Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging recipient of Turner Center for Entrepreneurship Senior Capstone Project Spring 2026
Big News: Help Us Shape the Future of Graceland Center!
We are thrilled to announce that the Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging has been selected as a partner for the Bradley University Turner Center for Entrepreneurship Senior Consulting Project!
What is a Senior Consulting Project? From Bradley University’s website: https://theturnercenter.org/consult/
The Senior Consulting Project is one of the oldest continuously running student consulting projects in the nation. It was started in the early 1970s as the Small Business Institute (SBI) and was funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Though by the mid 1990’s the SBA no longer supported the SBI program, the SBI at Bradley University had become one of the largest in the country. The college agreed the experiential learning from the SBI was too impactful to eliminate the consulting projects. The SBA was renamed The Senior Consulting Project. These projects have received national attention from the Small Business Institute.
The consulting project is a 16-week class completed by a team of five or six students enrolled in their required Capstone Course. Depending on the class size, 12 to 15 projects can be completed each semester. There are two semesters each year. Project applications are submitted throughout the year and are reviewed on a rolling basis. Project selection is a two-stage process: The Consulting Project Committee provides an initial assessment of the projects to the business faculty; the approved applications are then presented to the business students, who make the final selection. Successfully chosen projects are a true collaboration between the student team and the client. In this regard, the committee gives greater consideration to projects that challenge the student teams to apply a range of program concepts and analytical frameworks. More meaningful projects also tend to include a primary data component in the form of a survey, series of interviews, or focus groups.
Students generally choose their clients during the second week of class. An Illinois SBDC staff member will contact the client. The client is required to attend a brief virtual “SCP Program Overview” before the students contact and meet their client. When the student team meets with their client, they develop the project scope. This process familiarizes the student team with the industry and current trends and practices occurring within it. Following the definition of the project scope, the students perform the industry or market assessment.
The consulting projects are provided at no cost to companies that meet the SBA definition of a small business (generally 500 employees or less).
Purpose of a Senior Consulting Project:
· To provide students with an authentic, real-world business problem, or opportunity for analysis and recommendations. This business consulting experience allows students to apply their skills and experience by identifying relevant issues, analyzing alternatives, and making recommendations.
· To support local businesses by offering the consulting services of a team of four to six talented students who combine their business experience with the lessons learned during their Bradley education. This assistance benefits companies by contributing to improved strategies and enhanced operational effectiveness.
Following are the Senior Consulting Project deliverables to the client:
· A thorough, professionally written report with detailed analyses and specific recommendations. The document will include a problem definition, substantial fact-based analysis, recommendations, and implementation suggestions.
· An oral presentation of the team’s findings to the client, including thorough discussion and any needed follow-up.
· At the end of the semester, the client will be asked to complete a Client Satisfaction Survey to assess the team’s work.
Graceland Center is very grateful to have been selected as a business qualifying for this Senior Capstone Project. We continue to grow in the number of participants and are gaining the interests of businesses, civic leaders, and other nonprofit organizations in the community as a vital resource for older adults. This data will enable us to garner further financial and community support for sustainability and continued growth!
Why Your Voice Matters
To build a center that fits your needs, the students are conducting a vital Market Survey. This isn’t just homework; the results will help us:
Identify the specific services you and your family want most.
Prove to funding sources that a dedicated senior center is essential for Peoria.
Develop a clear timeline for our growth and outreach.
Safe & Secure Participation
We know that digital privacy is a top priority. To ensure your data stays safe and to avoid any email-based scams, we are not sending this via a mass email link. Instead, you can securely access the survey right here:
https://bradley.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6fJen4OXJX3czAy
On behalf of the Bradley SCP students and the Graceland Center Board of Directors, THANK YOU for your help by completing this survey!