Applying The Philosophies Of The Beacon Model, Michael P. Raisch

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The purpose of this project is to apply all the knowledge and skills learned from a master’s degree in Creative Studies at Buffalo State college combined with personal experience in order to share perspective on what a “Beacon” is and how its core values are the foundation for enriching your life as well as the lives of those around you and how it all relates to Creativity. Furthermore, this project applies the concepts from the Beacon model more deeply through supporting philosophies and how the Halloween holiday naturally serves as a Beacon. There is a relationship due to the fact …

Student Service Members/Veterans Programs In Erie County Colleges And Universities: Analyzing Programs For Removing Barriers And Facilitating Identity Transitioning, William E. Langer

Public Administration Master’s Projects

Student Service Members/Veterans (SSM/Vs) served their nation in times of peace and in war and in doing so, are eligible for various educational benefits. To assist the SSM/V in adapting to their new role as a student and civilian, most postsecondary educational institutions offer services specifically tailored to the SSM/V population in order to support and assist them in completing their academic program. These services could include navigating benefit programs, financial aid, orientation programs and disability services as needed. In this transformative mixed methods study, a content analysis of the public websites of the schools was first conducted to determine …

Snap And Tanf Administration In New York State Counties: Comparing Case-Based, Mixed Methods And Task-Based Processes, Ryan Gadzo

Public Administration Master’s Projects

The purpose of this study is to examine the administrative style used in New York State (NYS) counties for administering two needs-based federal programs: Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Needs-based federally-funded policies have significant implications for public administration and intergovernmental relations because these programs involve public servants in the determination and delivery of services of federally-mandated programs which states deliver through a variety of models (state, county, or contracting with private or nonprofit agencies). In NYS, counties are given this responsibility. While the numbers of persons receiving TANF has leveled off since the …

A Financial Analysis Of Buffalo Charter Schools: Are Charter Schools Getting Their Fair Share Of Public Funds?, Kimberly R. German

Public Administration Master’s Projects

The charter school movement has existed for approximately 20 years and just under that in New York State. Charter schools are privately-managed public schools. As the quantity of charter schools and the students attending them increase in the city of Buffalo so too does the amount of taxpayer dollars directed to them. Charter schools receive tuition payments from local school districts for students from those districts attending their school. The payments are public funds, the amounts of which are derived from a funding formula created by the state and paid by the local school district. Charter schools argue there is …

The Effect Of Commercial Development Types On Property Tax Revenue: A Case Study Of Commercial Property In North Buffalo, New York, Jordan P. Then

Public Administration Master’s Projects

Municipalities largely rely upon property taxes to fund their operations. They also have a great deal of control over the types of developments permitted within their jurisdiction. Different development types have different levels of value and it is important that municipalities understand the relative values of each development type in order to make an informed decision as to what they should permit to be built within their jurisdiction. This study tests the theory that urban/new-urbanist type developments are more valuable than suburban types and thus provide greater property tax revenues to the municipality by comparing various commercial building development types …

Evaluation And Needs Assessment Of H.E.A.L’S Summer Youth Program, Esperance Utetiwabo Rwigamba

Public Administration Master’s Projects

This is an evaluation of the Help Everyone Achieve Livelihood (H.E.A.L.) summer youth program for refugees between the ages of 14 and 21. Research into the issue of refugee youth not having sufficient public service programs available to aid in the transition to life in the US was examined in the literature review. Previous research suggests summer programs help form the bridge between the home culture and new culture of refugee youth. The H.E.A.L. program offers a variety of services to their clients which includes cultural orientation, job building, and ESL classes. The program runs six weeks during the summer …

A Study Of Compassion And Job Satisfaction Among Erie County's Child Protective Services Caseworkers: Vicarious Trauma, Coping, Supervisory Style, Bureaucratic Structure, And Safety, Sharon L. Rochelle

Public Administration Master’s Projects

Abstract

When high profile child fatalities with previous Erie County Child Protection Services (CPS) involvement generated considerable negative media commentary questioning the competency of CPS, there was concern over the mental well-being of CPS caseworkers. Furthermore, a key problem to be resolved was the high turnover of CPS caseworkers, which is both a budgetary drain on the County due to the training costs involved with new caseworkers, but also deprives the Department of Social Services of experienced family and child welfare personnel. This study seeks to understand factors negatively affecting the CPS caseworkers. Previous research indicate that human service workers …

Wellness, Relaxation, Creativity: Development Of A Business Plan Igniting The Creative Journey Towards Self-Actualization, Julie A. Wolasz

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project explores the affective side of creativity and its involvement in personal growth towards self-actualization. The author proposes that the implementation of relaxation techniques and creative training methods in a specialized spa-like retreat setting could assist an individual in their goals towards reaching self-actualization and ultimately producing a more creative person. The finished product includes a business plan identifying a business that is dedicated to guiding individuals towards self-actualization through a creative journey utilizing relaxation techniques, mindfulness and creativity training.

