Education Commons^™

Helping The Homeless Through Visionary Leadership, Angela Martin

Education Projects

This project addresses the homelessness problem by asking several questions. Those questions are (a) How many people from each state are in homeless status; (b) What does it mean to be homeless in America; (c) Do we understand the difference between being poor and being homeless; (d) What programs are currently in place to help the homeless; (e) How can these programs be modified to enhance its feasibility; and (f) What is the estimated cost to fix the homelessness issue? These questions can be answered through research and use within visionary leadership to eliminate the issue one step at a …

Closing The Financial Need Gap Through Annual Giving And Donor Relations, Timothy Edelen

Education Projects

Higher education is currently in a crisis that is affecting institutions of all sizes. As the allotted funds from federal and state governments decrease and additional revenue-generating areas such as tuition fail to close the need gap, many universities and colleges find themselves in a budget crisis. This crisis affects public and private higher education institutions, resulting in the need for philanthropic support from outside sources. Institutions of higher education, private and public alike, are turning to private giving to meet budgetary demands. As a result of this crisis, both public and private higher education institutions turn to philanthropy to …

Human Resources Strategy For Nonprofit, Bipasha Tewary

Education Projects

Camino Community Development Corporation Inc. faced a significant challenge in the utilization of its human resources. There were high employee attrition rates in the organization. A disciplined inquiry revealed that employee dissatisfaction, low remuneration, and lack of sound recruitment and retention policies were among the factors that led to the increased attrition. The consultancy project aimed at formulating effective leadership strategies that would make the Camino Community Development Corporation Inc.'s human resources robust. Professional recommendations to address the organization's challenges with its human resources were formulation and implementation of sound recruitment and retention strategies; increased focus on employee motivation to …

M&Ms: Mentors And Mentees, Melody B. Johnson

Education Projects

This project focused on the challenge of meeting the needs of at-risk students in an elementary school setting. In response to the literature, we designed and implemented a school-based mentoring program. This project examined whether a face-to-face mentoring program in this school with these students could meet three goals: provide students regular contact with a caring adult, increase student confidence in themselves or their environments, and reduce behavior infractions. These students, ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade, were identified for social-emotional and/or behavior issues by their teachers, administration, or guidance counselor. School employees served as the pool for mentors, and …

Black Leadership And Culture In Creative Industry: Organizational Practices And Worker Satisfaction In A Charlotte, Nc, Social Enterprise, Alexandra Arrington

Education Projects

This project reviewed the leadership, organizational culture and practices, and worker satisfaction in a Charlotte, NC-based marketing and advertising agency led by Black founders. These founders are creative artists and entrepreneurs with expertise in a variety of traditional and nontraditional creative fields, collectively called creative industries. The agency, Hue House, is a community-focused creative startup formed in 2019 to “decolonize the marketing and advertising industry” (Hue House, n.d., About Us section) through consulting, creativity, and community. As an entrepreneurial startup and social enterprise, the agency’s goal is to serve a niche in the predominantly white-led advertising and marketing industry. Part …

Higher Education Student Leadership Program, Heather Harrison

Education Projects

Leadership development programs have increased over the past 2 decades. Institutions of higher education have found value in giving students the tools to ignite and showcase soft leadership skills such as communication, time management, and self-awareness within the workplace and to gain better employment post-college through leadership development programs. Research shows that students value programs that include workshops and tools from diverse authors and presenters, mentorship, and assistance with connecting with their peers. Leadership development programs are delivered through the curriculum in the classroom, programs designed through student affairs offices or centers, and students engaging in leadership positions on campus, …

Holding Space: Developing Strategies To Center Education, Belonging, And Inclusion In A Black Cultural Center At A Large Research-Intensive University, Lorenzo Jameco Mckenzie

Education Projects

The story of Sankofa teaches us to look back to move forward. Concerning this consultancy project, it means that by gathering information from the past, experiences, joys, challenges, and insights, we would be able to reflect, synthesize the information, and chart a course of action for the prosperity and future of the African American Cultural Center at NC State University. As college campuses become more diverse and the need for robust diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in colleges and universities increases, this project seeks to provide a community engagement plan outlining comprehensive ways to build a significant Black cultural community …

Intentional Undergraduate Leadership Development Through The Establishment Of A Center Of Excellence For Leadership At Gardner-Webb University, James Rennie

Education Projects

Similar to most universities in the United States, Gardner-Webb University lists leadership development in their students as a high priority. The first two sentences in the Gardner-Webb University strategic plan state,

