Priorities:Tennessee Technological University Student Priorities

2016-06-02T03:33:44Z

Jackiemschulz:

= '''OUR VISION''' =

== '''INNOVATION: THE STANDARD, NOT THE EXCEPTION''' ==

As the Spring 2016 UIF leadership circle for Tennessee Technological University, we hope to increase and expand innovative and entrepreneurial mindsets across campus. In 5 to 10 years we want to come back to see engineers working with artists, chemists creating alongside social scientists, and business professionals collaborating with human ecologists. We hope to see greater and stronger student-faculty relationships, students pursuing their innovative ideas from day 1 of freshman year, and a greater use of campus and regional resources to help students and faculty bring their ambitions to life. Above all, we hope to see innovative thinking become the standard, not the exception.

= '''STUDENT PRIORITY #1: ASHLIN WILDUN''' =

== '''SPECIALIZED POP-UPS TO INCREASE MAKERSPACE USE OUTSIDE OF BUSINESS AND ENGINEERING''' ==

With the addition of the iCube and iMakerspace to Tennessee Technological University's campus, a key resource for innovation and entrepreneurship is available for all students to utilize. The iCube hosts a virtual reality lab, brainstorming area and classroom, and an iMakerspace loaded with machines like 3-D printers and lab space. Currently, the space is primarily used by engineering students, as well as a small proportion of business students. To introduce students of all majors to entrepreneurship and innovation both on campus and within this new resource, specialized pop-ups should be held which represent the interests of various underrepresented majors in the iCube. For example, a pop-up class which showed wildlife and fisheries students how to 3-D print fish hooks would bring students of other majors into the space and increase exposure to interdisciplinary work with engineering students. Specialized pop-up classes will be open to all students, increasing the likelihood of involving more majors in the iCube and iMakerspace. 

In order to identify these unique topics of interest, various surveys will be sent out to students' emails requesting ideas and ranking those ideas based on interest. The success of this strategic priority requires the formation of a strong partnership between the faculty/staff of the iCube & iMakerspace and students. In the beginning stages, specialized pop-ups can be hosted by faculty members across campus with the eventual introduction of student-facilitated pop-ups. 

Materials for the pop-ups will form the bulk of required funding for this strategic priority. Meetings with the stakeholders within each college will be held to identify funding sources for material costs. A pop-up funding grant would be a wonderful future addition to this initiative.

Everyone has a need for innovation in their degree, and these specialized pop-ups are a way to introduce more students to invaluable resources on campus.

= STUDENT PRIORITY #2: JACQUELINE SCHULZ =

== '''INTERDISCIPLINARY COLLABORATION & LONG-TERM AVENUES FOR I&E PURSUIT''' ==

=== AVAILABLE RESOURCES ===

Research completed regarding the I&E ecosystem at Tennessee Technological University uncovered a large base of I&E-capable student organizations (40+) with an overwhelming lack of courses either based on or integrating I&E principles into the curriculum (~9 + Senior capstone projects). Courses containing these concepts are clustered within the engineering and business disciplines, with few outliers among other majors such as agriculture and nursing.

One such course, involving students from nursing and chemical engineering (open to biomolecular concentration as well as general chemical engineering students), is called [https://www.tntech.edu/news/releases/nursing,-engineering-students-collaborate-on-health-care-problems Clinical Immersion at Disciplinary Interfaces] and was piloted during the Fall 2015 Semester. This course teaches students to apply field experience/observation and personal interviews to a process very similar to the design thinking process called the [http://eecs.vanderbilt.edu/courses/ee235/STAR_Legacy_model.htm Legacy Cycle]. Students then use this creative process to generate innovative solutions to problems noted during clinical experiences in the hospital and/or identified by health care workers (mostly staff nurses). One solution presented at the end of the course included plans and theoretical proof of concept for a non-lead radiation-shielding sterile drape which would be reusable, sterilizable, light-weight, and flexible.

=== AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT ===

Though Clinical Immersion at Disciplinary Interfaces is an interdisciplinary course focused on a process similar to design thinking, there are a few improvements which would make the experience more effective:

#'''Increase time period''': One semester proved too short for any of the four Fall 2015 groups to fully develop a prototype or MVP (minimum viable product).
#'''Increase interdisciplinary aspect''': The course only includes students from nursing and chemical engineering disciplines, leaving large knowledge deficits when developing business plans and/or other aspects of prototype development which cannot be solely applied to chemical engineering and/or nursing.
#'''Greater introduction to available resources''': While a brief introduction to the resources available for prototyping on campus was provided (specifically, the iMakerspace within the iCube), no in-depth instruction occurred on the use of these resources due to time constraints for the students of Fall 2015.

=== PROPOSED SOLUTION ===

In order to remedy the areas for improvement outlined above, a long-term 3 year program has been proposed for participation of students from every major offered through Tech (not all will be represented, but all will be eligible). This program will offer extensive exposure to I&E concepts and interdisciplinary collaboration while promoting the use of available resources for student innovative and entrepreneurial ventures. Divided into yearly cohorts, the program will give students the opportunity to form long-term interdisciplinary relationships for collaboration in solution development to problems found in the surrounding area and/or on mission trips to more distant locations.

#'''First year cohorts will focus on learning the design thinking process, the business model canvas, and other vital resources which facilitate innovation and entrepreneurship from concept generation to production & sales'''. The program will integrate into the curriculum critical & creative thinking exercises challenging students to apply these concepts to the world around them.
#'''Second year cohorts will be assigned projects for solution development and execution'''. Students will focus on design thinking solutions to the assigned problem, developing prototypes/minimum viable products (MVPs) from data collected through research, and working to bring the solution to production using resources available on campus and in the regional I&E ecosystem.
#'''Third year cohorts will self-identify problems and develop design solutions with the end goal of achieving student licensure of the product, venture start-up status, and/or commercialization of the product by an outside entity'''. As the capstone of the program, this project will challenge students to work together effectively while pooling knowledge not only from the previous two years in the program, but also knowledge gained within each student's respective discipline.

=== STRATEGIES FOR EXECUTION ===

#'''iCube partnership (Spring 2016)''': In order to establish increased program credibility, developing a close partnership with the directors and administrators of the iCube is essential to gaining the support of individual college deans and department heads. Partnership with the iCube also provides the program with a home-base and increased access to resources required for prototyping and design development.
#'''Teaser course/workshop (Spring 2016)''': Further research of student interest and attitudes toward I&E and a program of this type is required before development can truly begin. Holding a teaser design thinking workshop for students within UNIV 1010 Freshman Connections courses will give students a taste of the concepts to be taught within the program and provide an opportunity for gauging student interest in I&E and interdisciplinary collaboration.
#'''Gain support of colleges and departments (Spring & Summer 2016)''': Support from the individual colleges and departments on campus would aid in pushing the program through various curriculum committees and also help to promote the program and I&E to faculty and students across campus.
#'''Spark interest early''': Targeting students during freshman year is a tactic universities deploy across the country to increase student discovery of I&E and promote its continued pursuit. If we can teach students to look for the I&E opportunities around them in their UNIV 1010 Freshman Connections course (see Strategic Priority #3) the proposed program will provide a guided opportunity to pursue these ideas long-term.

= STUDENT PRIORITY #3: NICK RUSSELL =

== '''FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE UNIVERSITY CONNECTIONS 'DESIGN THINKING COLLEGE' COURSE''' ==

Through our investigation of the I&E ecosystem on our campus, a dichotomy began to emerge in which I saw a divergence between those who viewed the design thinking process as valuable in itself and those who viewed it as a means to developing technology. Tennessee Tech has done an admirable job  building out the infrastructure which could support creating technology or a company, but has room to grow in terms of developing an I&E culture.

Design thinking as a methodology has value when applied to a person’s life, college experience, or career. I&E can provide value to every Tech student regardless of what they do after graduation. My goal is to blend I&E into the freshman curriculum through the University Connections class. I want every freshman to begin his/her time at Tech with an I&E boot camp.

I will run a pilot “Design Thinking College” course. The class will meet in the maker space and feature key I&E faculty and leadership as guest speakers and lecturers. The class will involve a hands on I&E project from day one and will conclude with an idea pitch competition. This class aims to introduce students to the I&E framework so early in their college careers it becomes their default, and they can engage in the community and culture we are trying to build at Tennessee Tech. 

