or affiliation.
Provide a short description of your organization and/or department. (250 word limit).
What is the community need(s) or problem(s) that need to be addressed by this project within the allotted time period? Why is this issue important? Please provide a brief overview of the proposed capstone project. (250 word limit).
Please list at least 3 Project Objectives/Deliverables of this proposed project. What are the 3 specific goals, services, products, or outcomes you expect for project completion?
Listed below are general student learning outcomes for the Yosemite Leadership Program Capstone Project. Each Project needs to meet three or more of the following options based on the proposed project. Throughout the work on this project, students will learn: (select all that apply)
Please give a brief example below of ways in which the Capstone Learning Objectives will be accomplished via your specific project activities. (250 word limit).
Research supports the positive role that an intentional project can play in the career outcomes of college graduates. That said, please describe how this Capstone Project is going to directly impact a student's professional development. (250 word limit).
Please attach any other additional documents that you feel will support your Project Proposal. (e.g. budget document, timeline, webpage, available data, background info, etc.)
Files must be less than 2 MB.
Allowed file types: gif jpg jpeg png pdf doc docx ppt pptx.
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