WED-074 - Applying the Generalized Planning Model: Engaging Students in Planning & Evaluating a Professional Networking Event
Wednesday, April 16, 2025
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM PST
Location: Pacific I/II, 2nd Floor
Area of Responsibility: Area II: Planning Subcompetencies: 2.4.1 Develop an implementation plan inclusive of logic model, work plan, responsible parties, timeline, marketing, and communication., 8.3.4 Build relationships with other professionals within and outside the profession. Research or Practice: Practice
Associate Professor of Public Health University of North Carolina Wilmington Wilmington, North Carolina, United States
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Describe how the generalized planning model was applied to collaboratively plan, implement, and evaluate a professional networking event for undergraduate public health students.
Apply the strategic process used to engage undergraduate public health students in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a professional networking event.
Describe each step in the generalized planning model.
Brief Abstract Summary: Learn how to apply the generalized planning model to engage undergraduate public health students in planning, implementing and evaluating a professional networking event. Professional networking opportunities are essential to prepare the future health education workforce. Furthermore, emerging health education specialists need real-world opportunities to practice planning, implementing, and evaluating events and programs, as these are critical skills needed for the workforce. To facilitate professional networking and skill development opportunities, UNCW undergraduate public health students enrolled in PBH 395 (Health Promotion Practice) were provided the opportunity to plan, implement, and evaluate a professional networking event for their class to engage with entry-level, mid-career, and seasoned public health and healthcare professionals across various settings. Hear from faculty about the strategic planning process, lessons learned, and recommendations for future implementation.
Detailed abstract description: Learn how to apply the Generalized Planning Model to engage undergraduate public health students in planning, implementing and evaluating a professional networking event.
Background: Professional networking opportunities are essential to prepare the future health education workforce. The National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (2020) delineates “building relationships with other professionals within and outside the profession” (8.3.4) as a sub-competency related to ethics and professionalism. Emerging health education specialists need real-world opportunities to practice planning, implementing, and evaluating events and programs, as these are critical skills needed for the workforce. To facilitate professional networking and skill development opportunities, UNCW undergraduate public health students enrolled in PBH 395 (Health Promotion Practice) were provided the opportunity to plan, implement, and evaluate a professional networking event for their class to engage with entry-level, mid-career, and seasoned public health professionals across various settings and disciplines. The aims of this semester-long project are to: 1. To increase students’ skills on how to successfully plan, implement, and evaluate a professional networking event. 2. To increase public health students’ professional networks in public health and other healthcare-related disciplines. The generalized planning model (GPM) was applied as a systematic framework for this project. In addition to event planning, students also worked with the course instructor to develop the process evaluation objectives and measures for the events. Evaluation Measures &
Results: We assessed the number of public health professionals and agencies who were invited to participate in the networking event, as well as student and professional attendance at the networking event. We implemented four face-to face-networking events between Fall 2022-Spring 2024 (one per semester). Approximately 90 public health professionals were invited to attend the events over the span of four semesters. To date, 62 undergraduate public health students and 54 public health professionals representing approximately 20 local, state, regional, and national agencies have participated in at least one of four professional networking events. Moving forward, we plan to collect process and impact evaluation data from students and professionals for quality improvement. Public health faculty members at other institutions may replicate this process to build students’ program planning and implementation skills and facilitate meaningful professional networking opportunities that ultimately strengthen our future public health workforce. Public health professionals may engage with area institutions to replicate this process with high school or college students as a method for workforce recruitment. Hear from faculty about the strategic planning process, lessons learned, and recommendations for future implementation.