= SPRING 2016 PROJECT PITCH VIDEO =



{{#Widget:Youtube|id=EHPJE27N3Gc}}

= SPRING 2015 PRIORITIES =

Tennessee Tech has the potential to become a top school for innovation. Its campus is filled with students who care about and want to solve real problems. It's also filled with a faculty that is doing a variety of research, some faculty members are even taking their research to market. Below are some goals that should be implemented in order to take Tennessee Tech to the next level in regard to innovation and entrepreneurship. It is split up into three main tasks that are then subdivided. The previous tasks of TTU's Spring of 2014 Fellow have been successful but are still being completed. Enis was able to start an entrepreneurship society on campus that has gained members and recognition across all disciplines and colleges on campus. The Maker Space that was supposed to be completed by Fall of 2014 is still under construction but will hopefully be completed by the end of the Spring of 2015 semester.

= STUDENT PRIORITY #1: =

== '''MORE CO-CURRICULAR OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO SPREAD INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP''' ==

Description: This would allow students to focus on the fourteen grand global challenges presented by the NAE and develop their own solutions to these challenges as they are receiving their education from the university. Now that the student body is being educated about innovation and entrepreneurship, it is time to focus on the freshman students as well as the incoming freshman of classes to come. I feel this can be achieved by starting a chapter of the NAE: Grand Challenge Scholars Program.

=== MILESTONES ===

#Ask university faculty for their support to gain traction. The university will need to define its requirements for students that will participate in this program.
#Once the university has defined its goal for the program it should educate its student body on the required curriculum that the university has outlined to complete the program. Completing steps one and two may take anywhere from a few weeks to a month. 
#After defining a set curriculum the university must now find a way to draw students to participate in the program. Students will first need to know of the program and see what the benefits of participating in the program will be. This could also take about a month to complete. 
#Send the defined curriculum to the NAE for review and approval. This should take about six weeks. During this time students should be spreading the word of the program to all colleges on campus and meeting to discuss what focus area they wish to participate in. 
#Once approved, the university needs to utilize spaces on campus that promote innovation and entrepreneurship such as the IDLI Maker Space and the College of Business’ Media Center. Educating freshman and other new students of the location of these areas is paramount. New students will most likely not go there if they are not first informed of the opportunities set up for them there. This will go along with the promotion of the program. 
#Start the program on campus. The university should document and promote the inaugural scholars in the program. Their successes will draw other students to the program and help it gain traction across all colleges and disciplines on campus. 

This whole process should take about three to four months. Hopefully, this task will be completed by Fall of 2015. 

= STUDENT PRIORITY #2: =

== '''DEVELOPMENT OF STUDENT LEAD INTERDISCIPLINARY THINK TANK''' ==

The second task is to create an interdisciplinary student think tank. The purpose of this group would be to capitalize on the members’ combined expertise, consistent with the design-thinking model, and to utilize their knowledge in innovation and entrepreneurship through consulting, ideating, and analyzing in various projects for Tennessee Technological University and local businesses in the upper Cumberland region.

=== TACTICS ===

#<div>Faculty Awareness. The first tactic will be to create faculty awareness, starting with the Entrepreneurship Task Force within the college of business. The CoB has already shown considerable interest in the idea of a student lead consult group. Some faculty members have already begun to help in the developmental stage of this project. After gaining the support of the CoB the goal is to take the idea campus wide and in an attempt to get other colleges across campus involved. Timeframe: Spring 2015: 2-3 months</div>
#<div>Student Awareness. The Second tactic is to create general awareness for I&E by capitalizing on many of the resources that already exist on campus. The Small Business Development Center hosts seminars and other various events that teach students many of the basic elements of entrepreneurship.  The University also has credited course in entrepreneurship that help aid in students’ discovery of I&E. The objective is to further utilize these seminars and course offerings to reach beyond the colleges of engineering and business and involve the entire campus in innovation and Entrepreneurship. Timeframe: Fall of 2015.</div>
#<div>Focusing In. The third tactic will be to reach to the student body (specifically those who have taken advantage of the I&E opportunities mentioned in tactic 2) to attract and excite them to the possibilities of a student lead think tank. Timeframe: Fall 2014</div>
#<div>Credibility. The fourth tactic will be to establish credibility with the University through the successes of tactics 1-3. Timeframe: Fall 2015</div>
#<div>University Support. The fifth tactic will be to gain the support of the university. The current objective is to work with the school on providing funds for the program or offering scholarships for students who are accepted into the student think tank. Timeframe: Spring 2016</div>
#<div>Implementation of Student Think Tank. The sixth tactic is the implement the student think tank. With backing from the university the student think tank would be launched as a viable program. The first members would be the three TTU University Innovation Fellows and any other exceptional students who have proved to be Innovative and Entrepreneurial (tactics 2 and 3). Student members in this think tank would begin working with Tennessee Tech University and surrounding businesses. This program would reach 100s of students while benefitting the school and surrounding community. It would provide an opportunity, for members of the think tank, to gain unmatched (by other near by universities) experience and knowledge in innovation and entrepreneurship. While simultaneously stimulating the I&E ecosystem of TTU. Timeframe: Fall 2016</div>

