University Innovation Fellows - User contributions [en]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:45:27Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

 

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

 

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

'''UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.'''

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

 

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

=== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ===

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

=== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ===

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

=== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ===

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''

'''No Updates available'''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]

=== Lakhena Leang- Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW) ===

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  


= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:45:12Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

 

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

 

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

'''UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.'''

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

=== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ===

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

=== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ===

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

=== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ===

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''

'''No Updates available'''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]

=== Lakhena Leang- Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW) ===

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  


= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:44:49Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

=== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ===

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

=== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ===

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

=== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ===

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''

'''No Updates available'''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]

=== Lakhena Leang- Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW) ===

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  


= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:44:15Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

=== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ===

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

=== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ===

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

=== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ===

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''

'''No Updates available'''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]

=== Lakhena Leang- Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW) ===

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  


= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:43:59Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

=== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ===

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

=== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ===

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

=== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ===

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''

'''No Updates available'''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]

=== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ===

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  


= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:43:46Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

=== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ===

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

=== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ===

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

=== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ===

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''

'''No Updates available'''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]

== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  


= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:43:34Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

=== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ===

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

=== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ===

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''

'''No Updates available'''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]

== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  


= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:43:17Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

=== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ===

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''

'''No Updates available'''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]

== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  


= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:43:04Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''

'''No Updates available'''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]

== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  


= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:42:12Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''

'''No Updates available'''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]

== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  


= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:42:02Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''

'''No Updates available'''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]

== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  


= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:41:36Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  


= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:41:12Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:40:59Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:40:37Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

==== '''UPDATE (2/16) ''' ====

<span style="color:#000000;"In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:40:15Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of ASME at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

'''UPDATE: '''In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

[[File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg]]

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

File:Bootcamp Flyer.jpg

2016-02-26T19:37:44Z

Singera:

File:Edited Bootcamp Flyer.jpg

2016-02-26T19:35:27Z

Singera:

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:34:56Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

'''UPDATE: '''In spring of 2016 we will be holding a business startup/entrepreneurial bootcamp in conjunction with a local business called Wise Labs. So far over 120 students will be participating in a series of weekly workshops all pertaining to business and startups.

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:32:44Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE: '''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

== '''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body ''' ==

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:32:02Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE:'''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

'''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body '''

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:31:46Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

==== UPDATE (2/16) ====

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE:'''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

'''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body '''

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:31:23Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

=== UPDATE (2/16) ===

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE:'''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

'''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body '''

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:31:12Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

== UPDATE (2/16) ==

We are currently in the progress of creating a one time Innovation, Creativity, and the Entrepreneurial Mindset (ICE) Course that will for certain be offered the winter term of the 2016/2017 school year to all students. We have met with all the appropriate deans and it is fully in swing. 

Within the course, there will by a myriad of guest speakers and projects all relating to ICE. As fellows, we are all in charge of organizing the course as a whole. This means organizing the guest speakers, syllabus, grading criteria, and whatever else is required for a new course.

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE:'''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

'''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body '''

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:26:06Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2016''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2017''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE:'''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

'''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body '''

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:25:28Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

UPDATE: Reached out to departments. Still trying to implement this however.

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2015''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE:'''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

'''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body '''

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-26T19:24:28Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

''Expected date to reach out to the department heads of engineering: March 2, 2015 -----> work to implement by fall term of 2015''

''Expected date to reach out to the Dean of Studies (only if approved by majority of engineering department heads): March 9, 2015''

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude to designing and pitching the idea of the maker space to committees and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for it.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

==== Luke McCaffrey - Update (2/16) ====

Currently, the closest thing we have to a makerspace is a room the Union Collaborative Design Studio. This room is the home of the various Makerbot 3D Printers that we have as well as the high-resolution Stratasys Objet 3D Printer. These printers are presently only able to be used for specific student projects and by faculty. As of this year, Union hired a Makerspace Coordinator who is assisting in the maker movement on campus. My goal is to have a newly designated room with full whiteboard walls and up-to-date learning technologies along with trained access to equipment that the school already has.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2015''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

'''UPDATE:'''Met with Communications (2/25/16), and they are willing to work with us on creating at least a social media campaign on this. We are meeting Monday with a higher up in the Communications department to discuss a physical banner campaign. 