Generational Differences In The Public Sector Of Motivation And Learning, Cheryl A. Wailand

Public Administration Master’s Projects

This study examines the impact of generational differences in the workplace, with a focus on public employees in the Erie County Department of Social Services. The differing values and learning styles in the multi-generational workforce present challenges for public service managers as to how to effectively address these differences in the workplace. Previous studies indicate there are differences between the generations as to how they navigate in the workplace. The findings suggest that there are certain instances where the generational divide is clearer such as in the use of technology and communication styles such as texting and social media. A …

Creative Collaboration On A Creativity Book, Jane Harvey

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Based on existing roles as writer and designer, two Master’s students partnered on one project. This project was dually about the creative product and creative process. The final product result is a book on creativity, but much of the project learning was about collaboration during the creative process itself. The project included the creation of written and visual content and a production-ready book layout on the subject of creativity. This paper describes the process followed to create a fast reading, jargon-free book with a special academic end section.

Creativity Inspired Community: A Practice And Process For Growing Communities Through Group Creativity, David Eyman

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This project explores the use of group creativity practices to support changing attitudes and the formation of cohesive communities in civic and business settings. More specifically this project explores the use of a predetermined sequence of group creativity tools to facilitate a change in participant mentality. The attitudinal shift is from self-serving to engaged and collaborative. The ultimate outcome of using the proposed framework is the bonding of incompatibly opinionated people into a solidified community that is responsible for implementing their novel ideas. Ideas formed within this process are a reflection of the individual’s personal life objectives as they relate …

Cross Sector Differences In The Awareness Of The Glass Ceiling And Recourse Options, Tara A. Territo

Public Administration Master’s Projects

Gender inequality affects many women in the workplace creating a wage gap. If found, a solution to this problem could dismantle barriers and close the gap. The extent to which women are aware of the glass ceiling and where to find help was studied through an online survey. One hundred and thirty eight women from the public, non-profit and private sectors completed the six-question survey. The results show that women in the non-profit sector are more likely to know of the glass ceiling but also are more likely not to know where to find help when compared to the other …

Suny Buffalo State Faculty And Administrator Perceptions Of Using Electronic Portfolios For Promotion And Tenure Reviews, Carolyn Martino

Public Administration Master’s Projects

Electronic portfolios are used at many institutions of higher education in the United States for faculty tenure and promotion reviews. Commonly referred to as an e-portfolio, their purpose is to replace traditional paper portfolios with electronic portfolios which can be viewed online and are easily shared. Though e-portfolios can be used for many purposes, this study will focus on their application in the tenure and promotion process. The purpose of this research is to gather faculty and administrator views towards utilizing e-portfolios for promotion and tenure reviews at Buffalo State. With the expected benefits e-portfolios offer, they will likely be …

Putting Vision And Learning Into Action: Reflections On My Process Of Becoming A Creativity Professional, Vivian L. Geffen

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

This Master’s Project describes and reflects on elements of my journey to becoming a Creativity Professional. Originally this semester-long project, was focused on my learning about bodymind principles of transformation so that I could then apply them to an original 4-week workshop. What manifested instead was the need to develop a 3-hour introductory workshop and the attendant processes that would support me in finding an audience with which to share my work and help me establish a polished professional presence. This finished Project includes my learning to design and lead transformational workshops, the development of a workshop that includes experiences …

The Symbiosis Of Creativity And Wellness: A Personal Journey, Jennifer A. Quarrie

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

The Symbiosis of Creativity and Wellness project explored how holistic personal wellness practices nurture creativity, and conversely, how creativity fosters personal wellness. The project specifically explored wellness from the standpoint of sleep and circadian rhythms, somaticism and movement, nutrition and hydration, meditation and mindfulness, as well as connection and support. By immersing in research-based wellness practices and building a customized approach to personal wellness, this project not only facilitated measurable personal wellness improvements over the six-week period, but also highlighted more profound insights within the relationship between creativity and wellness. Overall this work resulted in significant lifestyle changes, a more …

How Creativity Can Be Used To Cope: My Creative Journey, Annamaria Todaro

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

ABSTRACT OF A PROJECT

How Creativity Can Be Used to Cope: My Creative Journey

This project examines how a positive attitude and affective creative skills and behavioral skills can raise self-awareness and empower individuals to make healthy changes in their lives. The goal is to demonstrate that no matter what the individuals’ circumstances might be, they have the mind power to overcome self-victimization and create happiness from within. Affective creative skills such as fluency, flexibility, originality, divergent thinking, curiosity, imagination and many more skills allow for change and transformation within an individual. Behavioral skills are the actions or steps that …

Stress’ Impact Of Supervisory Styles In U.S. Navy Reservists In Central New York During The Military Fiscal Year 2013-2014, Miguel A. Reyes-Mariano

Public Administration Master’s Projects

Recent studies on stress have paid close attention to the outcomes of global trends like the wars on terrorism. In this convulsed world of the 21st Century, civilians and military are exposed to a myriad of drawbacks, and everyone has to manage to carry out their lives and duties. The resulting work-related stress is present in a significant number of complaints in medical centers and hospitals; public, private or military. Although the United States Ready Reserve has not received much attention in the past, they are getting it now, given its more active interactions on foreign and domestic public policies. …

Investing In The Arts As A Regional Economic Development Tool: A Case Study Of Suny Buffalo State College Arts Students, Dinash Lal Mpa

Public Administration Master’s Projects

The intent of this study was to determine the financial needs of the art students attending Buffalo State College when considering producing their art. In order to establish this need, this case study required the opinions of arts students on their current and future potential financial circumstances including, prospective income supplementation to produce their art work, ability to produce art work given their current and future financial outlooks, the importance of their financial circumstances in relation to the production of their art, the degree to which they currently or foresee the use of financial products and services to produce their …