The mission of Gardner-Webb University is to prepare graduates for leadership and service in their professional careers and in their personal lives. Rigorous and innovative degree programs, combined with distinctive experiential learning opportunities, shape students into thinkers, doers, and world-changers. (Gardner-Webb University, 2021a, p. 1)

There are several key words in these sentences that warrant further discussion. First, leadership development is an instrumental aspect of the core mission of …

Collective Leadership Practices Improve Teacher Efficacy And School Culture, Vickie Stine

Education Projects

Experience has shown, and research correlates, teachers are the single most important school-related factor affecting student achievement. For students, the difference between having a quality teacher and having an incompetent teacher can exceed one grade-level equivalent in annual achievement growth (Hanushek et al.,1992). Shortages in the teaching force continue to increase nationwide, reaching crisis proportions. Challenges facing educators, including ever-changing needs of students, adjustments in education services, increased documentation requirements, lagging student outcomes, new initiatives, discipline concerns, and the expectation for teachers to perform to meet ever-increasing demands have resulted in disengagement of educators and decisions from them to leave …

Building Leaders In Policing: Using Leadership Characteristics And Attributes To Develop First-Line Supervisors And Line Officers, Brad Stewart

Education Projects

Organizational effectiveness and legitimacy in policing are largely based on public perception witnessed predominantly through interactions with line officers and first-line supervisors. The demand for highly effective first-line supervisors falls short as agencies are ill-equipped to provide leader development. This mixed methods study examined the characteristics and attributes of first-line supervisors as perceived by line officers in the Asheboro, North Carolina Police Department. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions: (a) Which dominant characteristics and attributes are perceived by police officers to be associated with leader efficacy; (b) Which of the perceived characteristics and attributes contribute to the development …

Creating A Nonprofit Organization To Combat Health And Healthcare Disparities Impacting Black Women, Chernee M. Gerald

Education Projects

Adequate healthcare is essential to the lives of all Americans; however, disparities exist in the quality of care and services available to marginalized groups in this country. For many years, there have been conversations and research conducted around the health and quality of healthcare provided to Black Americans; more specifically, the quality of care Black women receive. At the forefront of healthcare factors impacting Black women are breast cancer, maternal mortality, and the implicit bias of healthcare providers. This project uses survey data collected from Black women in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community to identify the most pressing health issues of Black …

An Online Course Quality Enhancement Project, Jonathan Davis

Education Projects

Between 2018 and 2019, according to the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement, the total reported distance education enrollment increased 129.1% (Straut & Boeke, 2020). This explosive increase in the number of students taking distance education courses during this timeframe is intriguing and undoubtedly increased further in 2020 and 2021 due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the efforts of colleges and universities to shift courses online in order to continue operations while also preventing the spread of the virus. Moreover, there has been growing concern regarding student success in online courses and the quality of instruction provided via …

Building Brand Identity And Organizational Growth For A Small Media Company, Reginald L. China

Education Projects

The global Coronavirus pandemic exacerbated the need for increased media content. It also showed that media content was integral to communication and stakeholder engagement during community lockdowns. I worked with the Jones Media Company to gauge the need for media services in faith-based organizations. The survey results revealed that religious institutions are not exempt from using media content to engage congregations, the community, and potential members. According to Auxier and Anderson 2021, the ability to access multimedia content is in the palm of our hands. Their research showed that some 84% of adults ages 18 to 29 say they ever …

Disciplinary Policies And Practices: Dismantling The School To Prison Pipeline, Ricky Johnson

Education Projects

Dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline has been a problem for decades that seems to have come to no answer. This project aims to analyze the current conditions and create ways to dismantle the pipeline through new policy, leadership, alternative practices, and school/ community programs. The disproportionate rates of suspension and expulsion and their ties to the juvenile justice system, along with everything dealing with education, should be alarming to most. However, far too often, these alarming numbers are swept under the rug. It is beyond time for disciplinary policy and practice change on a micro and macro level; something must be …

Designing A Literacy Program For A Better Chance, Better Community (Abc2), James E. Pittman

Education Projects

ABC2 is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that connects rural communities with resources in order to trigger youth power and advocate for practical solutions and healthier lifestyles. This project concentrated on the planning stage of developing a literacy program for students in rural Halifax County. The proposal was written to take use of both sides' current strengths while also looking for ways for the organization, community, and me to expand. Its assessment entailed three steps, including evaluation of whether the project met base criteria, assessment of the project’s impact, and evaluation of the project’s complexity. The primary focus of this project …

Hickory Nut Gap Farm Culture Change, Stacia Harris

Education Projects

Organizational culture is crucial to success yet incredibly difficult to thoroughly understand and, when needed, change. This mixed methods study examined the specific culture at Hickory Nut Gap Farm to better define challenges and opportunities for growth and improvement. Using data and published research on organizational culture, this consultancy yielded custom strategies to help Hickory Nut Gap Farm create a consistent culture and also address other specific challenges revealed through research.

