Fellow:Sanuja Goonetilleke

2016-02-19T13:24:08Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

Sanuja Goonetilleke majors in Flute Performance and minors in Social Entrepreneurship and English at Converse College, a women's liberal arts college in South Carolina. She has won national flute competitions in Sri Lanka as well as at Converse, and performed at the Saarbug Music Festival in 2015. This summer, Sanuja organized a chamber recital and donated proceeds to education and health nonprofits. At Converse, Sanuja wears many hats in addition to music. She has served as the Chair of the Interfaith Council, and is involved with the campus newspaper. She has worked for a music non-profit, interned at a finance company and a publishing house, and helped direct a school orchestra in hopes of narrowing down her career path. Now, she has happily accepted the notion that it is indeed possible to be a flutist with diverse interests in colorful world. You can call her Saa-nu.[[File:10915213 858372640850878 6744751257024553962 n.jpg|thumb|center|10915213 858372640850878 6744751257024553962 n.jpg]][https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanujagoonetilleke https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanujagoonetilleke]

[[Category:Student Contributors|s]] [[Category:Http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Converse College|s]] [[Category:Http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Converse College Student Priorities|s]]

[[Category: |s]][https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0cd6s6FWAI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0cd6s6FWAI]

Fellow:Sanuja Goonetilleke

2016-02-19T04:26:08Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

Sanuja Goonetilleke majors in Flute Performance and minors in Social Entrepreneurship and English at Converse College, a women's liberal arts college in South Carolina. She has won national flute competitions in Sri Lanka as well as at Converse, and performed at the Saarbug Music Festival in 2015. This summer, Sanuja organized a chamber recital and donated proceeds to education and health nonprofits. At Converse, Sanuja wears many hats in addition to music. She has served as the Chair of the Interfaith Council, and is involved with the campus newspaper. She has worked for a music non-profit, interned at a finance company and a publishing house, and helped direct a school orchestra in hopes of narrowing down her career path. Now, she has happily accepted the notion that it is indeed possible to be a flutist with diverse interests in colorful world. You can call her Saa-nu.[[File:10915213 858372640850878 6744751257024553962 n.jpg|thumb|center]][https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanujagoonetilleke https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanujagoonetilleke]
[[Category:Student Contributors|s]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Converse_College [[Category:http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Converse_College|s]]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Converse_College_Student_Priorities#OVERVIEW [[Category:http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Converse_College_Student_Priorities#OVERVIEW|s]]]

School:Converse College

2016-02-19T04:10:43Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

[[File:20081203 CON-logo1 type.jpg|right|20081203 CON-logo1 type.jpg]]

= Converse College] =

[[File:970312 624336567587821 953896863 n.jpg|center|970312 624336567587821 953896863 n.jpg]]

Converse College is an all-women’s liberal arts college in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Founded in 1889, Converse College continues to adhere to its founder's ideals, seeking to inspire "voice, value, and vision" in its students. It has received press in past years for lowering its tuition by 43 percent. In 2014, it ranked 23rd among Regional University South’s college rankings.

At the end of the 2014/2015 academic year, Converse initiated many progressive changes to its curriculum and culture under the umbrella "LEAD" Action Plan. The LEAD Plan (Learning, Enrollment, Access, and Activation) at Converse College includes the addition of programs, certificates, and centers in a variety of disciplines, an experiential learning graduation requirement for all majors, and the "Creativity that Works" plan in the School of the Arts. Converse College also has a strong presence in the Spartanburg community for service and service learning. This January, Converse had the highest participation rate in Spartanburg, SC, for students actively involved in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

== '''Promoting student innovation and entrepreneurship''' ==

For what Converse lacks in engineering and technology programs and resources, it makes up with student passion and initiative. Students are encouraged by faculty, staff, and campus leaders to participate in innovative activities, provide solutions for campus-wide problems, and create programs or organizations to tackle them. There is no formalized problem solving or venture creation process, but some channels students can access when looking to implement solutions or open dialogue are the individual academic departments, the Center for Professional Development, the Office of Student Life, the Center for Leadership and Service, the President's Office, and the Student Government Association (SGA).

