And the money stopped rolling in...

The lack of proper planning and organization at the onset of UCCPS' initiatives almost three years ago is now rearing its ugly head, putting Tufts in a rather skeptical light in the eyes of some of our most valuable benefactors. UCCPS had no strategic plan or standardized guidelines for its programs when it first took shape in the spring of 2000 _ a mistake that has been addressed but could greatly jeopardize the well-being of the program's future _ and the robustness of future donations.

What should have happened was careful study and research leading up to the kick-off of the organization's initiatives _ the kind of planning that other schools such as Stanford and its Haas Center for Public Service undertook before starting its new programs over two decades ago.

Currently, despite efforts to reform programs such as Omidyar Scholars by instilling stricter and clearer guidelines, most students, and arguably even Omidyar scholars themselves, aren't entirely clear as to what the program entails, what is expected of them, and what the end fruits of their labor should be.

Now, the Omidyar Foundation is asking UCCPS to show something for its investments in the program. Due to poor organization, the product isn't so impressive _ though the ideas being bounced around UCCPS are great. In the future, UCCPS must conduct the necessary research and organize itself properly before taking on and creating new programs. Such an organization, funded by such valuable resources, is indeed an ideal opportunity for Tufts students and the entire Tufts community to grow and give back to society. It is a shame when its creative initiatives lose credibility _ and quite possibly the trust of its benefactors _ due predominantly to a lack of detailed planning and organization.

In addition to its Omidyar Scholars program, some of UCCPS' other initiatives seem slightly misplaced, or at least under-publicized. The faculty fellows program, for example, is something that few on the Tufts campus know about. Given the lack of awareness of such initiatives, combined with the semi-founded stigma that Omidyar scholars receive money and can do with it what they so desire, it would not be surprising if the Omidyar Foundation was raising its eyebrows.

If UCCPS doesn't work fast to reform some of its current operations, we may very well find that money and a reputation we can't afford to lose will spiral down the drain. More than that, the situation has the potential to discourage future large donations to Tufts if alumni are worried about the proper use of their money.