= STUDENT PRIORITY #3: =

== '''MAKE THE STUDENT BODY MORE INTERESTED IN I&E THROUGH ORGANIZATIONS, CLUBS, & COURSES''' ==

=== '''TACTICS''' ===

#The first step is gathering the students together. This will be done by creating an organization or club that will serve as a place for innovative people to meet and discuss. This will be what brings everyone together to work on the same goal. It will also serve to create an atmosphere of entrepreneurship so that students will have a place where they can talk about their ideas and find people to join their teams.
#The next step is to make the students stick around by making it valuable. This will be done by hosting more events and speakers. Things like Tedx can really inspire the students in ways that just bringing them together in the same room can't. With more experiences like this, students will decide to take a bigger part in the organization and be more inspired as well.
#The next step is to give the students more personal skills in I&E. This will make the picture clearer and give them a better understanding of what I&E is. We will host workshops that give students the skills they need to go from having an idea to making it a reality.
#The next tactic needs to focus more on giving students the ability to pursue I&E. Once they are interested, this will give them the opportunity to really go after it.
#The fifth tactic will be to create more classes that focus on I&E. This will eventually lead to an I&E concentration, something like a minor. We are already offering a brand new class this summer that will put students in teams and offer them the chance to learn about designing a product for a market. As more classes like this are integrated into the curriculum, I hope to be the first student to graduate with a Chemical Engineering degree with a minor in I&E.
#The next step is to introduce students to the Biz Foundry on campus. This is a local accelerator and is a great place for people to go if they have a business idea or if they just need business advice. Not many people on campus know about this place, so it will be an important project to get the word out so student can take advantage of the opportunity.
#The final step is to create a maker space. Something similar to the d.school we visited at Stanford. Students need a place to go and work on their ideas, ideally while surrounded by students who are doing the same. We are breaking ground this summer, and the faculty has stated that we should have this space constructed by Fall Semester 2014. This will be a room filled with materials, 3D printers, and high-end software that any student can use. 

= SPRING 2015 PROJECT PITCH VIDEO =

{{#Widget:Youtube|id=vG_HsA-eXbI}}

= RELATED LINKS =

= Related Links =
= Related Links =

[[Tennessee Technological University]]

'''Tennesse Technological University Student Priorities'''

University Innovation Fellows

Spring 2016:

[[Nicholas Russell|Nicholas Russell]]

[[Jacqueline Schulz|Jacqueline Schulz]]

[[Ashlin Wildun|Ashlin Wildun]]

Spring 2015:

[[Jonathan Abbotoy|Jonathan Abbotoy]]

[[Abigail Collins|Abigail Collins]]

Spring 2014:

[[Enis Cirak|Enis Cirak]]
<div> </div>
[[Category:Student Priorities|t]]

School:Tennessee Technological University

2016-04-19T01:41:42Z

Jackiemschulz:

[[File:Ttech.jpg|center|Ttech.jpg]]

= Student Innovation & Entrepreneurship =
<div>
Tennessee Technological University is an upbeat campus populated with students who work to make a positive impact on their world daily. Numerous on-campus resources exist for students interested in innovation and entrepreneurship, and these resources offer services and access to students from disciplines across the campus.
[[File:Icubelogo.png|border|Icubelogo.png]]
Venues available for I&E oriented student interaction include the business and engineering living-learning villages, 20+ student organizations fostering I&E mindsets, and the [http://www.ttuicube.com/ iCube] & iMakerspace where students and faculty imagine, inspire, and innovate. Located on the 3rd floor of the Volpe library, the 6,000 square foot iCube and iMakerspace facility provides students and faculty with access to virtual reality and immersive experience technologies (Oculus Rift and Vis-Box), 3-D printers, and shop tools for innovative design and prototyping. These spaces truly enable all Tech students to bring their dreams to life through hands-on design, experimentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

