Technical Writing
Angel Tree Christmas Debrief (2024)
Challenge
Angel Tree has had a series of different leadership, and there are a lot of tasks that need to be completed for it to run effectively. The campaign runs across 11 counties in West Michigan, and managing the digital aspects necessary can be cumbersome.
Solution
The creation of a debrief manual to ensure necessary information is passed on for next year.
Results
A 30 page PDF that provides a comprehensive overview of the Angel Tree Toy Drive and related tasks.
New Hire Manual (2022)
Challenge
When I started at GVSU there were no guidelines for my role as Office Coordinator and the office manual had not been updated in some time. As I prepared to leave my role I was determined to leave the next person ready to take over.
Solution
I created a document that included all of the information the next person would need to become fully trained to run the day-to-day operations the TRIO SSS and McNair Scholars programs.
Results
A 20 page word document that has resources for account access, position overviews, training resources, a campus guide, and other relevant information for the SASC shared work space, plus an overview of TRIO programs and TRIO SSS.
McNair Scholars Handbook (2022)
Challenge
The McNair Scholars Program at GVSU received feedback that scholars felt the information for the program was scattered and difficult to locate.
Solution
The creation of a scholars’ handbook, similar to those offered at other larger higher education institutions.
Results
A 35 page PDF that provides a comprehensive overview of the McNair Scholars Program, participant expectations, timeline, program activities, the Summer Research Experience, and resources available.
TRIO SSS Peer Mentor Handbook (2022)
Challenge
The TRIO Student Support Services Peer Mentor Program is one of the most active on Grand Valley’s campus. In the past, the program covered several TRIO programs, but beginning in 2022–2023, their program began covering only TRIO SSS, resulting in a need to updated and consolidate the Peer Mentor handbook.
Solution
Consolidating repeated information, incorporating relevant information that peer mentors will need access to, such as role expectations and how to mentor, and removing COVID-19 guidelines that no longer applied.
Results
A 45 page document incorporating links to relevant campus resources, necessary forms, and peer mentoring guidelines.
McNair Scholars Mentor Handbook (2022)
Challenge
The McNair Scholars Program at GVSU wanted to provide new mentors with the necessary resources to develop strong relationships with their scholars so that they can succeed.
Solution
A matching handbook was created to meet mentors’ needs.
Results
A 30 page mentor handbook that provides an overview of the McNair Scholars program, expectations for mentors and students, program components, the Summer Research Experience, and mentoring resources.
TRIO Student Support Services Office Manual (2021)
Challenge
When I began as the office coordinator at GVSU for the TRIO SSS program, one of my very first tasks was updating the TRIO office manual to ensure the contents were up-to-date and reflected the current iteration of the program.
Solution
The document needed updates, footnotes and links, and lacked a through, up-to-date overview of the TRIO programs at GVSU.
Results
I created a navigation pane that allowed for the document to be easily searched, as it was over 100 pages long, updated content to reflect the current program, and incorporated active links throughout and in the footnotes.
McNair Scholars Program Office Manual (2021)
Challenge
When I began as the office coordinator at GVSU for the McNair Scholars program, one of my very first tasks was to create an office manual that mirrored the TRIO SSS program’s office manual. The program was in the process of hiring a new director who would need an overview of the program to lead.
Solution
Staying consistent to branding, a 100 page guide to the McNair Scholars’ program was created. It outlined the progression of the program over the year, an introduction to its grant objectives and the annual progress reporting process, program philosophy and staff, the Summer Research Experience, and other scholarship components of the program.
Results
A working reference document that was highly useful during the on-boarding of the newest McNair director and during the grant writing process for the program.