Business Fellows students plan to use what they have learned in the classroom to help meet the needs of the Muncie YWCA.
Jeannine Harrold, program director for the Career Center and project director of the Business Fellows, said the YWCA had an unmet need that required the assistance of trained people.
Business Fellows students are able to fill that need, she said.
Students who participate in the program must be at least a junior, so they have some expertise that would allow them to assist the YWCA and its needs, she said.
Project Manager Nicole Feldhues said students working on the project were from the College of Architecture and Planning, the Teachers College and Business Administration.
Students from each major will work with the area that best suits their skills, she said.
The project will include conducting interviews with YWCA staff, residents and board members, examining practices of other YWCA locations and evaluating the programs and physical facilities of the Muncie location, she said.
The students will look at how the downtown facility meets the needs of the YWCA programming, in addition to how effective that programming is, Feldhues said.
Harrold said the YWCA's mission was to eliminate racism, promote feminism and encourage strong health and a strong community.
The students plan the changes, she said, but they do not implement them for the organization.
They are still in the information-gathering phase right now, she said.
The planning project is scheduled to be complete by the end of Spring Semester, Feldhues said.
The student team was recruited in September and work with the project for about 10 hours per week, she said.
Business Fellows is funded by an Eli Lilly endowment grant, Feldhues said.
Harrold said the project's cost, which is mostly in printing the final drafts and plan assessment, was about $2,000.
Feldhues said the project was an opportunity for students to gain experience outside of their classes.
"This project is part of a hands-on learning experience we want students to have," she said. "We want them to be able to apply classroom knowledge and skills in the workplace."
Harrold said she thought the work experience was valuable for the students.
"What we hope to happen over time is that students will get internships and professional positions with the organizations we have worked with," she said.
YWCAMotto: Eliminating Racism. Empowering Women
History:
- The Young Women's Christian Association is the oldest and largest multicultural women's organization in the world and was founded in London in 1855.
- The first chapters opened in the United States in 1858.
- The YWCA of Muncie was founded in 1911.
- There are YWCA's in 122 countries with more than 25 million members.
Fitness programs include: Karate and kickboxercise, strength classes, aquatics, basketball, weight room, gymnasium usageDiversity programs include: Study circles where eight to 12 people of varying backgrounds discuss issues.Youth programs include: Summer day camp and Jingle Bell Journey
To learn more about Muncie's YWCA visit muncieywca.org
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