Business students at Thompson Rivers University are gearing up to offer their expertise to local non-profits in the new year.
The students, many now in their final year of studies, are ready with their tools in marketing, strategic planning and human resource management.
“The feedback from former clients has been very positive with most implementing most or all of the students’ recommendations,” explained Richard Roy, Assistant Professor in TRU’s School of Business and Economics. Roy describes the activity as a win-win situation, the clients get advice and support on the best and latest practices in strategic planning, marketing, hiring, and training and retaining employees and volunteers. The students get hands on experience.
The class is looking for non-profit organizations including long term care facilities who want help. Projects would start in January and wind up in April.
“For HR projects, the process we follow is an initial meeting with the client to identify their needs; the students then research the literature and look at comparable employers for “best” practices, they compare these practices to their clients’ and make recommendations for improvement,” explained Roy.
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READ some testimonials
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The Community Projects program, now in its ninth year, has had very good response. Students have worked on over 90 projects including The Open Door Group, Kamloops Brain Injury Society, White Buffalo Aboriginal Health Society, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, SPCA, Circle Day Care, Secwepemc Cultural Society, Multiple Sclerosis Society and Child Development Centre.
“This was an excellent experience for us,” said Terry-Lynn Stone, Executive Director of The Kamloops Brain Injury Society. “As a small non-profit organization we don’t have the resources to undertake this kind of initiative. The students provided both recommendations and a plan for implementation.”
Jeannie Cardinal, Manager of Operations at the White Buffalo Health Society was similarly enthusiastic about the students’ work. “The level of professionalism and expertise exceeded our expectations.”
Her remarks were echoed by Jaime Wenselaers of The Open Door Group. “I was totally impressed with the final outcome. I have to say, not only was their report amazing but they were very professional throughout.”