A significant portion of the student body is actively involved in the SGA. Converse College Radio, a new venture this year, has been notably entrepreneurial from its inception. At present, there is no SGA organization that caters to the specifically entrepreneurial needs of the students. 

The college and its faculty and staff encourage student innovation and entrepreneurship through the Creative Collaborative Grant program and SCICU grant applications. Aspects of the new LEAD Action Plan are already being implemented. The School of the Arts is in its first year of conducting courses that specifically link innovation and creative entrepreneurship with arts disciplines for freshmen and sophomores. Eventually, the entire campus academic system will follow this lead. 

== '''Encouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship''' ==

Faculty members are encouraged to engage in innovative teaching methods, including addressing typical subject matters in out of the box ways. This includes everything from teaching economics through Harry Potter, team-teaching interdisciplinary study travel courses around the world, hosting guest speakers and entrepreneurs for class sessions, and conducting field trips to spaces like The Iron Yard. Some have founded their own social enterprises and businesses. Beyond these, however, Converse faculty members are not prominently involved in entrepreneurship culture. 

The Center for Professional Development at Converse strives to provide students with the very best resources from Career Peer mentoring, various free workshops, and for-credit courses aimed at students who want to discover their potential and make things happen. 

Still, there is no formalized, established system through which teachers and faculty members are spurred to pursue entrepreneurship and innovation in and outside the classroom. Innovation is pursued on a personal basis, and is a direct response to students clamoring for better options.

== '''Actively supporting the university technology transfer function''' ==

Converse currently has no formalized function to support student ventures on campus. Students looking for venture support should look to outside sources of information, like the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation, communicating their need and vision to various donors, partnering with local businesses like The Iron Yard, or with like-minded students on campus to start an initiative for a project or business idea. Support is available through many sources, but the majority of students do not seek it. 

== '''Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration''' ==

Converse currently has no formalized partnerships with companies or groups in the space of I&E. However, individual students have gone on to work with local incubators, labs, art studios, and so on. The fruits of these individual partnerships have not resulted in permanent relationships with the insitution. Converse would fare well to more succinctly create and maintain these partnerships, so that interested students will have pipelines to follow once they are interested. 

== '''Engaging with Regional and Local Development Efforts''' ==

As an Algernon Sydney Sullivan school, Converse has a longstanding tradition of service to others. In recent years, this focus has continued to develop to an academic and experiential focus on social entrepreneurship.  A select number of courses are dedicated to Social Entrepreneurship’s applications in the surrounding community and worldwide. Particularly interested individuals can choose to attend the Sullivan Social Enterprise retreat in the fall or spring sessions. Converse has also sent a team to the foundation’s social venture competition. Converse continues to increase its Social entrepreneurship offerings, from courses and seminars to exploratory learning trips.

There is a strong need for concretized partnerships between Converse and its neighboring colleges (Wofford, USC etc.) as well as Spartanburg area businesses. Because of Converse's long standing commitment to service, there is much that could be done between college-community partnerships that could aid the development of Spartanburg as a whole. 

== '''Future''' ==

In 2014, Converse funded its first university Innovation Fellow, Nadia Gathers. Funding this program has put Converse’s dedication to constant growth and institution-wide innovation at the forefront. It joins other upstate SC universities in the program, including Wofford, Clemson, and Furman.

Converse currently offers extensive programs in skills such as leadership, managerial processes, and others necessary to build a successful repertoire outside of college or university. It also provides multiple opportunities for students to conduct individualized institutional research.

Among the news initiatives that will all be in effect by the end of the 2016/2017 academic year are the Business Professional Development Certificate (Economics, Business, and Accounting), the Digital Arts Certificate (English, Graphic Design, and Computer Science), and the Vocational and Career Development Curricular Integration Plan in the School of the Arts (Art & Design, Theater and Musical Theater, School of Music, and Dance). Programs such as these, and the attitudes they instill in campus culture, will propel the college forward. 

