Hennepin County and the University of Minnesota launched the Hennepin-University Partnership (HUP) in 2005 to capture value for both organizations through a more strategic collaboration by connecting the two entities where mutual benefit can be achieved. Since then, numerous collaborations have been undertaken by county departments including research on key policy questions, sharing of academic and practitioner expertise, and employment of students on short-term projects. The HUP program receives oversight and guidance from a Management Committee that includes Commissioner Jan Callison and County Administrator David Hough, as well as leaders from the University.

This new Master Cooperative Agreement builds from agreements executed by Hennepin County and the University of Minnesota in 2007 and 2010, and amended in 2015. It will continue to streamline the contracting process between the University and County by reducing the need to repeatedly negotiate terms for collaborative projects. 

Individual projects will be carried out through work orders, which are subject to provisions of the Master Cooperative Agreement. Work orders exceeding $50,000 are brought to the board for approval, as well as projects with policy and budget implications.