Wheelock College. Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership Capstone Program. Capstone Overview:

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1 Capstone Overview: Wheelock College Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership Capstone Program The Capstone project of the Organizational Leadership Masters is an action learning experience, providing students with an experiential learning opportunity while performing a service for a local nonprofit or higher education organization. Over one academic year students work in teams to address a challenge or opportunity identified by a participating organization. The goal of the Capstone is to both contribute to the students education while also making a contribution to the public good. The Capstone experience is designed to help students to integrate their learning in several areas including a content or issue area, teamwork, research and utilizing data, project management and how to work in the complex and often unpredictable real world of organizational work. The Capstone project brings together teams of 3-4 graduate students to address challenges and/or identify new opportunities as identified by the participating organization. In conjunction with the participating organization, the Capstone team will develop a work plan that will produce a carefully scoped final project that addresses the need as defined by the organization. Each team will produce a written report and make a final presentation of its findings and recommendations. Program Timeline: 1. July 31, Capstone proposals are due 2. August 15, Faculty will reach out to prospective participating organizations for clarification on proposed projects if necessary 3. September 2015 Faculty will choose projects to be presented to students. 4. September 15, 2015 Prospective participants are notified if their proposals have been chosen to move on to the final selection stage 5. September 30, 2015 Capstone projects are presented to students to choose those projects that they are interested in. Based upon project selection, students form Capstone teams. 6. October 2015 Capstone teams meet with the organizations that they will be working with. 7. April 2015 Capstone projects conclude, final products are submitted to participating organization

2 Qualifying for a Capstone Team: Any nonprofit organization or institution of higher education is eligible to apply for a Capstone team. In order to be considered for a team the attached application must be completed and submitted by the deadline of July 31, The Capstone Project: An acceptable Capstone project is one that is important but not urgent and is achievable within the timeframe of one academic year and supported by the resources available. The proposed project identifies specific deliverables for the team to provide and there is a clear definition of the issue to be addressed. Projects that are not acceptable are those that ask for interns, administrative support or organizations that do not have the resources to appropriately support the work of the Capstone team. Examples of acceptable projects include (but are not limited to): strategic planning, studies of best practices, needs assessments, program planning, board and leadership development or program evaluation. Capstone teams will negotiate a scope of work agreement with their organization. Based upon this work plan the Capstone team will engage in appropriate activities to perform the described services. The Capstone team, or the participating organization, will notify the other, in writing, of any potential problems or issues that might impact the scope of work as agreed upon. Either party can request that the scope of work be renegotiated or modified as the project progresses, however both parties must agree to such modifications. Participating organizations will designate one staff person as the Project Liaison. The Project Liaison will be the primary organizational contact to the Capstone team, and will respond to and communicate with the Capstone team on a regular basis as necessary and appropriate for the success of the project. The time that the Project Liaison devotes to the project is dependent upon the size and scope of the work agreement and the needs of the organization and the Capstone team. Project Selection Process: We do not guarantee that if your organization submits a Capstone proposal that you will be chosen to participate. Proposals are first reviewed by faculty for appropriateness for a Capstone project. Proposals that are accepted by faculty are then presented to students who will choose those projects that they have an interest in. If your proposal is not accepted by faculty you will be notified by the end of July. Applicants who go to the final vetting process will be notified by the end of September whether or not your proposal has been accepted.

3 Terminating a Project: Once a project has begun, neither the Capstone team nor the participating organization will have sole authority to cancel a project. If problems arise either on the part of the participating organization or the Capstone team, that would prevent the project from going forward, the Capstone advisor will be called in to mediate the situation and to determine if the project can go forward. It is expected that as soon as a situation is identified that may prevent a project from proceeding successfully that both the Capstone team and the Project Liaison will immediately notify the capstone faculty advisor in an attempt to work through the difficulty and tog et he project back on track. If a situation arises where the Capstone faculty advisor, in consultation with the Project Liaison and the Capstone team, determines that it is unlikely that a project will be successful, then a project may be terminated. Contact for Additional Information: Irwin Nesoff, Coordinator, Graduate Programs in Organizational Leadership (617) or inesoff@wheelock.edu, Visit our web site for additional information on the Organizational Leadership Programs at Wheelock College

4 Wheelock College Organizational Leadership Program Capstone Project Proposal Organization Name: Organization Address: Organization Web Site : Contact Person Name: Contact Person Title: tele # fax # Project Liaison Name (If different from contact person): Project Liaison Title: tele # fax # I have read the capstone proposal guidelines and agree to these. (signature): date

5 Wheelock College Organizational Leadership Program Capstone Project Proposal I. Proposal Abstract ( words) Please describe the highlights of your proposal: II. Organizational Description (1page) Please tell us about the mission and structure of your organization, including when it was founded, population and areas served.. II. Capstone Project Overview (1 page) Please describe the project you would like the Capstone Team to address. This description should include the following: i. Brief description of project, program or issue ii. Why this project is of importance to your organization or the population served. iii. Activities that the Capstone Team might become engaged in. iv. Specific skills or qualifications that might be helpful for members of the Capstone Team to have to address this issue adequately.

6 III. Desired Outcomes (1/2 page) Please describe the deliverables that you would expect from the Capstone Team at the completion of the project. IV. Resources that will be made available to the Capstone Team needed to successfully complete the project (1/2 page) ie computers, travel funds, secretarial/office assistance, printing & duplication, etc.