 

= Landscape Canvas =

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1boC2giDZ-Enj_RmlLcomATumxFMf26xkUf3gLmnjrBE/edit#gid=0 Landscape Canvas]

= Related Links =

[[Converse College Student Priorities|Converse College Student Priorities]]

[https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/15m1w-KyVzg7_QdM8_aACSu7FrUcx9-wm-H2XsMAKT_Y/edit Business Model Canvas]

University Innovation Fellow:

[[Nadia Gathers|Nadia Gathers]]

[[Sanuja_Goonetilleke|Sanuja_Goonetilleke]]

School:Converse College

2016-02-19T04:10:21Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

[[File:20081203 CON-logo1 type.jpg|right|20081203 CON-logo1 type.jpg]]

= Converse College] =

[[File:970312 624336567587821 953896863 n.jpg|thumb|center]]

Converse College is an all-women’s liberal arts college in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Founded in 1889, Converse College continues to adhere to its founder's ideals, seeking to inspire "voice, value, and vision" in its students. It has received press in past years for lowering its tuition by 43 percent. In 2014, it ranked 23rd among Regional University South’s college rankings.

At the end of the 2014/2015 academic year, Converse initiated many progressive changes to its curriculum and culture under the umbrella "LEAD" Action Plan. The LEAD Plan (Learning, Enrollment, Access, and Activation) at Converse College includes the addition of programs, certificates, and centers in a variety of disciplines, an experiential learning graduation requirement for all majors, and the "Creativity that Works" plan in the School of the Arts. Converse College also has a strong presence in the Spartanburg community for service and service learning. This January, Converse had the highest participation rate in Spartanburg, SC, for students actively involved in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

== '''Promoting student innovation and entrepreneurship''' ==

For what Converse lacks in engineering and technology programs and resources, it makes up with student passion and initiative. Students are encouraged by faculty, staff, and campus leaders to participate in innovative activities, provide solutions for campus-wide problems, and create programs or organizations to tackle them. There is no formalized problem solving or venture creation process, but some channels students can access when looking to implement solutions or open dialogue are the individual academic departments, the Center for Professional Development, the Office of Student Life, the Center for Leadership and Service, the President's Office, and the Student Government Association (SGA).

A significant portion of the student body is actively involved in the SGA. Converse College Radio, a new venture this year, has been notably entrepreneurial from its inception. At present, there is no SGA organization that caters to the specifically entrepreneurial needs of the students. 

The college and its faculty and staff encourage student innovation and entrepreneurship through the Creative Collaborative Grant program and SCICU grant applications. Aspects of the new LEAD Action Plan are already being implemented. The School of the Arts is in its first year of conducting courses that specifically link innovation and creative entrepreneurship with arts disciplines for freshmen and sophomores. Eventually, the entire campus academic system will follow this lead. 

== '''Encouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship''' ==

Faculty members are encouraged to engage in innovative teaching methods, including addressing typical subject matters in out of the box ways. This includes everything from teaching economics through Harry Potter, team-teaching interdisciplinary study travel courses around the world, hosting guest speakers and entrepreneurs for class sessions, and conducting field trips to spaces like The Iron Yard. Some have founded their own social enterprises and businesses. Beyond these, however, Converse faculty members are not prominently involved in entrepreneurship culture. 

The Center for Professional Development at Converse strives to provide students with the very best resources from Career Peer mentoring, various free workshops, and for-credit courses aimed at students who want to discover their potential and make things happen. 

Still, there is no formalized, established system through which teachers and faculty members are spurred to pursue entrepreneurship and innovation in and outside the classroom. Innovation is pursued on a personal basis, and is a direct response to students clamoring for better options.