This innovative campus spirit is strengthened within the business and engineering curricula through courses focusing on real world applications. These courses, including CHE 4410 Process Design, CHE 4661 Transport in Biochemical and Biological Processes, and BMGT 4930 Business Strategy, show students how to work with theoretical design models and develop economic & marketing strategies for their ventures. MKT 4900 provides students interested in I&E with the opportunity to participate in innovative activities through experiential learning as taught by local entrepreneurs. Additionally, this course prepares students for the campus wide Eagle Works business pitch competition held every spring.

The newest I&E course piloted Fall 2015, [https://www.tntech.edu/news/releases/nursing,-engineering-students-collaborate-on-health-care-problems Clinical Immersion at Disciplinary Interfaces], synergizes the minds of nursing and chemical engineering students to develop solutions for health care innovation. Over the semester, students explore the local hospital and interview health care providers to identify problems and develop solutions which fit the needs expressed through these experiences. At the end of the course, each team composed of nursing and chemical engineering students present their projects and prototypes to a panel of faculty and I&E professionals from the community.

Interest is also found at events like [http://tedxnashville.com/ Tedx Nashville] and E-Week. Tedx Nashville is a yearly event recently supported by the Dean’s Office, which promotes student attendance by purchasing student tickets. E-week is a national event in which many universities participate. During the event, various engineering majors are brought together and pitted against each other in competitions.Even if you are not a business or engineering major, there is still plenty to take part in, such as the recent Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum where speakers from the NSF gave talks to faculty and students regarding I&E.

UPDATE 4/18/2016: The Tennessee Board of Regents just recently approved an [https://www.tntech.edu/certificates/innovation-and-entrepreneurship-certificate I&E certificate] to be completed in conjunction with any undergraduate bachelors degree. We are so excited this opportunity has been approved for our students and cannot wait to award these certificates!
</div>

= Faculty Innovation & Entrepreneurship =

The teaching faculty at Tech is extremely involved with real world innovation. Many professors currently perform research which they plan to develop into a product in the future, and others have already started companies through their research.

Along with this environment of start-ups, there is a movement forming which promotes innovation directly. With the help of VentureWell, faculty members attended a workshop in February 2014 where they received training similar to that which the University Innovation Fellows receive.

This same group of faculty also promotes the creation of a new major on campus. This pathway of study would combine aspects of the business and engineering curricula to create an area of study for students interested in entrepreneurship specifically.
<div> </div>

= University Technology Transfer Function =

[[File:B91dac80f646800607646be6416b5e1c.png|frame]]
<div>
The [http://www.thebizfoundry.org/ Biz Foundry] is a local business accelerator in Upper Cumberland Tennessee, partnered with [http://launchtn.org/ Launch Tennessee]. The organization focuses on building a startup community which nurtures local talent, innovation, and entrepreneurs in order to create a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. The accelerator program pairs startups with mentors and investors to aid with business model development.

The Biz Foundry, located across the street from campus, is a place for students and faculty to ask questions related to start-up ventures. To aid in these start-up ventures, the Biz Foundry holds 24 Hour Launch events for students to bring their ideas to the next level of development.

Tech also houses a [https://www.tsbdc.org/ Small Business Development Center] for students regional entrepreneurs seeking improve on their innovative ideas. The center provides local business internships to students and host business seminars covering a wide range of topics dealing with innovation and entrepreneurship.
<div> </div></div>

= University-Industry Collaboration =

With the aid of grants, such as the [http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/i-corps/index.jsp National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps] (I-CorpsTM), the amount of research on Tech's campus is expected to grow significantly over the next few years. More and more faculty are partnering with industry to turn their research into marketable products.