Determining Rural Church Growth And Sustainability Based On Population Trends And Outreach, Kimberly Ford

Education Projects

Farmington Baptist Church is a church located in rural Davie County, North Carolina. The church’s mission is focused on children, community, and culture. Due to consistent growth of the church population over the past 5 years, the church will soon outgrow its current space and needs to determine if they are to invest in a new building. The purpose of this project was to help determine if the growth of the church is sustainable based on both external and internal factors, and if so, what was the number of members they should anticipate accommodating with a new sanctuary building. External …

The Arduous Pursuit Of Ratification: A Community Effort And Benefit Towards Adoption Of Countywide Zoning For Anson County, North Carolina To Aid In Economic Development, David L. Williams

Education Projects

This consultancy project was designed to assist Anson County, North Carolina with understanding the impacts of enacting countywide zoning and how to develop a zoning ordinance. While a vast majority of cities and counties in North Carolina have zoning throughout their jurisdiction, Anson County does not. This project revealed the economic impacts of countywide zoning by assessing both qualitative and quantitative data, including a review of the literature. The literature review concluded counties that enact zoning increase economic or job opportunities. As evidence, a Georgia study concluded the average employment for counties with a zoning ordinance was more than double …

Developing A Small Youth Nonprofit Board Of Directors To Support Fundraising And Volunteer Engagement, Blayre C. Penn

Education Projects

Nonprofit organizations that provide services for young people are immense assets within urban communities. These organizations impart mentorship and provide positive activities to enrich the lives of young citizens who may or may not have access to these opportunities provided elsewhere at a cost. However, as noteworthy of a benefit, the management of nonprofits often threatens their sustainability. If the understanding of organizational blind spots regarding volunteer retention, sustainability of funding, and board leadership is lacking, decision-making on strategic planning becomes very difficult (Sand, 2005). This consultancy project explores the best practices for managing a small nonprofit that focuses on …

Leadership Development Of A Nonprofit Organization: Implementation Of Succession Planning, Raven Neal

Education Projects

This project investigated the reasons why the Lambda Nu Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. is struggling with members not running for leadership positions and adequate succession planning. The project presented a leadership academy manual as an intervention to the lack of members stepping up to run for leadership positions. The leadership academy focuses on leadership development through knowledge building, shadowing, and mentoring. The projected outcome of implementing this manual is the members of the Lambda Nu Zeta Chapter would feel competent and confident enough to hold a position and to fulfill its obligations fully. The Lambda Nu …

Enhancing Overall Communication And Onboarding Procedures At Case Management Of The Carolina, Loren Mcneal

Education Projects

Case Management of the Carolina, a young case management organization, serves patients who qualify for community long-term care services. The organization employs less than 10 people but is struggling to retain qualified case managers. Onboarding, communication, and rebranding were some of the surface issues the owner was facing. Tammy Gordon, a previous and experienced case manager, partnered with me to help remedy some of those problems. Survey research and interview research were used to assist in diagnosing the true cause of turnover. Recommendations for new orientation documents were provided to assist with onboarding. Several virtual platforms were recommended to support …

Restructuring The Role Of Faculty In The Advising Process At A Community College, Michael Wayne Mabe

Education Projects

My goal in this project was to restructure the faculty’s role in student advising by developing a faculty-student mentorship program. I focused on three areas within the study: determining the role of faculty as mentors, describing how students would be assigned to faculty, and determining how to train faculty in the new role. I conducted a mixed methods study to gauge faculty views on advising and mentoring. Results showed that faculty supported mentoring of students, which has been shown to improve student academic performance. I recommended that faculty meet with their mentees three times throughout the academic year. Faculty and …

Retaining The Essential During The Great Resignation: Intentional Practices In Improving Employee Engagement Within The Division Of Student Affairs, Candice C. Dew