'''Projected Launch Date for Campaign: September 2016'''

'''Robert Barsamian- Tactic #5: Increase Communication among the Union Student Body '''

Various departments at Union provide information concerning events and activities in many different locations. However, email and social media accounts are cluttered with so much information from so many different sources that it can be overwhelming for both the students and faculty. This creates an atmosphere where important information is often missed which makes if difficult to drive a culture filled with creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. One solution to this problem would be to condense all related information in one email sent out every morning. This would create a central place of information for the entire Union College community.  

''Target date for discussions with ITS and Communication Departments: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting email system implemented: May 1, 2016''

 

 

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
== Tactic #4: Student Leadership Development Weekend (SLDW)- Lakhena Leang (2016) ==

Although Union College has a variety of clubs and events to choose from, leaders also often feel a disconnect between the different organizations on campus. This is only partially the fault of the student board, whom has yet to have a direct opportunity to reach out and expand to other clubs and organizations. One solution to this problem is to host a yearly student leadership development weekend for student presidents on campus in order to promote diverse collaboration and organization. Every year before the beginning of the school term, club presidents would be invited to participate in a leadership workshop where in addition to leadership education, each leader would walk away with at least three tangible things:

     1. A calendar plan for a list of predicted events for the rest of the academic year. 

     2. A list of board member expectations that the presidents want to relay to the members.

     3. A list of solutions for the problems that the organizations have run into. 

The goal of this weekend is to set higher expectations for our current campus leaders so that they know how to accomplish/ achieve more with their organizations throughout the school year. One of the responsibilities of being a campus leader should be to know exactly which direction you want your club/ organization to go in. More than that, I want leaders to develop visions for their organizations and realize how their clubs fit the needed niche on Union's campus. In addition to developing this vision and creating a plan for what they want to see happen, this SLD weekend would act as an essential catalyst for collaboration of diverse clubs on campus. In order to accomplish the goals that these leaders have set, it's also important to define your expectations to ensure that the people working with you (your board) recognizes and follows the same path into achieving your goals with you. This way, members are clear as to what their job entitles them to do and club leaders know when to address a situation in which members may fail to achieve these expectations. Lastly, it's inevitable that these club leaders will have run into similar problems that prohibit them from succeeding in certain projects/ ambitions, so it's important to dedicte time for problem solving. During this time, organizations will share with each other what kind of problems they face and how to overcome these issues moving forward. By having these tangible documents on hand, administrators will be able to understand and communicate more with student leaders on their progress throughout the year. Therefore, not only are we strengthening inter-organizational relationships, we are also able to enhance admin-student relationships as well. 

Potential Workshop Sessions  (in addition to brainstorming) 

    1. Community Service Bonding 

    2. What is a Leader? Defining characteristics and expectations for the "one in charge". 

    3. Creativity and Design Challenge (Understanding the potential of the Leader) 

    4. How to Tap Into the Money (Recognizing the resources on campus)

    5. What Do You Know About Me? (Getting to know these individuals and defining a common goal amongst the grouop)

  

= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Loyoz916208}}

= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

University Innovation Fellows Spring 2016:

[[Robert Barsamian]]

[[Lakhena Leang]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova ]

[[Luke McCaffrey]]

[[Arielle singer|Arielle Singer]]

Spring 2015:

[[Sean Farrell]]

Spring 2014:

[[Hristina Milojevic|Hristina Milojevic ]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-18T05:02:46Z

Singera:

== Biography ==

[[File:ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg|thumb|ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg]]My name is Arielle (pronounced like the three letters R-E-L). I'm originally from Culver City, CA (basically the Los Angeles area) but now go to school as an undergrad at Union College in upstate New York. I'm majoring in Marketing Engineering Products and minoring in Electrical Engineering. The fun thing is that I actually created my own major through our Organizing Theme program, so my major is actually a combination of: economics, psychology, anthropology, digital arts, and engineering.

In high school I was part of FIRST Robotics and while I loved working with engineers I didn't want to really be one and from that I decided to pursue a career marketing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) based products (although I haven't figured out if I want to go into the for profit or non profit world just yet).

I'm super active around campus having gotten involved with numerous things. These include the Baja SAE team of which I'm Vice President (we build and compete with an all terraine vehicle), the Mountebanks of which I'm also Vice President (this is our campus' theatre club, I'm a massive theatre nerd), and Alpha Phi Omega of which I'm our treasurer (this is the co-ed community service based fraternity).

Anyways, that's me! 

