Structure:
Reflection formats differ depending upon learning styles. However, for the most part, a reflection paper cites your reactions, feelings, and analysis of your BUILD experience. This reflection will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of your values, goals, and actions in light of this program.
Paper Requirements:
The final paper should be approximately 3-5 pages long. If you have gone to workshops that included readings, feel free to integrate the material into your reflection. In addition, we hope that you will relate the content of the workshops to your observations of your environment, work, family, society, and yourself. We hope this reflection will focus and challenge you to consider the next steps in your DEI journey.
LEVEL II: THE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE
Purpose:
The BUILD Diversity Certificate's capstone project is the culminating experience of the program. It is designed with the participant's specific goals to apply what they have learned in the workshops to their work and personal lives. The purpose of the capstone is to bring the participants' life experiences into the learning process.
This capstone project allows students the opportunity to explore a problem or issue of particular personal or professional interest and to address that problem. The project allows for the synthesis and application of knowledge and skills acquired through the BUILD workshops to real-life issues and problems.
This capstone project allows participants the opportunity to explore a problem or issue of particular personal or professional interest and to address that problem. The project is the synthesis and application of knowledge and skills acquired through the BUILD workshops to real-life issues and concerns.
Goals:
- To provide participants with the opportunity to apply DEI knowledge and skills acquired through the program to a specific problem or issue.
- To allow participants to expand their learning into areas of personal interest, working with new ideas and issues, internal and/or external organizations, and individuals.
- To encourage participants to think critically and creatively about diversity, equity, and inclusion issues and further develop their analytical and ethical leadership skills necessary to address and solve issues of interest to them.
Outcomes:
DePaul's commitment to diversity is stated in the university's mission and history. DEI continues to be an important goal of the last two strategic plans, and operationalizing this commitment is evident by, among many other things, the creation of the BUILD program. Consistent with this mission and goals, participants of the capstone will:
- Apply conceptual foundations of organizational DEI
- and best practices to a problem/issue of their choosing
- Think critically
- Communicate effectively
- Display a commitment to social and ethical responsibilities
- Display a commitment to leadership and service
LEVEL II: PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILD CAPSTONE PROJECT
- Project Definition: Provide a one or two-sentence description that defines your project. Explain the big picture.
- Project Setting: Provide the location and the “where" of your project. If it is appropriate, discuss any key agencies, departments, or parties involved. Is your project mainly analytical or investigative (e.g., analyzing an organization), or problem-solving (e.g., creating a diversity awareness project at your place of worship)?
- Project Rationale: Why have you chosen this project? What is the problem or opportunity you see? What importance does this project have for you? How will it exemplify the BUILD goals?
- Project Objectives: What are your goals and outcomes for this project? What are you going to acquire, accomplish, produce, and/or deliver? What are the specific and concrete, measurable objectives/accomplishments intended for your project?
- Project Methodology: How are you going to proceed? What research must you do to complete your goals for your project? Do you have a timeline? Who might be resources for you in this project? What do you need to learn before beginning?
Project Examples:
- Setting up diversity training for your place of worship.
- Research the various diversity programs at the Department of Aging.
- Create a brown bag lunch symposium for your unit regarding a specific topic of diversity.
- Research current diversity “best practices" in nursing.
- Write a grant application for a DEI project.
- Analyze an existing DEI initiative.
- Write a program evaluation.