DMC Solutions Lab

The Solutions Lab is designed to foster interdisciplinary, community-engaged research projects. Successful collaborations involve scholars and community partner organizations working hand in hand to identify and address critical areas of need. The unique partnership between academia and community organizations ensures that the solutions developed are not only theoretically sound but practically impactful. Each Solutions Lab project receives funding for six to 12 months of dedicated work. Teams are often comprised of DePaul faculty, staff, students and even external academic collaborators. These interdisciplinary teams' partner with community organizations to co-design research projects that have tangible benefits for the community. The grant funding is thoughtfully distributed between the academic team and the community partner organization, reflecting the value and importance of both in the project's success.

Faculty also can develop cross-disciplinary experiential learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students through their Solutions Lab project. Students will participate in problem-solving and advocacy by helping to design new frameworks, policies, regulations and legislation that will improve the processes that govern asylum and immigration. Past examples of this have included writing country conditions reports, providing consultation to a refugee resettlement organization, among others.

2025-2026