= '''RELATED LINKS''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College Union College]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College_Strategic_Priorities#Hristina_Milojevic.2C_Sean_Farrell_-_Tactic_.232:_Creativity_Curriculum Union College Strategic Priorities]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Luke_McCaffrey Luke McCaffrey]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Robert_Barsamian Robbie Barsamian]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Vera_Marsova Vera Marsova]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Lakhena_Leang Lakhena Leang]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Sean_Farrell Sean Farrell]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Hristina_Milojevic Hristina Milojevic].

[[Category:Student Contributors|a]]

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-12T03:40:30Z

Singera:

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-11T23:16:25Z

Singera:

== Biography ==

[[File:ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg|thumb|ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg]]My name is Arielle (pronounced like the three letters R-E-L). I'm originally from Culver City, CA (basically the Los Angeles area) but now go to school as an undergrad at Union College in upstate New York. I'm majoring in Marketing Engineering Products and minoring in Electrical Engineering. The fun thing is that I actually created my own major through our Organizing Theme program, so my major is actually a combination of: economics, psychology, anthropology, digital arts, and engineering.

In high school I was part of FIRST Robotics and while I loved working with engineers I didn't want to really be one and from that I decided to pursue a career marketing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) based products (although I haven't figured out if I want to go into the for profit or non profit world just yet).

I'm super active around campus having gotten involved with numerous things. These include the Baja SAE team of which I'm Vice President (we build and compete with an all terraine vehicle), the Mountebanks of which I'm also Vice President (this is our campus' theatre club, I'm a massive theatre nerd), and Alpha Phi Omega of which I'm our treasurer (this is the co-ed community service based fraternity).

Anyways, that's me! 

= '''RELATED LINKS''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College Union College]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College_Strategic_Priorities#Hristina_Milojevic.2C_Sean_Farrell_-_Tactic_.232:_Creativity_Curriculum Union College Strategic Priorities]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Luke_McCaffrey Luke McCaffrey]

Robbie Barsamian

Vera Marsova

Lakhena Leang

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Sean_Farrell Sean Farrell]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Hristina_Milojevic Hristina Milojevic].

[[Category:StudentContributors|a]]

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-11T23:15:44Z

Singera:

== Biography ==

[[File:ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg|thumb|ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg]]My name is Arielle (pronounced like the three letters R-E-L). I'm originally from Culver City, CA (basically the Los Angeles area) but now go to school as an undergrad at Union College in upstate New York. I'm majoring in Marketing Engineering Products and minoring in Electrical Engineering. The fun thing is that I actually created my own major through our Organizing Theme program, so my major is actually a combination of: economics, psychology, anthropology, digital arts, and engineering.

In high school I was part of FIRST Robotics and while I loved working with engineers I didn't want to really be one and from that I decided to pursue a career marketing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) based products (although I haven't figured out if I want to go into the for profit or non profit world just yet).

I'm super active around campus having gotten involved with numerous things. These include the Baja SAE team of which I'm Vice President (we build and compete with an all terraine vehicle), the Mountebanks of which I'm also Vice President (this is our campus' theatre club, I'm a massive theatre nerd), and Alpha Phi Omega of which I'm our treasurer (this is the co-ed community service based fraternity).

Anyways, that's me! 

= '''RELATED LINKS''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College Union College]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College_Strategic_Priorities#Hristina_Milojevic.2C_Sean_Farrell_-_Tactic_.232:_Creativity_Curriculum Union College Strategic Priorities]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Luke_McCaffrey Luke McCaffrey]

Robbie Barsamian

Vera Marsova

Lakhena Leang

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Sean_Farrell Sean Farrell]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Hristina_Milojevic Hristina Milojevic]
[[Category:StudentContributors|firstnameinitial]]. For example, Katie's would look like this: [[Category:StudentContributors|k]]

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-11T23:15:30Z

Singera:

== Biography ==

[[File:ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg|thumb]]My name is Arielle (pronounced like the three letters R-E-L). I'm originally from Culver City, CA (basically the Los Angeles area) but now go to school as an undergrad at Union College in upstate New York. I'm majoring in Marketing Engineering Products and minoring in Electrical Engineering. The fun thing is that I actually created my own major through our Organizing Theme program, so my major is actually a combination of: economics, psychology, anthropology, digital arts, and engineering.

