Barrett, The Honors College Thesis/Creative Project Collection
Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University proudly showcases the work of undergraduate honors students by sharing this collection exclusively with the ASU community.
Barrett accepts high performing, academically engaged undergraduate students and works with them in collaboration with all of the other academic units at Arizona State University. All Barrett students complete a thesis or creative project which is an opportunity to explore an intellectual interest and produce an original piece of scholarly research. The thesis or creative project is supervised and defended in front of a faculty committee. Students are able to engage with professors who are nationally recognized in their fields and committed to working with honors students. Completing a Barrett thesis or creative project is an opportunity for undergraduate honors students to contribute to the ASU academic community in a meaningful way.
This thesis aims to analyze the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) through the lens of Bolman and Deal's Four Frames. As a rapidly growing organization, a core component of ISKCONs rise has been due to their persistent support from the youth audience (under 30). However, recent statistics indicate that there has been a significant drop in youth attendance at the local ISKCON Arizona Chandler, with nearly 50% of young members leaving the organization. The focus of this paper will be on understanding the organizational theory behind the challenges faced by ISKCON Chandler in engaging its young members and attracting new ones. The paper will introduce ISKCON, its history, mission, and structure, highlighting the human resource, structural, political, and symbolic aspects of the organization. Then through the multi-frame approach and industry analysis, the paper will offer insights into the shortcomings (like the lack of proper structure, online presence, platform for youth representation, or presence in nearby youth communities) of ISKCON Chandler, which are causing the limited engagement of younger generations. Subsequently, the paper will propose solutions including creating a youth council board, creating collegiate club chapter connections, developing a more robust social media and online presence, and providing internship opportunities. By analyzing these shortcomings and providing solutions, this thesis aims to provide insights that can help the local ISKCON address its problems, engage its young members, and attract new ones, while remaining true to its core values and mission.