Priorities:Western New England University Strategic Priorities

Western New England University Strategic Priorities Pitch

Our universities always ask the best from us, pushing us to our limits, to the edge of our mental and physical boundaries... I say it is our turn to ask the same from them! Projects 1 and 5 are of highest priority and will be implemented immediately, whereas Projects 2-4 and 6 are task that will be ongoing and will supplement the success of Projects 1 and 2. All projects would benefit the school, but will have a better success rate if each are focused on individually. Once one or two programs launch and are successful then the group can move on to the other projects.  Spring 2017

Spring 2017

UIF Pitch Video

Spring 2016

Spring 2014
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Priorities

UIF 2018

Project One: Manufacturing Guide

Design an easily accessible guide to the manufacturing resources available on campus. This guide will be physically in the engineering building and online. In the guide, the method for getting a part fabricated will be outlined. Many students do not know the process for getting a part approved and fabricated.

MILESTONE	PROJECTED DATE
Determine resources available	October 2018
Collaborate with lab supervisor	October 2018- November 2018
Create guide	December 2018
Develop web version	January 2019
Publicize guide	February 2019 - April 2019
Develop maintenance plan	April 2019 - May 2019

 

 Project Two: Innovation studio for all the student body

Design an innovation that is easily accessible to the student body. Currently there are two innovation labs, one is on the third floor of the engineering building and the other is on the third floor of the library. The innovation lab on the third floor of the library is unknown to many students. The innovation lab in the engineering building is open to engineering student when it is staffed. The engineering lab is rarely used for personal projects and innovation. The goal is to relocate the lab while consolidating the two labs.

MILESTONE	PROJECTED DATE
Meet with previous UIF	October 2018
Feasibility study	October 2018 – November 2018
Consult with faculty, investors, deans, and the provost	November 2018
Plan new lab	December 2018 – January 2019
Secure funding	January 2019
Gather a team	February 2019 – March 2019

 

Project Three: Breakout classes to teach technical skills

 Improve student success by helping students to learn technical skills. This will be accomplished by holding break out classes. These classes will teach students basic skills like soldering, circuit debug, wiring, word and excel skills, review on programming, along with other useful training on machinery. Other classes teach you what to do with the machines, but they don't always teach you how to do them. These workshops will help underclassmen develop important skills that will be useful for upcoming programs

MILESTONE	PROJECTED DATE
Brainstorm important skills	November 2018
Train a team	November 2018 – December 2018
Schedule workshops	January 2019
Publicize workshops	January 2019
Host kickoff workshop	February 2019 - March 2019
Develop maintenance plan	March 2019 - May 2019

 

Project Four: Innovation outreach

Develop a program to foster innovation in children at a young age. Innovation and creativity are most unconstrained during young ages. The program would help young students solidify their interests in STEM and innovation. The program would consist of college students travelling to local school and local schools coming to the college. The mix between the college students going to the local schools and the schools coming to the college provide the ability to use the resources on campus to help foster innovation.

MILESTONE	PROJECTED DATE
Consult with education department	December 2018
Propose program to local schools	January 2019
Revise proposal	February 2019
Gather a team	February 2019-March 2019
Schedule meetings	March 2019 - April 2019
Host first outreach	April 2019
Develop partnerships	April 2019 - May 2019

 

Project 1: Creating workshops for students to gain the basic skills needed in engineering and business.

Description: In order for students to be successful, they need to develop the basic skills that will be useful in their careers at Western New England University and their future. This skills including wiring, soldering, word and excel skills, review on programming, along with other useful trainging on machinery. Classes teach you what to do with the machines, but they don't always teach you how to do them. These workshops will help underclassmen develop important skills that will be useful for up coming programs

MILESTONE	PROJECTED DATE
Develop a list of important tasks	February 2016
Fellows need to be trained in all of the task if they aren't already	February 2016
Set up times and dates for workshops	February 2016
Publicize Workshops	February - March 2016
First Workshop	March 2016
Review First Workshop and Change as needed	Late March-Early April 2016
Continue Workshops and finding out what other skills students what to learn outside of the classroom	April-May 2016

 

Project 2: Centralizing Innovation Lab

Description: Western New England University has two innovation labs, one is on the third floor of the engineering building and the other is on the third floor of the library. Most people do not know about the one in the library. The other innovation lab only the engineers use it when they are working on a project, they rarely use it to be creative or innovative. The goal is to relocate the lab and combine both aspects of the innovation labs in a centralized location. It would also be beneficial to have a makerspace cart in the new lab to make prototype

MILESTONE	PROJECTED DATE
Investigate the possibility of  creating a new innovation lab	September 2016
Investigate financial possibilities	October 2016
Consult with faculty, investors, deans, and the provost	November 2016
Work on getting a Makerspace Cart	November 2016
Developing a plan for both the cart and new lab	December 2016
Grant/funding search (1 grant)	December 2016
Starting to get more people involved and excited about the new lab	January 2016

 

Project 3: Innovation Youth Exploration Series (iYES)

Description: From personal experience, early intervention in the STEM fields at a young age is key to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. Innovation Youth Exploration Series (iYES) will implement a monthly visit to local grade schools to spread the joys of innovation to young children.