In high school I was part of FIRST Robotics and while I loved working with engineers I didn't want to really be one and from that I decided to pursue a career marketing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) based products (although I haven't figured out if I want to go into the for profit or non profit world just yet).

I'm super active around campus having gotten involved with numerous things. These include the Baja SAE team of which I'm Vice President (we build and compete with an all terraine vehicle), the Mountebanks of which I'm also Vice President (this is our campus' theatre club, I'm a massive theatre nerd), and Alpha Phi Omega of which I'm our treasurer (this is the co-ed community service based fraternity).

Anyways, that's me! 

= '''RELATED LINKS''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College Union College]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College_Strategic_Priorities#Hristina_Milojevic.2C_Sean_Farrell_-_Tactic_.232:_Creativity_Curriculum Union College Strategic Priorities]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Luke_McCaffrey Luke McCaffrey]

Robbie Barsamian

Vera Marsova

Lakhena Leang

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Sean_Farrell Sean Farrell]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Hristina_Milojevic Hristina Milojevic]

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-11T23:12:07Z

Singera:

== Biography ==

[[File:ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg|thumb|ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg]]My name is Arielle (pronounced like the three letters R-E-L). I'm originally from Culver City, CA (basically the Los Angeles area) but now go to school as an undergrad at Union College in upstate New York. I'm majoring in Marketing Engineering Products and minoring in Electrical Engineering. The fun thing is that I actually created my own major through our Organizing Theme program, so my major is actually a combination of: economics, psychology, anthropology, digital arts, and engineering.

In high school I was part of FIRST Robotics and while I loved working with engineers I didn't want to really be one and from that I decided to pursue a career marketing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) based products (although I haven't figured out if I want to go into the for profit or non profit world just yet).

I'm super active around campus having gotten involved with numerous things. These include the Baja SAE team of which I'm Vice President (we build and compete with an all terraine vehicle), the Mountebanks of which I'm also Vice President (this is our campus' theatre club, I'm a massive theatre nerd), and Alpha Phi Omega of which I'm our treasurer (this is the co-ed community service based fraternity).

Anyways, that's me! 

= '''RELATED LINKS''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College Union College]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College_Strategic_Priorities#Hristina_Milojevic.2C_Sean_Farrell_-_Tactic_.232:_Creativity_Curriculum Union College Strategic Priorities]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Luke_McCaffrey Luke McCaffrey]

Robbie Barsamian

Vera Marsova

Lakhena Leang

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Sean_Farrell Sean Farrell]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Hristina_Milojevic Hristina Milojevic]

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-11T23:11:31Z

Singera:

== Biography ==

[[File:ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg|thumb|ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg]]My name is Arielle (pronounced like the three letters R-E-L). I'm originally from Culver City, CA (basically the Los Angeles area) but now go to school as an undergrad at Union College in upstate New York. I'm majoring in Marketing Engineering Products and minoring in Electrical Engineering. The fun thing is that I actually created my own major through our Organizing Theme program, so my major is actually a combination of: economics, psychology, anthropology, digital arts, and engineering.

In high school I was part of FIRST Robotics and while I loved working with engineers I didn't want to really be one and from that I decided to pursue a career marketing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) based products (although I haven't figured out if I want to go into the for profit or non profit world just yet).

I'm super active around campus having gotten involved with numerous things. These include the Baja SAE team of which I'm Vice President (we build and compete with an all terraine vehicle), the Mountebanks of which I'm also Vice President (this is our campus' theatre club, I'm a massive theatre nerd), and Alpha Phi Omega of which I'm our treasurer (this is the co-ed community service based fraternity).

Anyways, that's me! 

= '''RELATED LINKS''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College Union College]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Luke_McCaffrey Luke McCaffrey]

Robbie Barsamian

Vera Marsova

Lakhena Leang

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Sean_Farrell Sean Farrell]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Hristina_Milojevic Hristina Milojevic]

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-11T23:09:40Z

Singera:

== Biography ==

[[File:ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg|thumb|ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg]]My name is Arielle (pronounced like the three letters R-E-L). I'm originally from Culver City, CA (basically the Los Angeles area) but now go to school as an undergrad at Union College in upstate New York. I'm majoring in Marketing Engineering Products and minoring in Electrical Engineering. The fun thing is that I actually created my own major through our Organizing Theme program, so my major is actually a combination of: economics, psychology, anthropology, digital arts, and engineering.

