1. College Project: A Chapter-College Partnership

2. Advisors & Chapters Need College Support!
Pictured here is the College Admin Rep to PTK’s Board of Directors – Dr. Dan Phelan. He represents all the incredibly supportive college administrators who make PTK’s mission possible.
It is essential to have allies in your college administration. Think about all the ways your chapter asks for the college’s support – travel funds to PTK Events, asking for a speaker at your inductions, etc. The College Project is the chapter’s opportunity to ask the administration what the chapter can do for the COLLEGE.
Dr. Dan Phelan President, Jackson College Jackson, Michigan
Member, Phi Theta Kappa Board of Directors

3. College Project Purpose
Establish and/or strengthen the chapter’s relationship with the college administration.

4. College Project Basics
Level 4 of Five Star Chapter Plan
Hallmark Award Category
Any project that directly supports college’s mission
Completed anytime between Jan-Dec
Strengthens relationship with college administration
Starting in 2019, the College Project is found in Level 4 of the Five Star Chapter Plan. It is a once-a-year project that can be done anytime between January – December. Chapters may also submit a College Project entry in our Hallmark Awards Program. Entries are due in January every year. Winners are announced at PTK Catalyst in April.
A College Project is any endeavor the chapter does in COLLABORATION with the college administration that directly supports the college’s mission.
In other words, it’s the chapter helping the administration meet their goals. It can be a big project, or a small one. The most important part is that it increases the communication and working relationship between the chapter and the college.

5. College Project Examples
Renovation of College’s Greenhouse & Garden
Creating Campus Memorial to Pulse Nightclub Victims
Backpack to Briefcase: Connecting Recent Graduates to Community Jobs
Women in Tech Panel to Promote STEM Majors
Hosting Youth Leadership Development Program for Local High School Students
Here are more examples of successful College Projects. A project like Hosting a Youth Leadership Development Program allows the college to demonstrate its commitment to the community it serves while promoting itself as a college of choice to potential students. The Memorial to Pulse Nightclub Shooting Victims is an example of changing the College Project focus based on an event that impacted the college. Several Valencia College students were killed in the tragic attack on the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. The chapter helped the campus heal by creating a campus memorial.

6. More College Project Examples
Video Series to Promote College’s Career Services
CC BY-ND
Establishing a DISC Golf Course on Campus
CC BY-SA
CC BY-SA

7. College Project: Hallmark Judging

8. NEW for 2020 Competition Updated Entry Questions
Created greater breakdown of judging rubrics
Increased Word Count to 1,600 Words
Added Optional Materials — Chapters may upload up to 3 total items: pics, charts or tables

9. College Project Entries are judged on…
Preparation/Planning
Leadership Development
Cooperative Effort/Communications
Impact
Presentation
Entry is judged as a whole

10. Scoring
For first 4 categories, points will be assigned as follows: 4 points = Outstanding evidence 3 points = Satisfactory/good evidence 2 points = Some evidence (implied rather than explicit) 1 point = Minimal or no evidence

11. Questions
Briefly describe your College Project and what your chapter set out to accomplish with your college administration.

12. Questions
2. Describe the planning process in detail including who was involved in determining the project and who your chapter collaborated with to carry out the project.

13. Questions
3. How did chapter members develop their leadership and/or knowledge, skills and abilities needed for project implementation?

14. Questions
4. Describe in detail how the chapter collaborated and communicated with others before, during and after the project?

15. Questions
5. What were the quantitative and qualitative outcomes of your project, including the lessons learned by your chapter members and others?

16. 4 points each for outstanding evidence
Preparation – 20 points
Chapter reviewed college’s mission statement/priorities before meeting admin
Chapter met with admin to determine project
Admin had the opportunity to discuss their project ideas with the chapter before a project was selected.
Admin and chapter mutually agreed upon College Project
Project directly supported college’s mission/current priorities.
4 points each for outstanding evidence

17. 4 points each for outstanding evidence
Leadership Development – 20 points
Chapter fulfilled a significant leadership role(s) in implementing project.
Chapter used critical/strategic thinking to carry out the project effectively.
Chapter took time to assess areas they needed to strengthen and/or learn.
Members participated in leadership development activities to strengthen those skills necessary for the project.
Chapter members effectively organized their project responsibilities.
4 points each for outstanding evidence

18. 4 points each for outstanding evidence
Communications/Cooperative Effort – 20 points
Members demonstrated flexibility and/or creativity in addressing any opportunities, challenges, and/or obstacles
Chapter’s effort were focused on carrying out college’s wishes for the project.
Chapter worked with others to effectively carry out the project
Chapter provided stakeholders with regular updates throughout the project.
Chapter provided a final report of the project to the appropriate administrators.
4 points each for outstanding evidence

19. 4 points each for outstanding evidence
Impact – 20 points
Impressive quantitative data showing the project’s outcomes.
Impressive qualitative data showing the project’s outcomes.
Demonstrated how these outcomes addressed the college’s goals for the project.
Demonstrated how chapter’s relationship with college was strengthened.
Demonstrated meaningful reflection on how chapter members grew in professionalism and as scholar- leaders throughout the project.
4 points each for outstanding evidence

20. Presentation – 5 points
5 Points – Spelling and grammar are faultless. Entry is well-written and easy to follow.
3 Points – A few errors in spelling and/or grammar. Entry has some awkward writing or does not give enough specific details
1 Point – Spelling and grammar errors throughout. Writing is disjointed and does not give enough specific details

21. Get Organized Communications Plan Roles and Assignments
Google Docs, Microsoft Teams, Dropbox, Etc.
Roles and Assignments
Notetakers throughout the project
Writers, Editors and Proofreaders
Reviewing with the Rubrics
Develop a Timeline
Deadlines for first and later drafts
Editing sessions
Proofing sessions
Throughout the project, members should take notes in a journal so that they can capture vivid details that will really tell the story of their chapter’s projects. This is true for writing Individual Award entries, too so they should include notes about those who are working hard to implement the chapter’s projects & priorities. Consider using a collaborative site such as Google docs, Microsoft Teams or Dropbox – this way the chapter will maintain access to the notes without having to track down members later.
Varied roles for Hallmark Awards Entries Set a timeline so you’re not waiting until the last minute to enter

22. Advisor’s Role as Coach
The Writing Process
Writers: Don’t Take It Personally
Edit, Edit, Edit!
Advisor’s Role as Coach
Once the writer finishes a draft, we recommend a separate editor or editing team who can help polish the draft. An advisor may serve on the editing team, offering suggestions just like an instructor would for a class assignment. Make sure the entry writers know that editing entries is necessary part of submitting entries. That they shouldn’t take offense to edits made to their work or being asked to re-write sections. That is a normal part of the process, and everyone’s goal should be focused on submitting the BEST entry for the chapter.
An advisor can serve a critical role as coach throughout this process. And it’s also perfectly acceptable to ask others to help… alumni, other faculty or community members who were involved in the chapter’s activities.

23. Show Us Your Work! Which statement gets more points?
Our chapter communicated extensively with the college.
Over a four-month period, our chapter communicated weekly and sometimes daily through , face-to-face meetings and phone calls with four departments at the college – the President’s Office, Student Life, Facilities, and our Landscape Design Faculty.
The bottom one gives much greater detail so it will score more points.

24. Hallmark Awards Online
Hallmark Awards Info/Resources:
Advisor Reports Hallmark Awards Delegates to Access Entry Forms
Entry Forms Available This Fall at
Deadline: Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 5:00 pm CT

25. Jennifer.Stanford@ptk.org 601.984.3532
Questions?