Research Symposium

BIO

Taylor Easterbrook is a sophomore at Florida State University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Spanish. Taylor has received academic honors, including the President's and Dean's Lists each semester during her time at FSU. She writes for the Political Review at FSU, researching current events and writing in a non-partisan manner. Through the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, Taylor has engaged in nonprofit research under the mentorship of Mrs. Maria Paula McIntyre-Nwenyi and the faculty at the Center for Leadership and Service. Taylor aspires to attend law school and work as a corporate attorney.

Bridging the Gap

Abstract

The research question analyzed is: How does strategic and effective collaboration between Florida State University faculty/staff and local nonprofits utilize student capacity towards learning outcomes? Additional questions related to the overarching research question include: “Are these relationships strong or fragmented?”, “How can these partnerships be improved?”, and “What barriers exist within these partnerships?”.
The methodology for this project includes an extensive literature review and various workshops, including Qualtrics and Thematic Analysis Training, to establish researchers’ knowledge of the context of student partnerships with non-profits, particularly in the Tallahassee area. The framework being utilized is majorly epistemological and theoretical, rather than inductive, due to the vast nature of the literature review conducted prior to data collection. The researchers used Qualtrics surveys to gather quantitative data.
Preliminary results predict that a lack of effective communication and improper delegation of responsibilities are barriers to these relationships. The literature review has also made it likely that some partnerships are much more effective than others due to the transparent nature of their communications and allowance for students to pursue their interests.
As a college student, community engagement is vital for both personal and professional development. Obtaining conclusive results regarding how to improve student-non-profit relationships can aid in future collaborations. The goal of this research is to help the campus and broader Tallahassee community by identifying current issues in collaborations in order to develop relevant solutions. It analyzes the standings of these relationships to address obstacles.

Keywords: Nonprofit Community Collaboration