In high school I was part of FIRST Robotics and while I loved working with engineers I didn't want to really be one and from that I decided to pursue a career marketing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) based products (although I haven't figured out if I want to go into the for profit or non profit world just yet).

I'm super active around campus having gotten involved with numerous things. These include the Baja SAE team of which I'm Vice President (we build and compete with an all terraine vehicle), the Mountebanks of which I'm also Vice President (this is our campus' theatre club, I'm a massive theatre nerd), and Alpha Phi Omega of which I'm our treasurer (this is the co-ed community service based fraternity).

Anyways, that's me! 

= '''RELATED LINKS''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College Union College]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Luke_McCaffrey Luke McCaffrey]

Robbie Barsamian

Vera Marsova

Lakhena Leang

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-11T23:08:44Z

Singera:

== Biography ==

[[File:ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg|thumb|ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg]]My name is Arielle (pronounced like the three letters R-E-L). I'm originally from Culver City, CA (basically the Los Angeles area) but now go to school as an undergrad at Union College in upstate New York. I'm majoring in Marketing Engineering Products and minoring in Electrical Engineering. The fun thing is that I actually created my own major through our Organizing Theme program, so my major is actually a combination of: economics, psychology, anthropology, digital arts, and engineering.

In high school I was part of FIRST Robotics and while I loved working with engineers I didn't want to really be one and from that I decided to pursue a career marketing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) based products (although I haven't figured out if I want to go into the for profit or non profit world just yet).

I'm super active around campus having gotten involved with numerous things. These include the Baja SAE team of which I'm Vice President (we build and compete with an all terraine vehicle), the Mountebanks of which I'm also Vice President (this is our campus' theatre club, I'm a massive theatre nerd), and Alpha Phi Omega of which I'm our treasurer (this is the co-ed community service based fraternity).

Anyways, that's me! 

= '''RELATED LINKS''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College Union College]

Luke McCaffrey

Robbie Barsamian

Vera Marsova

Lakhena Leang

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-11T23:07:29Z

Singera:

File:ArielleSingerProfilePic.jpg

2016-02-11T23:04:35Z

Singera:

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-11T23:00:54Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

''Expected date to reach out to the department heads of engineering: March 2, 2015 -----> work to implement by fall term of 2015''

''Expected date to reach out to the Dean of Studies (only if approved by majority of engineering department heads): March 9, 2015''

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces, and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude into designing and pitching the idea for the maker space to committes and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for the space.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2015''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

''Target date for discussing with Communications Department: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting this started: May 1, 2016''

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}
= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Hristina Milojevic]]

[[Sean Farrell]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Arielle_singer#Biography Arielle Singer]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-11T18:58:22Z

Singera:

== Biography ==

My name is Arielle (pronounced like the three letters R-E-L). I'm originally from Culver City, CA (basically the Los Angeles area) but now go to school as an undergrad at Union College in upstate New York. I'm majoring in Marketing Engineering Products and minoring in Electrical Engineering. The fun thing is that I actually created my own major through our Organizing Theme program, so my major is actually a combination of: economics, psychology, anthropology, digital arts, and engineering.

In high school I was part of FIRST Robotics and while I loved working with engineers I didn't want to really be one and from that I decided to pursue a career marketing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) based products (although I haven't figured out if I want to go into the for profit or non profit world just yet).

I'm super active around campus having gotten involved with numerous things. These include the Baja SAE team of which I'm Vice President (we build and compete with an all terraine vehicle), the Mountebanks of which I'm also Vice President (this is our campus' theatre club, I'm a massive theatre nerd), and Alpha Phi Omega of which I'm our treasurer (this is the co-ed community service based fraternity).

Anyways, that's me! 

= '''RELATED LINKS''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College Union College]

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-11T18:58:04Z

Singera:

= Arielle Singer =

My name is Arielle (pronounced like the three letters R-E-L). I'm originally from Culver City, CA (basically the Los Angeles area) but now go to school as an undergrad at Union College in upstate New York. I'm majoring in Marketing Engineering Products and minoring in Electrical Engineering. The fun thing is that I actually created my own major through our Organizing Theme program, so my major is actually a combination of: economics, psychology, anthropology, digital arts, and engineering.

