A team of Business Fellows students is putting the students' classroom knowledge to work to help the Muncie YWCA better serve the community.
Team leader Jonathan Lynch said the students learned about how efficiently the YWCA uses its resources and facilities, and the team will submit a more efficient plan in April.
Students began working on the project in October, he said.
Business Fellows from several different majors are working on the project and bringing diverse specialties and perspectives to the project, he said.
After months of gathering information, the planning process has begun, Lynch said.
"We've been able to assess programs and issues we expected to run into," he said. "Now we are seeing more and more ways we could help out."
A budget of about $2,500 will pay for the students and YWCA staff to travel to community centers in surrounding states and learn how they operate their programs and facilities, he said.
YWCA Executive Director Julie Coleman said she and fellow staff members have enjoyed the help from the Business Fellows.
"It's been a really wonderful opportunity," she said. "By bringing their knowledge to the table, they've made it so easy for us."
Lynch said the YWCA provides transitional housing for abused and neglected women and children, as well as an exercise gym and a place for community members to gather.
"One of the things we've had to figure out is how to help them with space issues so that they have more room for housing and community activity," he said. "We also come up with inexpensive program ideas that can easily grow in the future with a little funding."
Potential changes to the building would include adding a computer classroom and day care and updating the building's structure to meet required standards, he said.
Students also made posters for a career fair to recruit volunteers to help the YWCA in its efforts, Lynch said.
"Communication is really key," he said. "We've seen just from opening up communication that there are a lot of people that want to help."
Coleman said she has also seen the same positive results.
"We've really broadened our partnering with Ball State in all departments," she said. "We never knew we could do that before."
Lynch said the students also benefited from the experience.
"You get a chance to work with an actual client," he said. "Being able to physically interact and communicate with them makes a huge difference."
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