Education Projects

The COVID-19 pandemic stirred up trends in the higher education industry that impacted many student affairs employees to the point that many had chosen to retire early or transition to another type of industry for employment. This exodus of employees turned into what is now called the Great Resignation. Organizations benefit from employees having pride in what they do, but what happens when they start to feel undervalued or disposable? Employee engagement is a substantial factor that affects workplace retention. Many student affairs employees have either changed their career paths or retired early in the past few years due to …

Recruiting At Satellite Campuses For Trio Student Support Services, Marla Harris

Education Projects

My consultancy project involved working with a Large Urban Community College (LUCC) to develop a recruiting model to assist in expanding their TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program to their satellite campuses. LUCC consists of six campuses, one central campus and five satellite campuses. The TRIO program serves 175 students annually, and at the beginning of this project, all students enrolled in the program attended the central campus location. This is not in line with LUCC’s one college model and values which include being a student-centered institution and providing equitable and inclusive services for all students. This also does not …

Improving Volunteer Retention With Nonprofit Organizations Through Implementing Onboarding Training, Tawanda Lashone Carpenter

Education Projects

Many nonprofit organizations are staples in the community as they provide services for disadvantaged and marginalized groups that seek services that are not easily accessible to them through for-profit organizations. Hence, the retention of volunteers is a challenge for many nonprofit organizations as they depend on volunteers to assist with the day-to-day tasks that cannot be accomplished by paid employees (Garner & Garner, 2011). During the time of this project, One Step Further, Inc. (OSF) Community Support and Nutrition Program (CSNP) was faced to deal with the national pandemic of COVID-19, leaving this organization to depend on paid staff exclusively. …

[W]Hole Health, Maudlin, Kimberly Williams-Roberts

Education Projects

Since the onset of COVID-19 during the early part of 2020, business owners and leaders have mostly focused on keeping their doors open amidst lockdowns and social distancing mandates. After over a year into the pandemic, the world is slowly opening up, despite the imminent threat of the virus. As we continue to adjust to this “new norm,” business leaders now must look at how these changes have and will affect their employees. The continuation of this process includes finding ways to provide the much-needed support to employees by way of improving wellness programs. Despite the availability of vaccinations, businesses …

Building Health And Safety Initiatives In Faith-Based Organizations, Jaqueline Denise Palmer

Education Projects

The church has always responded to the needs (the sick, dying, and hungry) of the community. The church is more than a place to feed the soul; it is a place for healing of the mind, body, and soul. How effective is the church in providing health and wellness education? There has been an increase in domestic attacks on faith-based organizations. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (n.d.) stated that from 2009 to 2019, there have been 37 attacks on houses of worship resulting in 64 people losing their lives. These attacks prompted houses of worship to review their security policies or …

Redesigning An Onboarding Hiring Process For A Local Government Agency, Hannah Angel

Education Projects

Hiring processes are an important process of an organization’s overall employee job satisfaction in the Department of Health and Human Services division. First impressions help establish a long-term relationship between an employee and a company. Onboarding and orientation involving surveys, advisors, and relationships within the company assist in retaining dedicated employees. Follow-up meetings are required to enable a successful team involvement relationship. Job satisfaction ensures a lower turnover rate in the hiring process for the company. Hiring processes involving onboarding and orientation ensure stability, trust, and comfort for the employee within an organization.

Allocation Of Faculty Among Nursing Programs At A Community College, Jessica Ivey Msn

Education Projects

Organizational structure is important in any business to ensure that organizational mission and goals are being met. The structure defines roles, establishes a hierarchy, and creates the culture for the organization. Establishing the structure will assist with communication, decision-making and the overall culture of the organization. Gaston College expressed a need to redesign their structure by combining all their nursing programs to create a School of Nursing. Currently, each nursing-related program is separated into their own departments/programs. This includes faculty and staff assigned to one program instead of allocating staff to multiple programs. This project consists of defining new roles, …

Academic Program Performance: An Evaluation Model For Community Colleges, Lori H. Metcalf

Education Projects

Educational institutions began a journey of systematic review of programs and strategic planning sixty years ago. During that time the assessment and evaluation movement has produced copious complex models with numerous motivators, such as accreditation requirements and accountability. The objective of the consultancy project was to create a program evaluation model and process to provide community colleges with a clear picture of the health of academic programs with a goal of continuous improvement, including highlighting program strengths, areas for improvement, and specific action plans. A model and process were created to consolidate the data and ultimately tell the story of …