In high school I was part of FIRST Robotics and while I loved working with engineers I didn't want to really be one and from that I decided to pursue a career marketing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) based products (although I haven't figured out if I want to go into the for profit or non profit world just yet).

I'm super active around campus having gotten involved with numerous things. These include the Baja SAE team of which I'm Vice President (we build and compete with an all terraine vehicle), the Mountebanks of which I'm also Vice President (this is our campus' theatre club, I'm a massive theatre nerd), and Alpha Phi Omega of which I'm our treasurer (this is the co-ed community service based fraternity).

Anyways, that's me! 

= '''RELATED LINKS''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College Union College]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-11T18:55:52Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

''Expected date to reach out to the department heads of engineering: March 2, 2015 -----> work to implement by fall term of 2015''

''Expected date to reach out to the Dean of Studies (only if approved by majority of engineering department heads): March 9, 2015''

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces, and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude into designing and pitching the idea for the maker space to committes and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for the space.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2015''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

== '''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign''' ==

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

''Target date for discussing with Communications Department: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting this started: May 1, 2016''

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}
= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Hristina Milojevic]]

[[Sean Farrell]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

School:Union College

2016-02-11T18:55:25Z

Singera:

[[File:UC logo with date.PMS202.gif]]

= Overview                                                                       =

Innovation and creativity in all places should primarily be driven by the educators. Union College, according to all statistics and personal experiences, is a wonderfully balanced educational institution. With leading undergraduate engineering program embedded in a liberal arts college setting, Union should be the prime leader in innovation. This is the one thing that Union engineering students always unanimously agree upon. If there is any communication across disciplines it should be happening on this almost unique campus.

Union College admits, educates, and inspires nearly 330 engineering students annually, while the general campus population totals in approximately 2,200 undergraduate students scattered across disciplines. With small class sizes, and 96% of faculty that holds PhD degrees, Union College fosters an educational environment that supports and deeply cares about each individual. 

With the ease of access to every discipline available at Union, students can easily branch out of their area of study. This, seemingly common liberal arts college trait proves to be highly significant in educating future engineers, and Union graduates are frequently praised for their distinguished communication skills, excellent team work, and leadership abilities. One of Union's main goals is to educate well-rounded individuals who are likely to succeed in any area they choose after graduation. Union College fosters and encourages creativity and innovation, leadership and academic research. The campus is a wonderful environment that has simply not worded its efforts as "Innovation and Entrepreneurship".

[[File:543259 4602271811793 143955698 n.jpg|center|543259 4602271811793 143955698 n.jpg]]

= Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship =

Here at Union College there are a myriad of events that connect students with faculty. Every department holds weekly speaker series, dinner and discussion events happen freequently, and every student can easily obtain  some form of leadership position if so desired. With a lot of campus events being student-run, Union students are able to acquire excellent advertising, planning, and event facilitating skills during their four years here. Despite a vibrant social atmosphere, Union sometimes feels overwhelmingly educational even outside of the classroom. This has been altered in recent years, however, with the introduction of the Minerva program which aims to bridge the gap between the social and academic sides of campus. 

Post graduation, 35% of students pursue a path of continuing their education. It is highly common, as well, for Union engineers to continue their education in business rather than engineering, because their interdisciplinary skills learned here has allowed them to become leaders within their fields.

For those students interested in technological advancement, Union is the place to be. With only undergradute students on campus, the professors are committed to providing research opportunities to all. What makes Union unique is that these research opportunities cross all disciplines and frequently students take on faculty research projects their first or second year, committing to a practicum or summer research.

Students interested in entrepreneurship always find their niche. Although there is no specific entrepreneurialism program, we offer many courses inspiring the entrpreneurial mindset. One to note is our Entrepreneurship Seminar which pairs together science minded students with liberal arts minded students to create their own companies and eventually compete in a pitch competition. 

= Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship =

Professor Hal Fried, of Economics department, and Professor Ron Bucinell, in Mechanical Engineering, are joining their efforts and cooperating with the Alumni Committee on Entrepreneurship, striving to advance Union's current position on entrepreneurship. They are jointly teaching a class on entrepreneurship, offered next trimester.

