ABSTRACT: 2014 ELATE Institutional Action Project Poster Symposium
Project Title: Shifting the Lens: Changing the Presence of the Center for Human Performance and
Sensor Applications
Name and Institution: Kimberly D. Kendricks, Central State University
Collaborators: Dr. Subramania Sritharan, Dean, College of Science and Engineering; Dr. Xiaofang Wei,
Associate Professor of GIS/Remote Sensing; Dr. Ramani Kandiah, Associate Professor of Civil
Engineering, Central State University
Background, Challenge or Opportunity: The Center for Human Performance and Sensor Applications
(CHPSA) is one of eleven Academic Research Centers in Layered Sensing in the State of Ohio. It was
established in April 2011 through capital development dollars from the state to renovate existing
space on campus to house the CHPSA. Funding support is also provided by the Air Force Research
Laboratory and the National Science Foundation to support administrative and programmatic
activities in the Center. The goals of the CHPSA are 1) to conduct research in the areas of human
performance and sensor development, and applications leading to rapid prototyping technologies
critically needed by the Air Force, and 2) to train a diversified workforce in the advanced fields of
human effectiveness and sensor projects. The CHPSA accomplishes these goals through the following
activities: four founding research projects in the areas of gait analysis, motion searching and tracking,
and sensor technology development, a faculty mini-grants program, integration of research into STEM
courses, community outreach, educational agreements with neighboring institutions, industry
research partnerships, and the procurement of continued funding to support faculty/student
research and other activities in the Center.
Purpose/Objectives: The goal of this project is to transition faculty research and all CHPSA activities
from respective labs and offices in faculty departments to a permanent home in the CHPSA lab. In
doing so, we seek to increase the visibility and presence of the physical space (CHPSA lab), Center
research, and its faculty and students by implementing a focused marketing campaign that
reintroduces the campus community to the CHPSA.
Methods/Approach: To better understand the process for increasing the CHPSA’s presence on
campus, interviews of fellow Center Directors at neighboring institutions were conducted to learn
about each Center’s strategic plan to become established within the institution’s climate.
Interviews of senior faculty, unit directors, and upper administrators at Central State were also
conducted to discuss the campus climate and history of the institution’s culture. CHPSA staff are
working collaboratively with Central State’s Office of Public Relations to develop a four-step process
to market the CHPSA. Resources such as books and articles on communicating change, implicit
persuasion, and understanding campus climate were used to inform the approach with this project.
Outcomes and Evaluation: The impact of this project will be measured by attendance at CHPSA
events, evaluations taken at those events, the number of visits to the CHPSA website, a campus
survey to evaluate people’s perception of the CHPSA, and the number of faculty and students
engaged in CHPSA research activities.
Shifting the Lens: Changing the Perception of the
Center for Human Performance and Sensor Applications
Kimberly D. Kendricks, Central State University
Collaborators: Dr. Subramania Sritharan, Dean, College of Science and Engineering; Dr. Xiaofang Wei, Associate Professor of GIS/Remote Sensing;
Dr. Ramani Kandiah, Associate Professor of Civil Engineering,, Central State University (Dr. Yu Liang, Associate Professor of Computer Science,
University of Tennessee)
Background:
-Established in 2011
-CHPSA is 1 of 11 Ohio Academic Research
Centers in Layered Sensing
-CHPSA Mission
1. Conduct research in human
performance and sensor technologies
2. Train a diversified workforce
-CHPSA Activities
Research; Faculty Mini-Grants Program; Educational Agreements/Industry Partnerships;
Community Outreach
Purpose/Objectives:
-Change the CHPSA’s brand image
-Rebrand the CHPSA’s activities and
Methods
-Conduct Interviews of university directors and
Assessment:
-Attendance at the CHPSA events
administrators
-Evaluations at the CHPSA events
-Conduct interviews of Center Directors at
neighboring institutions
-Hits on the CHPSA website
-Work collaboratively with the Office of Public
Relations
-Faculty and student participation in the
CHPSA
-Develop a branding strategy that complements
the institution’s culture
Branding Strategy
1. Establish CHPSA brand identity
2. Increase communication
-Campus survey of individual perceptions
Next Steps:
-Execution of steps 1-4 (min. 12 months)
-Kick off: Dedication Ceremony of the
CHPSA lab
-CHPSA Research Symposium
3. Increase participation/representation
4. Establish consistent processes
Center, overall
-Transfer research activities from faculty
departments to the CHPSA lab
Presented at the 2014 ELATE Leaders Forum.