Thanks to these grants, the iCube and iMakerspace, and help from external organizations like the Biz Foundry, local businesses from the near-by cities of Nashville and Knoxville now have a place to discuss the research happening at TN Tech.
<div> </div>

= Regional & Local Economic Development Efforts =

TN Tech is located in the small town of Cookeville, TN. The campus itself is one of the biggest aspects of the town and is subsequently a large contributor to the local economy. Besides the fact huge amounts of money come from students that buy things from the local businesses, there is also a lot of community service which takes place.Events like the Relay for Life bring in tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research every spring, and university and roadside clean-ups coordinated by Greek life organizations keep the city clean.

Due to Cookeville's location in the center of three of Tennessee's major cities (Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga), it is often a meeting ground for innovation. Much work is done between these four cities to bring businesses from across the country to the increasingly innovative state of Tennessee.

= Landscape Canvas =

Click [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18QcxC1oQ4HCPaqHy9nCkWtqF0y1hStNHjX6W1xgyZWI/edit#gid=0&nbsp here] to see an up-to-date version of Tennessee Tech University's Landscape Canvas

= Related Links =

Tennesse Technological University

[[Tennessee Technological University Student Priorities|Tennesse Technological University Student Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows

Spring 2016:

[[Nicholas Russell|Nicholas Russell]]

[[Jacqueline Schulz|Jacqueline Schulz]]

[[Ashlin Wildun|Ashlin Wildun]]

Spring 2015:

[[Jonathan Abbotoy|Jonathan Abbotoy]]

[[Abigail Collins|Abigail Collins]]

Spring 2014:

[[Enis Cirak|Enis Cirak]]

Other Related Links:

[http://thebizfoundry.org/ The Biz Foundry]

[http://www.ttuicube.com/ Tennessee Tech iCube]

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18QcxC1oQ4HCPaqHy9nCkWtqF0y1hStNHjX6W1xgyZWI/edit?usp=sharing 2016 Spring Landscape Canvas]

[[Category:Universities]]

School:Tennessee Technological University

2016-04-19T01:40:23Z

Jackiemschulz:

[[File:Ttech.jpg|center|Ttech.jpg]]

= Student Innovation & Entrepreneurship =
<div>
Tennessee Technological University is an upbeat campus populated with students who work to make a positive impact on their world daily. Numerous on-campus resources exist for students interested in innovation and entrepreneurship, and these resources offer services and access to students from disciplines across the campus.
[[File:Icubelogo.png|border|Icubelogo.png]]
Venues available for I&E oriented student interaction include the business and engineering living-learning villages, 20+ student organizations fostering I&E mindsets, and the [http://www.ttuicube.com/ iCube] & iMakerspace where students and faculty imagine, inspire, and innovate. Located on the 3rd floor of the Volpe library, the 6,000 square foot iCube and iMakerspace facility provides students and faculty with access to virtual reality and immersive experience technologies (Oculus Rift and Vis-Box), 3-D printers, and shop tools for innovative design and prototyping. These spaces truly enable all Tech students to bring their dreams to life through hands-on design, experimentation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

This innovative campus spirit is strengthened within the business and engineering curricula through courses focusing on real world applications. These courses, including CHE 4410 Process Design, CHE 4661 Transport in Biochemical and Biological Processes, and BMGT 4930 Business Strategy, show students how to work with theoretical design models and develop economic & marketing strategies for their ventures. MKT 4900 provides students interested in I&E with the opportunity to participate in innovative activities through experiential learning as taught by local entrepreneurs. Additionally, this course prepares students for the campus wide Eagle Works business pitch competition held every spring.

The newest I&E course piloted Fall 2015, [https://www.tntech.edu/news/releases/nursing,-engineering-students-collaborate-on-health-care-problems Clinical Immersion at Disciplinary Interfaces], synergizes the minds of nursing and chemical engineering students to develop solutions for health care innovation. Over the semester, students explore the local hospital and interview health care providers to identify problems and develop solutions which fit the needs expressed through these experiences. At the end of the course, each team composed of nursing and chemical engineering students present their projects and prototypes to a panel of faculty and I&E professionals from the community.

Interest is also found at events like [http://tedxnashville.com/ Tedx Nashville] and E-Week. Tedx Nashville is a yearly event recently supported by the Dean’s Office, which promotes student attendance by purchasing student tickets. E-week is a national event in which many universities participate. During the event, various engineering majors are brought together and pitted against each other in competitions.Even if you are not a business or engineering major, there is still plenty to take part in, such as the recent Research, Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum where speakers from the NSF gave talks to faculty and students regarding I&E.