Professor Fried, in particular, has organized some wonderful international opportunities, such as the Minerva Fellowship (recent graduates' year-long placement in a developing community). One such opportunity is available at a small manufacturing business in India. Professor Harold Fried has also initiated entrepreneurship exchange program to Cambodia. His efforts on campus are a true inspiration. 

Professor Bucinell in Mechanical Engineering department is one of the most passionate innovators. He consistently emphasizes importance on entrepreneurship and innovation in all of his engineering classes. He is one of the best connected faculty members when it comes to local businesses and industry.

= The University Technology Transfer Function =

Union College makes its students a priority, which means the vast majority of faculty gives their best effort to teaching, and working closely with undergraduate students on reseach projects. In engineering, the communication with industry is the greatest. Professors appear well connected and often know of industrial opportunities, as well as do consulting or work on policy making in the region. 

One of the better known cases of the technology transfer is an invention by Professor Frank Wicks, who for the longest time held a patent for his electricity-producing furnace. He used thermodynamics and heat transfer theories to arrive at a furnace design that would be producing electricity while it uses it, and in turn allow for cost decrease and advancement in efforts for creating environmentally friendly technologies.

The research opportunities at Union are vastly available, and often provide not only excellent academic experiences, but also teach students valuable skills for their future work in industry.

= University-Industry Collaboration =

Union College is located in a region full of industrial opportunities. Moreover, Union's close alumni network have consistently offered current students a wide of opportunities for internships and post-graduate positions. It is common to see Union students easily obtain employment in the areas of their choice. While there is a valuable collaboration between academic departments and local industrial businesses, it is important to note that the majority of students identifies their possibilities and opportunities through Becker Career Center on campus.

Due to a high demand for engineers, Union College strives to prepare its engineering students for the industrial setting to the best of its ability. Combined with the excellent research opportunities available on campus, Union engineers are prepared for every possible environment through a series of student research projects, presentations, and collaborative opportunities. 

With ASME speaking competitions, GE Prize Day Awards, and IBM internships offered, it is clear that Union maintains a highly successful long-term relationship with local industries.

= Regional and Local Economic Development Efforts =

Union College provides a good balance of innovation on campus and service to the community. The engineering faculty strives very hard to identify the key areas in education that need improvement in order to educate engineers who will be an excellent fit for the jobs that are currently on the market for them. At times this involves high increase of software use, very frequent team work, design projects, and open-ended questions. 

To a student, this may seem like the College is attempting to produce a "disruptive" engineer, by educating students to become marketable, competitive, and long-term desirable candidates for a wide range of positions. Union students are repeatedly told that their designs, ideas, and projects need to be cutting edge, and fresh. A Mechanical Engineering professor particularly discourages brainstorming in his class, claiming that it shuts down the most unique and innovative ideas. In his MER 419: Design of Mechanical Systems, this professor ensures that his students spend the lab portion of the course working on a design project for a local company. So far, he has found that students are able to come up with fresh ideas, and unique ways of resolving problems differently from engineers in industry.

Union College, along with RPI, and SUNY Albany, drives the technological development of the region and provides constant supply of excellent engineers ready to tackle today's technological, mathematical, and business challenges.

= The Landscape Canvas =

 [https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sofKiJqVwrf2M5iEg_kI3o0Rm5PrpyfAzHvg2urhSIQ/edit?usp=sharing: 2016 Landscape Canvas]

= Related Links =

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

[[Hristina Milojevic]]

[[Sean Farrell]]

[[Luke McCaffrey|Luke McCaffrey]]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Arielle_singer Arielle Singer]

[[Category:Universities]]

Fellow:Arielle singer

2016-02-11T18:54:48Z

Singera: Created page with "<span class="ng-scope" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-ser..."

My name is Arielle (pronounced like the three letters R-E-L). I'm originally from Culver City, CA (basically the Los Angeles area) butnow go to school as an undergrad at Union College in upstate New York. I'm majoring in Marketing Engineering Products and minoring in Electrical Engineering. The fun thing is that I actually created my own major through our Organizing Theme program, so my major is actually a combination of: economics, psychology, anthropology, digital arts, and engineering.In high school I was part of FIRST Robotics and while I loved working with engineers I didn't want to really be one and from that I decided to pursue a career marketing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) based products (although I haven't figured out if I want to go into the for profit or non profit world just yet).