== '''Actively supporting the university technology transfer function''' ==

Converse currently has no formalized function to support student ventures on campus. Students looking for venture support should look to outside sources of information, like the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation, communicating their need and vision to various donors, partnering with local businesses like The Iron Yard, or with like-minded students on campus to start an initiative for a project or business idea. Support is available through many sources, but the majority of students do not seek it. 

== '''Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration''' ==

Converse currently has no formalized partnerships with companies or groups in the space of I&E. However, individual students have gone on to work with local incubators, labs, art studios, and so on. The fruits of these individual partnerships have not resulted in permanent relationships with the insitution. Converse would fare well to more succinctly create and maintain these partnerships, so that interested students will have pipelines to follow once they are interested. 

== '''Engaging with Regional and Local Development Efforts''' ==

As an Algernon Sydney Sullivan school, Converse has a longstanding tradition of service to others. In recent years, this focus has continued to develop to an academic and experiential focus on social entrepreneurship.  A select number of courses are dedicated to Social Entrepreneurship’s applications in the surrounding community and worldwide. Particularly interested individuals can choose to attend the Sullivan Social Enterprise retreat in the fall or spring sessions. Converse has also sent a team to the foundation’s social venture competition. Converse continues to increase its Social entrepreneurship offerings, from courses and seminars to exploratory learning trips.

There is a strong need for concretized partnerships between Converse and its neighboring colleges (Wofford, USC etc.) as well as Spartanburg area businesses. Because of Converse's long standing commitment to service, there is much that could be done between college-community partnerships that could aid the development of Spartanburg as a whole. 

== '''Future''' ==

In 2014, Converse funded its first university Innovation Fellow, Nadia Gathers. Funding this program has put Converse’s dedication to constant growth and institution-wide innovation at the forefront. It joins other upstate SC universities in the program, including Wofford, Clemson, and Furman.

Converse currently offers extensive programs in skills such as leadership, managerial processes, and others necessary to build a successful repertoire outside of college or university. It also provides multiple opportunities for students to conduct individualized institutional research.

Among the news initiatives that will all be in effect by the end of the 2016/2017 academic year are the Business Professional Development Certificate (Economics, Business, and Accounting), the Digital Arts Certificate (English, Graphic Design, and Computer Science), and the Vocational and Career Development Curricular Integration Plan in the School of the Arts (Art & Design, Theater and Musical Theater, School of Music, and Dance). Programs such as these, and the attitudes they instill in campus culture, will propel the college forward. 

 

= Landscape Canvas =

[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1boC2giDZ-Enj_RmlLcomATumxFMf26xkUf3gLmnjrBE/edit#gid=0 Landscape Canvas]

= Related Links =

[[Converse College Student Priorities|Converse College Student Priorities]]

[https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/15m1w-KyVzg7_QdM8_aACSu7FrUcx9-wm-H2XsMAKT_Y/edit Business Model Canvas]

University Innovation Fellow:

[[Nadia Gathers|Nadia Gathers]]

[[Sanuja_Goonetilleke|Sanuja_Goonetilleke]]

File:970312 624336567587821 953896863 n.jpg

2016-02-19T04:09:34Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

Fellow:Sanuja Goonetilleke

2016-02-19T04:08:29Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

Fellow:Sanuja Goonetilleke

2016-02-19T04:06:51Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

2016-02-12T04:31:20Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

User:Sanuja Goonetilleke

2016-02-12T04:30:21Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

2016-02-11T04:20:29Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

User:Sanuja Goonetilleke

2016-02-11T04:17:47Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

Sanuja Goonetilleke majors in Flute Performance and minors in Social Entrepreneurship and English at Converse College, a women's liberal arts college in South Carolina. She has won national flute competitions in Sri Lanka as well as at Converse, and performed at the Saarbug Music Festival in 2015. This summer, Sanuja organized a chamber recital and donated proceeds to education and health nonprofits. At Converse, Sanuja wears many hats in addition to music. She has served as the Chair of the Interfaith Council, and is involved with the campus newspaper. She has worked for a music non-profit, interned at a finance company and a publishing house, and helped direct a school orchestra in hopes of narrowing down her career path. Now, she has happily accepted the notion that it is indeed possible to be a flutist with diverse interests in colorful world. You can call her Saa-nu.https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanujagoonetilleke

Resource:How to expose incoming freshman to I&E using a design blitz

2016-01-22T04:42:46Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

== Introduction ==

One of the greatest things about college is that it opens the door to all new experiences. There are so many different opportunities that are thrown at freshmen right off the bat. But how does one actually get freshmen to take interest in what they have to offer?