UPDATE 4/18/2016: The Tennessee Board of Regents just recently approved an [https://www.tntech.edu/certificates/innovation-and-entrepreneurship-certificate I&E certificate] to be completed in conjunction with any undergraduate bachelors degree. We are so excited this opportunity has been approved for our students and cannot wait to award these certificates!
</div>

= Faculty Innovation & Entrepreneurship =

The teaching faculty at Tech is extremely involved with real world innovation. Many professors currently perform research which they plan to develop into a product in the future, and others have already started companies through their research.

Along with this environment of start-ups, there is a movement forming which promotes innovation directly. With the help of VentureWell, faculty members attended a workshop in February 2014 where they received training similar to that which the University Innovation Fellows receive.

This same group of faculty also promotes the creation of a new major on campus. This pathway of study would combine aspects of the business and engineering curricula to create an area of study for students interested in entrepreneurship specifically.
<div> </div>

= University Technology Transfer Function =

[[File:B91dac80f646800607646be6416b5e1c.png|frame]]
<div>
The [http://www.thebizfoundry.org/ Biz Foundry] is a local business accelerator in Upper Cumberland Tennessee, partnered with [http://launchtn.org/ Launch Tennessee]. The organization focuses on building a startup community which nurtures local talent, innovation, and entrepreneurs in order to create a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. The accelerator program pairs startups with mentors and investors to aid with business model development.

The Biz Foundry, located across the street from campus, is a place for students and faculty to ask questions related to start-up ventures. To aid in these start-up ventures, the Biz Foundry holds 24 Hour Launch events for students to bring their ideas to the next level of development.

Tech also houses a [https://www.tsbdc.org/ Small Business Development Center] for students regional entrepreneurs seeking improve on their innovative ideas. The center provides local business internships to students and host business seminars covering a wide range of topics dealing with innovation and entrepreneurship.
<div> </div></div>

= University-Industry Collaboration =

With the aid of grants, such as the [http://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/i-corps/index.jsp National Science Foundation's Innovation Corps] (I-CorpsTM), the amount of research on Tech's campus is expected to grow significantly over the next few years. More and more faculty are partnering with industry to turn their research into marketable products.

Thanks to these grants, the iCube and iMakerspace, and help from external organizations like the Biz Foundry, local businesses from the near-by cities of Nashville and Knoxville now have a place to discuss the research happening at TN Tech.
<div> </div>

= Regional & Local Economic Development Efforts =

TN Tech is located in the small town of Cookeville, TN. The campus itself is one of the biggest aspects of the town and is subsequently a large contributor to the local economy. Besides the fact huge amounts of money come from students that buy things from the local businesses, there is also a lot of community service which takes place.Events like the Relay for Life bring in tens of thousands of dollars for cancer research every spring, and university and roadside clean-ups coordinated by Greek life organizations keep the city clean.

Due to Cookeville's location in the center of three of Tennessee's major cities (Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga), it is often a meeting ground for innovation. Much work is done between these four cities to bring businesses from across the country to the increasingly innovative state of Tennessee.

= Landscape Canvas =

Click [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18QcxC1oQ4HCPaqHy9nCkWtqF0y1hStNHjX6W1xgyZWI/edit#gid=0&nbsp here] to see an up-to-date version of Tennessee Tech University's Landscape Canvas

= Related Links =

Tennesse Technological University

[[Tennessee Technological University Student Priorities|Tennesse Technological University Student Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows

Spring 2016:

[[Nicholas Russell|Nicholas Russell]]

[[Jacqueline Schulz|Jacqueline Schulz]]

[[Ashlin Wildun|Ashlin Wildun]]

Spring 2015:

[[Jonathan Abbotoy|Jonathan Abbotoy]]

[[Abigail Collins|Abigail Collins]]

Spring 2014:

[[Enis Cirak|Enis Cirak]]

Other Related Links:

[http://thebizfoundry.org/ The Biz Foundry]

[http://www.ttuicube.com/ Tennessee Tech iCube]

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18QcxC1oQ4HCPaqHy9nCkWtqF0y1hStNHjX6W1xgyZWI/edit?usp=sharing 2016 Spring Landscape Canvas]

[[Category:Universities]]