Become a Member

Contact the CESU Network National office at any time with inquires:
PHONE: (202) 354-1825
EMAIL: info@cesu.org

To join the SFC CESU, the host university Director, Evelyn Gaiser, sets the deadline(s) for soliciting and accepting applications (e.g., accepts new partner applications on a rolling basis throughout the year or on a semi-annual or annual basis). Applicants may be invited by the host university Director to attend SFC CESU’s annual partner meeting for an in-person or virtual presentation and interview as part of the application process.

Tribal, state, and local governments, academic institutions, non-governmental conservation organizations, and other non-federal organizations are eligible to apply for enrollment in SFC CESU. The steps for the nonfederal partner application process are as follows:

1. Contact the host university SFC CESU Director to begin dialog regarding enrollment as a new federal agency partner.

Dr. Evelyn E. Gaiser
George M. Barley, Jr. Endowed Chair of Everglades Research
Institute of Environment
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Florida International University
11200 SW 8th Street, CASE 253
Miami, FL 33199
PHONE: (305) 348-6145
EMAIL: gaisere@fiu.edu

2. Submit a formal letter of interest and application (e.g., no more than 20 pages) to the host university SFC CESU Director, details are outlined in the New Member Application Guidelines.

Federal agency applicants must be existing members of the CESU Council and signatories on the CESU Network interagency Memorandum of Understanding. To learn how your federal agency can join the CESU Council, click here. Federal agency partner application steps as follows:

1. Notify CESU National Network Coordinator of intent to enroll in SFC CESU.

Dr. Thomas E. Fish
National Coordinator of CESU Network
U.S. Department of the Interior, Main Interior Building
1849 C Street NW, Room 2649
Washington, DC 20240
PHONE: (202) 354-1825
EMAIL: Tom_Fish@nps.gov

2. Contact the host university SFC CESU Director to begin dialog regarding enrollment as a new federal agency partner.

Dr. Evelyn E. Gaiser
George M. Barley, Jr. Endowed Chair of Everglades Research
Institute of Environment
Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
Florida International University
11200 SW 8th Street, CASE 253
Miami, FL 33199
PHONE: (305) 348-6145
EMAIL: gaisere@fiu.edu

3. Submit a formal letter of interest and application (e.g., no more than 10 pages) to the host university SFC CESU Director (with “cc” to CESU Network National Coordinator). Letter of interest and application details are located in the New Member Application Guidelines.

Following submission of an application for enrollment, the host university SFC CESU Director distributes the application package (via email) to all existing federal and nonfederal partner technical representatives for consideration and will determine the timeline and method for review (e.g., comments via email or in person at the annual meeting).

After existing partners review the new partner application, the host university SFC CESU Director solicits a vote in favor/not in favor of new partner enrollment within a specified time frame. Two-thirds approval vote is needed for new partner enrollment and the SFC CESU Director will inform the applicant of the review and approval process.

Upon new federal partner enrollment or approval of a new nonfederal partner applicant for enrollment, the host university SFC CESU Director sends notification and new partner application materials (via email) to the CESU Network National Coordinator with request to prepare an amendment to the CESU agreement. The CESU Network National Office prepares an amendment to the CESU agreement, officially adding the new partner(s), within four weeks of receipt of materials from the host university SFC CESU Director.

The CESU Network National Office distributes the amendment to the new partner(s) and Host University for review, signature, and return to the CESU Network National Office via email. The amendment must be signed by an appropriate official, with authority to commit institutional resources in a binding multi-year federal cooperative and joint venture agreement (e.g., for federal partners – agency administrator, regional director, division or branch chief; for non-federal partners – president, executive director, chief financial officer, vice president for research, authorized organizational representative, director of sponsored programs). The amendment is fully effective upon receipt of the new partner and Host University signature pages and the CESU Network National Office works with the host university SFC CESU Director to distribute a digital copy to all existing partners and post to the CESU Network national website.

Once the amendment is in effect, the new partner is expected to actively participate in the SFC CESU and CESU Network activities, in fulfillment of the roles and responsibilities of a non-federal or federal partner as described in the SFC CESU agreement.