At a glance
"Students had to work together to research and analyze the issue from multiple angles to determine exactly what the problem was and then propose possible solutions to administrators to improve it. For many students this was their first time working on a real problem and project of this magnitude. They were especially excited that the project was something tangible that could improve life here at Alfred State.”
Holly Chase
Alfred State students in a pair of upper-level business classes presented to a panel of campus administrators and faculty on proposed changes to improve the college’s mail services on campus.
Students in Asst. Professor Holly Chase’s Management Information Systems and Asst. Professor Susan Gorman’s Strategic Marketing class toured the current facilities and similar style centers, sent out surveys to students and staff, and spoke with vendors during the semester long project. They were tasked to develop multi-faceted proposals for a solution that covered a range of topics covered within their courses.
“The mail center project placed students in front of a real problem where there was no single correct answer,” commented Chase. “They had to work together to research and analyze the issue from multiple angles to determine exactly what the problem was and then propose possible solutions to administrators to improve it. For many students this was their first time working on a real problem and project of this magnitude. They were especially excited that the project was something tangible that could improve life here at Alfred State.”
“With the collaboration of these courses we were able to provide eight different disciplines (business administration, technology management, architecture, surveying, agriculture business, interior design, construction management, and construction supervision) with the opportunity to work together on a campus project of a diverse scope,” added Gorman. “Both classes completed research, onsite project visits, and statistical analysis through consumer data. Different parts of the project were broken down to utilize student’s unique skillsets from their disciplines. The project ranged from rethinking business operations to automated solutions, market rebranding and communication channel delivery, to a building reconfiguration and redesign for better storage and functionality.”
Groups presented their ideas to their fellow classmates and to a group of administrators from technology services, enrollment management, and marketing communications.
Gorman continued, “These are today’s business development teams, and it was a thrill to see student’s ideas come together to provide important and impactful solutions.”