With innovation and entrepreneurship in particular, it is sometimes difficult to get people to understand exactly what it all entails. You need to give them a taste how to think with an I & E mindset to really get them excited. This is where you would give them that chance through the concept of the Design Blitz.

So what is a Design Blitz? A Design Blitz is a strategical method that can be used to create solutions very quickly under strict time constraints. It is brought forth with a lot of energy and enthusiasm in order to create a solution that is extraordinary. It is called a “ blitz” because of its sudden nature. With the pressure of  little time, you have to jump in full force to get the well thought out solution you need in the little time you are given.

== Marketing ==

One of the crucial hurdles that you must jump, is getting the word out about your Design Blitz workshops. You want freshman to be intrigued enough to give your workshop a try. The most effective method of advertising your events is by word-of-mouth. In order to really spark someone's interest and persuade them to attend your event you should have a face-to-face interaction. This helps you connect on a deeper level with freshman in a more personal way. There are also pre-existing groups which have organized innovation and entrepreneurship workshops. By identifying groups within and around campus who are involved in the I&E ecosystem, you will increase the numbers of personal interactions andincrease the promotion of the event. This provides you with many more mouths to spread the word. Another good way to attract attendees/participants is to secure a high-profile individual to talk at your event. This will not only attract freshman who will bring their friends, but many other members of the student body and even faculty. Including a field your students want to learn more about (for example, Social Entrepreneurship or human centered design) in your I & E workshops and events is a great way to generate students' interest

== Organization/Logistics ==

When planning your event, it is important that you keep everything organized and well thought out. You need to plan a location, shopping list, cost, materials etc. For example, when it comes to location, a centrally located or well-known location to hold the event is in your best interest. This makes it easy for everyone to find, plus if it is central, people that are walking by tend to stop to see what is going on. Ideally, the location should have ample room to move around and be very open.

As for materials to bring, there are not many needed. Your basic rapid prototyping supplies, which include markers, sticky notes, etc., will be enough. You will want to make a detailed list of the items you already have and the items that you will need to go buy. This way you will cut costs by not purchasing items you already have.

Speaking of costs, you will want to make sure you find everything in your event that could possibly cost money. This includes materials, guest speakers, renting equipment, food (if you choose) and anything else that you could potentially need funding to cover.

== Finding Funding ==

After calculating all the costs, you may realize that you will need funding. When you think of how to get funding, thing of how you pitch one of your innovative ideas. You will want to do that same thing to get your funding. You want to get people excited about your workshop event and show them how the event will help promote the good of the campus. 

One way you can get funding, is through collaboration. If you team up with existing organizations/maker spaces on campus this can be a great way to not only 1) secure funding through co-sponsored projects but also 2) collaborate with more change makers on campus and therefore, get the word out about your I & E event. Also, reach out to faculty and staff of the university. You would be surprised who you can find that is willing to fund your event.

== Selecting a Date and Time ==

Try not to schedule an event on campus close to finals or midterms, because not as many students will show up (even though they'd love to). It is also advisable to check well in advance of the event to see if your event clashes with any other high-profile and well-publicized event on campus. You don't want to lose any potential participants.

Introducing freshmen to I & E during Orientation week gives UIF great visibility, and gets conversation and action about innovation started on campus at the beginning of the school year.

== Lessons and Tips ==

Pointless repetition is boring; have diverse offerings. Choose from an array of exiciting event ideas: competition, a guest speaker, a meet-and-greet, a hackathon, a design thinking workshop etc. Maintain the element of novelty.

