United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
This team developed a small business, marketing plan and identified useful resource tools for the organization.
Perhaps the best demonstration of The School of Continuing Studies’ cutting-edge approach to learning is the Accelerated Degree program, where teams of students learn collaboratively, bringing a blend of professional and experiential skills to the classroom.
Final or “capstone” projects are required of all groups for graduation and illustrate each cohort’s newly acquired proficiencies. The capstones address a need or problem in the surrounding community.
The following list represents recent capstone projects and demonstrates how School of Continuing Studies students give back to the community where they live and work.
Habitat of Humanity of the Lehigh Valley
This team recommended a list of hardware and software upgrades and created an inventory spreadsheet to better manage projects.
Seven Generations Charter School
This team provided marketing and public relations assistance and created a partnering program for the school.
City of Allentown
This team's project examined and made recommendations to improve the work processes and systems used to support the City of Allentown’s IT asset management team.
Dream Come True
This team's project involved a series of business practice recommendations to increase donations, referrals, and dreams fulfilled through an increase in brand recognition.
Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley
This team took on the challenge of evaluating the existing level of customer service and making recommendations for changes that would create a better customer service experience.
ABM Security Officers
A training and development program for security officers was implemented at the C & S Wholesale Grocer's site.
The Program for Women & Families
A marketing plan was developed for the organization by Health care Management students. The plan addressed shortcomings in both funding and community connections.
Muhlenberg College Trexler Library
A team of Information Systems students partnered with Muhlenberg Trexler Library to evaluate, select and provide an independent recommendation for a replacement integrated library system/library services platform for the library.
Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council
The goal of this project was the reinvigorating of the visitation program of LVMAC. This involved identifying the current veteran population in Lehigh and Northampton counties within senior care and assisted living center. This information would then be used to target the centers for scheduled volunteer visits in order to improve the quality of life for their veterans.
Dallas Little People
A project undertaken for a day care school in the Back Mountain area near Wilkes-Barre. It involved a new marketing plan and the use of social media to ward off new competition.
Turning Point of the Lehigh Valley
A team of three students developed a program for financial literacy so that victims of domestic violence could feel empowered to leave abusive relationships.
Done in collaboration with Executive Service Corps of the Lehigh Valley, a Needs Assessment was prepared for the farm along with a series of recommendations.
A knowledge management project was undertaken to provide the organization with a system and processes for the sharing and retrieval of information.
A new business was provided with a detailed business plan, marketing plan, and two brochures.
Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley
This project involved the development of a marketing plan along with a first ever brochure, and grant research.
One Love Foundation
This project involved the development of an ongoing IS strategy as well as the introduction of several new technologies.
This project developed three different electronic surveys that replace paper surveys resulting in improved responsiveness, increased productivity, and error reduction.
Bethlehem Employees Children’s Scholarship Fund
In this project, a team of students helped the organization decide that nonprofit status was the best choice for future success and assisted in all the filling requirements for the IRS and state agencies.
Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley
A team of students capitalized on their passion for knowledge management and presented a Knowledge Management (KM) Strategy to their client organization in order to support collaboration among the member agencies of the Volunteer Center.
LV Physician Group & Good Shepherd
Team members from both organizations developed a patient experience analysis that could be used by both organizations to monitor the quality of the services they provide.
Planet Brooklyn Academy
A feasibility study was conducted for this retail clothing store in Brooklyn to ensure a successful launch and to capture new clients in the surrounding area.
Slate Belt Strength and Fitness
A Business Model Review was performed to identify several challenges facing this fitness center.
This team of students from the Health care concentration developed a detailed instructional tool for mass immunizations offered to the general public.
The students developed the first website for the Food Bank, which allows the organization to communicate its mission to a wide audience. The students also trained volunteers to use spreadsheets to track clients and supplies.
A marketing plan was developed to assist NAMI in increasing awareness of their various mental health support programs and events in the local community.
This project involved the development of a philanthropy portfolio to highlight the organization’s charitable objectives and the value of donor contributions.
1. A team from the Information Systems program developed computer training materials for three different office productivity applications.
2. Students in the Human Resources concentration developed modules for the training of new managers. These modules included PowerPoint presentations and other instructional materials designed to simplify the teaching process. This project built upon two capstone projects from 2010.
This project sought to increase revenues by addressing two accessibility issues. The students videotaped the second floor exhibits and provided first-floor viewing equipment for patrons who cannot navigate stairs. The team also solved an issue regarding wheelchair access at the entrance way to the building.
This Information Systems project helped the organization consolidate its computer infrastructure and provided needed process improvements.
A team of two Health care concentration students provided the network with a simulation needs assessment for both the new medical school and for the network as a whole.
This capstone resulted in the development of plans about mission awareness and volunteer recruitment.
Hugh Moore Historical Park & Museum
This team of students developed contemporary management methods to improve existing park maintenance processes and optimized the use of available resources.