MILESTONE	PROJECTED DATE
Consult with school education department (education majors)	January 2017
Create a proposal for innovation series at local schools	February 2017
Revise proposal with Ellery White	February 2017
Distribute proposal to Education department for revising
Create monthly goals/activities	March 2017
Coordinate with student engagement to integrate program into their system	April 2017
Find volunteers to help facilitate activities	April - May 2017

 

Project 4: Focusing on Students Internships

Description: Employeers look for experience when hiring an intern, but the only way to get industry experience is to get hired by a company. WNEU needs to focus on helping students with no experience get an internship. This can be done by reaching out to alumni and along with using faculty connections. 

MILESTONE	PROJECTED DATE
Communicate with faculty and career development	March  2016
Draft proposal for internship program	April - May 2016
Revise draft with professors	May 2016
Reach out to Alumni and Professors with connections	May- September 2016
Propose an idea for the process of the internship program	October 2016
Trial of Internship program with participating students, faculty and alumni	December 2016 - February 2017

 

Project 5: Starting Western New England’s Center First Innovation Club

Description: Starting an Innovation Club would help successfully accomplish project 6 and make sure it is always growing. An innovation club would also create a bind between faculty and students excited about innovation. 

MILESTONE	PROJECTED DATE
Investigate how to create a club	February 2016
Investigate the members/entities needed to start the club along with finding a faculty advisor	February 2016
Begin networking and recruiting for the club	Febraury - March
First Meeting	March - April 2016
Brain storming and ideas for clubs	April 2016
First Project	April - May 2016

 

Project 6: Facilitate more monthly innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) activities

Description: The university is beginning to explore different avenues to have collaborated/interdisciplinary activities. One that exists is called the Innovation Challenges, which involve random challenges that are only revealed the day of the event. Using this base, other activities, such as Ignite presentations, think-a-thons, 3D start-up etc. will be explored to create more monthly activities.

MILESTONE	PROJECTED DATE
Evaluate strategic resources spreadsheet assignment while also talking to faculty	February - March 2016
Draft proposal of monthly I&E activities	March 2016
Revise proposal with UIF mentor	April  2016
Collaborate with key student organizations and faculty	April 2016
Start planning events	April 2016
Review the first session and make adjustments as necessary	May 2016

UIF 2016 Goals

Lack of Space

Currently, the space available is too crowded for the amount of students on campus. The space we are planning will be available to everyone on campus and have enough room. There will also be whiteboard and prototyping carts in the space to encourage creativity. Area will open up in our current Campus Center to build this innovation space.

Milestone	Projected Date
Create Presentation	September 2016
Connect with Deans and professors from every school	November 2016
Present to the Dean of Engineering	November 2016
Present to Provost	February 2017
Obtain approval from Provost and Board of Trustees	February 2017
Finalize plans for the space	March 2017
Create vonlunteer team	March 2017
Build/Buy materials and furniture	April 2017
Select speakers for future presentation	May 2017
Area becomes available in the Campus Center	October 2017
Build Innovation Space	November 2017

Internships

We had the idea to use the existing Alumni Mentoring Program within the College of Engineering to help aid students trying to find internships. Bringing in alumni for events other than in fall of freshman year can allow students to maintain a connection with their mentor and possibly gain an internship. The connections can help ease the process and make obtaining an internship less daunting.

Milestone	Projected Date
Meet with Alumni Association	February 2017
Contact Engineering Dean's Office	February 2017
Survey Organizations for contacts	February 2017
Create Master List of Alumni	March 2017
Send Invitation for Spring Alumni Dinner	March 2017
Setup Mentoring Program and Establish Possible Pairings	April 2017
Establish Engineering Job/ Internship Fair	April 2017
Contact Master List for Fall Dinner	September 2017
Hold Fall Dinner	October 2017
Setup Mentoring Program and Establish Possible Pairings	November 2017

I&E

Institute an I&E class in which students of any major can enroll in. Students will be sent out in the field to gather for information about a problem. Once they come back to the classroom setting, they will work together to solve the problem by creating a prototype.

Milestone	Projected Date
Discuss with falculty, receive feedback	February 2017
Use feedback to improve general idea	February 2017
Create presentation	March 2017
Present to falculty, receive more feedback	End of March 2017
Finalize Idea, alter presentation	April 2017
Contact Administration and Board of Trustees to plan meeting	April 2017
Meeting with Administration and Board of Trustees	Early May 2017
Make needed improvements	Summer 2017
Go back to Adminitration and Board of Trustees	End of September 2017
Select falculty	November 2017
Obtain approval	January 2018

Related Links

Landscape Canvas

Campus Overview

Strategic Priorities

University Innovation Fellows:

2018

Tyler_thomas

2017

Caroline Best

Samantha Peterson

Isabelle Rivas

2016

Kathryn Jordan

Jonathan Young

Ben Kennedy 2014

Jhonatan Nagasako</div>