Don't be hesitant to host a workshop because you are afraid there will be a small turnout. If you don't go ahead with your project, you'll never know.

2016-01-22T04:28:33Z

Sanuja Goonetilleke:

== Introduction ==

One of the greatest things about college is that it opens the door to all new experiences. There are so many different opportunities that are thrown at freshman right off the bat. But how does one actually get freshman to take interest in what they have to offer?

With innovation and entrepreneurship in particular, it is sometimes difficult to get people to understand exactly what it all entails. You need to give them a taste how to think with an I & E mindset to really get them excited. This is where you would give them that chance through the concept of the Design Blitz.

So what is a Design Blitz? A Design Blitz is a strategical method that can be used to create solutions very quickly under strict time constraints. It is brought forth with a lot of energy and enthusiasm in order to create a solution that is extraordinary. It is called a “ blitz” because of its sudden nature. With the pressure of  little time, you have to jump in full force to get the well thought out solution you need in the little time you are given.

== Marketing ==

One of the crucial hurdles that you must jump, is getting the word out about your Design Blitz workshops. You want freshman to be intrigued enough to give your workshop a try. The most effective method of advertising your events is by word-of-mouth. In order to really spark someone's interest and persuade them to attend your event you should have a face-to-face interaction. This helps you connect on a deeper level with freshman in a more personal way. There are also pre-existing groups which have organized innovation and entrepreneurship workshops. By identifying groups within and around campus who are involved in the I&E ecosystem, you will increase the numbers of personal interactions andincrease the promotion of the event. This provides you with many more mouths to spread the word. Another good way to attract attendees/participants is to secure a high-profile individual to talk at your event. This will not only attract freshman who will bring their friends, but many other members of the student body and even faculty. Including a field your students want to learn more about (for example, Social Entrepreneurship or human centered design) in your I & E workshops and events is a great way to generate students' interest

== Organization/Logistics ==

When planning your event, it is important that you keep everything organized and well thought out. You need to plan a location, shopping list, cost, materials etc. For example, when it comes to location, a centrally located or well-known location to hold the event is in your best interest. This makes it easy for everyone to find, plus if it is central, people that are walking by tend to stop to see what is going on. Ideally, the location should have ample room to move around and be very open.

As for materials to bring, there are not many needed. Your basic rapid prototyping supplies, which include markers, sticky notes, etc., will be enough. You will want to make a detailed list of the items you already have and the items that you will need to go buy. This way you will cut costs by not purchasing items you already have.

Speaking of costs, you will want to make sure you find everything in your event that could possibly cost money. This includes materials, guest speakers, renting equipment, food (if you choose) and anything else that you could potentially need funding to cover.

== Finding Funding ==

After calculating all the costs, you may realize that you will need funding. When you think of how to get funding, thing of how you pitch one of your innovative ideas. You will want to do that same thing to get your funding. You want to get people excited about your workshop event and show them how the event will help promote the good of the campus. 

One way you can get funding, is through collaboration. If you team up with existing organizations/maker spaces on campus this can be a great way to not only 1) secure funding through co-sponsored projects but also 2) collaborate with more change makers on campus and therefore, get the word out about your I & E event. Also, reach out to faculty and staff of the university. You would be surprised who you can find that is willing to fund your event.

== Selecting a Date and Time ==

Try not to schedule an event on campus close to finals or midterms, because not as many students will show up (even though they'd love to). It is also advisable to check well in advance of the event to see if your event clashes with any other high-profile and well-publicized event on campus. You don't want to lose any potential attendees.

Introducing freshmen to I & E during Orientation week gives UIF great visibility, and gets conversation and action about innovation started on campus at the beginning of the school year.

== Lessons and Tips ==

Pointless repetition is boring; have diverse offerings. Choose from an array of exiciting event ideas: competition, a guest speaker, a meet-and-greet, a hackathon, a design thinking workshop etc. Maintain the element of novelty.