Date of Defense

12-13-2018

Date of Graduation

12-2018

Department

Business - Interdisciplinary

First Advisor

Vickie Edwards

Second Advisor

Kathleen Kean

Abstract

According to The United States Department of Education, in 2015 and 2016, over 3.9 million students dropped out of college with a grand total of 1.3 Billion dollars of student debt. According to a study by LendEDU, 51% left because of cost and financial burden. Obviously, there are scholarships, foundations, federal programs, ad more helping with cost, but there are other huge elements when it comes to looking at the cost of college. These can include: food insecurity, lack of transportation, inability to find a job that accommodates for students, having a family while going to school, lack of professional clothing, lack of mentors, etc. The thesis project proposes a nonprofit organization separate from WMU in order to combat the presented issues. Supply Bag WMU hopes to eliminate obstacles that prevent low income and unconventional students from progressing with their degree and finding a job that will allow for a successful future. We will provide a food and hygiene product pantry, a professional clothing closet, financial workshops, nonprofit service referrals, delivery, and so much more for WMU students who struggle to succeed because they normally do not have access to these kinds of services. The Honors Thesis incorporates a business financial plan for the organization and an implementation plan that addresses the biggest challenges that the organization will face. Specifically addressed issues discussed in the implementation plan are gaining initial donors, board members, and sponsors, reaching the student population, and creating an effective evaluation plan in order to determine the organization’s success. Furthermore, this organization will be presented at the 2019 Alliance Management Institute Conference on January 2nd in response to their “Big Idea” competition. More information can be found at https://ami.nonprofitleadershipalliance.org/ami-ideas-forum/the-details-whats-the-big-idea-competition/

Works Cited

The Details: “What’s the Big Idea?” Competition. Alliance Management Institute, 2018, https://ami.nonprofitleadershipalliance.org/ami-ideas-forum/the-details-whats-the-big-idea-competition/. Accessed December 2018.

Steele, Greyson. “Invisible Need Students at WMU – Part 2”. WMUK 102.1, 14 May 2018, http://www.wmuk.org/post/invisible-need-students-wmu-part-2?fbclid=IwAR0XxXMmDYKeo321BFqrKmZbM4ErTnA-UtCpGzsUeQCDiHbbtpE_RxhL30s. Accessed December 2018.

The Invisible Need Project. My WMU, 2018, http://www.mywmu.com/s/1428/gid2/index.aspx?sid=1428&gid=2&pgid=3068. Accessed December 2018.

Barshay, Jill. “Federal data shows 3.9 million students dropped out of college with debt in 2015 and 2016”. The Hechinger Report. 6 November 2017. https://hechingerreport.org/federal-data-shows-3-9-million-students-dropped-college-debt-2015-2016/. Accessed November 2018.

“Average student loan debt statistic by school by state 2018”. LendEDU. 8 August 2018. https://lendedu.com/blog/average-student-loan-debt-statistics. Accessed November 2018.

Dupree, Katie. 13 essential items you never thought to donate to those in need”. Mashable. 9 June 2015, https://mashable.com/2015/06/09/items-to-donate-unexpected/#b65KB3IA9PqK. Accessed November 2018.

Access Setting

Honors Thesis-Restricted

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