Veterans Initiative

Capstone Project Lauren Schipper

Getting Started
Excited to work on a project for my current employer Nervous that managing the hours between my regular job will be difficult Eager to collaborate with the Dean of Students Concerned the response rate will be low Ready to put all of my education to the test and use the skills Ive learned through the AHS program

Getting Acquainted
Agency Context:
Interacted with Dean of Students Developed an understanding of higher education organizational structure as it differs from non-profit First real experience with Institutional Review Board (IRB) Introduced to professional survey company (campus labs) for higher education

View of Agency:
Decentralized campus Funding guides resources FERPA v HIPPA Legal guidelines content matters

Developing Ethical Competence

No ethical dilemmas observed
Occasional difficulty with having to remind some of the staff and veterans I worked with that I am a full-time UD employee AND a graduate student

No unethical behaviors or practices were observed What I would have done if there was unethical behavior
Address it with my site supervisor Explain why I found the behavior or situation unethical Discuss ways to change it

Using Supervision
Meetings Meetings were scheduled through supervisors administrative assistive Met bi-weekly due to supervisors busy schedule Challenges Meetings were occasionally canceled and rescheduled due to supervisors schedule; had to be flexible with my schedule Little guidance on direction of project; often suggested ideas for approval What I can do Ask questions when uncertain about things Set an agenda and send it to the supervisor a day or two before the meeting to enhance discussion What I need A supervisor who will identify if the work I am doing is what theyre looking for or need

Learning to Learn from Experience

Integrative Processing Model

Step Four: Articulating Learning Ask before helping Identify first what someone needs or wants help with Engage the person youre helping in the project as much as possible

Communicating with Clients

Professional Experience: Individuals, families, groups and communities Most experience: individuals Least experience: communities Current role: mostly working with individuals Capstone project: groups/community Strength: assessment and plan development

Area for improvement: community enhancement

Most satisfying: individuals (students and employees) they want to succeed

Developing Cultural Competence

Life experience differences between myself and veterans
Had to find ways to connect with them Develop an understanding of my passion for this project and commitment to veterans

Experienced a difference between my work background and supervisors

Caused a difference of opinion of which happens first: student population increases then build resources OR build resources and then population increases

Writing and Reporting

Reports included: Identified resources from top ten schools for veterans from 2014 US News Report Summarized resources on campus, other institutions resources, ideas for moving forward Other reporting: Data collection In-person interviews with UD staff Telephone interviews with other university and college staff Needs assessment Strength: Simplifying data Weakness: Wanting to use short cuts (i.e. too many bullet points, not enough paragraphs) Room for Improvement: Remember to utilize SWOT and business plan styles as often as possible in proposal presentations

Taking Care of Yourself

Biggest stressors: Time management Something would always come up Prioritizing Dealing with other peoples schedules What helped: Asking for clarification Requesting deadlines Setting a weekly schedule with goals and tasks How I managed: Sports In-office relaxation techniques Setting breaks Biggest accomplishment: Completed assignments in-advance

Ending Your Project

Only Regret The needs assessment not being released until after this class ended (held up through IRB) Most appreciative for Being able to work side-by-side with the Dean of Students Most proud of the project resulting in the development of a campus working group Continue to improve understanding of higher education organizational structure; guidelines in higher education vs non-profit Wants and needs continue to be a part of the campus working group and a part of the change for veterans at the University of Delaware

Planning Your Career

Short-term goals:
Continue my role as a Disability Specialist at UD Remain point of contact for veterans with disabilities Complete master degree (May 2014) Continue establishing professional partnerships at UD

Long-term goals:
Apply to the Ed.D program at UD Become a department director at the university Continue enhancing ADA knowledge Begin establishing professional partnerships with employees from other universities

Thank You!

My Portfolio