I'm super active around campus having gotten involved with numerous things. These include the Baja SAE team of which I'm Vice President (we build and compete with an all terraine vehicle), the Mountebanks of which I'm also Vice President (this is our campus' theatre club, I'm a massive theatre nerd), and Alpha Phi Omega of which I'm our treasurer (this is the co-ed community service based fraternity).

Anyways, that's me! 





= '''RELATED LINKS''' =

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Union_College Union College]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-11T18:46:10Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

''Expected date to reach out to the department heads of engineering: March 2, 2015 -----> work to implement by fall term of 2015''

''Expected date to reach out to the Dean of Studies (only if approved by majority of engineering department heads): March 9, 2015''

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces, and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude into designing and pitching the idea for the maker space to committes and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for the space.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2015''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

'''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign'''

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

''Target date for discussing with Communications Department: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting this started: May 1, 2016''

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}
= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Hristina Milojevic]]

[[Sean Farrell]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-11T18:45:25Z

Singera:

= Overview =

Union College is one of a handful of liberal arts colleges that offer [http://www.abet.org/accreditation/ ABET-acredited] engineering programs. What does this mean? For one, we have a culturally, racially, and gender-diverse campus community. Our engineering students are offered exciting academic opportunities outside of the technical engineering curriculum. Academic excellence, a variety of competitive sports teams, and an abundance of campus leadership opportunities attract some of the finest college applicants to spend four years studying on the beautiful campus in upstate New York. Students are the primary focus of our professors, who also successfully maintain cutting-edge research projects, and develop new ideas and technologies in the sciences, as well as the humanities and the arts.

One has every reason to believe that a school with as tight interdisciplinary connections as Union College, it would be a national leader for innovation, and a catalyst for the transition of STEM into STEAM (where A stands for arts). Well, we are not quite there yet. In general, students at Union are very content (and we have every reason to be), which makes it difficult to identify exact gaps and spaces for improvement. On a 2,200 student campus with The following will be targeted in the six strategies for innovating Union:

A. Encouraging creativity

B. Technology-based learning

C. The visual vs. the verbal/written

D. Innovative study space(s)

E. Campus involvement navigation

F. Engineering and liberal arts in conversation

G. Community division by major, culture, and Greek/non-Greek

H. Target career opportunities

After discussing some of these with professors and deans, two clear messages have been communicated over and over again: 

1) Innovation and creativity on campus should '''not''' be tied to academics

2) What to do is unclear, but what '''not to do''' is crystal clear.

The real question is: How to make busy and overinvolved Union students happy, while also ensuring the happiness of the faculty (which matters in gaining support and funding for just about any initiative), particularly one that involves a long-term change?

Looking at the Innovation Engine, encountered in Tina Seelig's TEDx Crash Course on Creativity and UIF Meetup Presentation, there are two apparent tracks Union can take:

1) Educate "the Self", i.e. the students.

2) Change "the "Environment" on campus.

The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
[[File:1cdbf236d8417da5e945d11cc803a56b.jpg]]
Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship.  Note that the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion.

= Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere =

== Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers ==

I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about.  Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard.  As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year.  The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer.  But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere.  I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems.  I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department.

==== My Idea ====

I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts.  Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this.  Although I believe the fundamental engineering courses are imperative to the proper education of engineers, I realize that the fundamental coursework has become the curriculum for engineers, which does not allow students to step outside of the bounds set forth by the common curriculum.  The liberal arts aspect of Union must exist with the engineering aspect, and currently it doesn't.  My idea consists the design and implementation of a project idea throughout the length of a term.  Engineering majors, economics majors, art, music and political science majors would be able to work together to bring the idea to fruition.  Each member would be able to contribute to the process of forming the idea into a well-constructed presentation.  The presenation is not a normal presentation though. I plan to have the presentations presented at General Electric Global Research Center, which is less than ten miles away from Union College.  There are eight Ge Global Research Centers in the world, and the orginal one is less than five miles away from Union College.  Currently, there are basically no existing relations bewteen the research center and Union; I desperately want to change this.  I would like for the presentations to be held at the research center.  The research center has state-of-the-art presentation space, and many brilliant people to fill the space.  The Union College students would be able to present in front of engineering and business professionals, and would be able to acquire magnificient feedback from such professionals.

In a sense, my idea is similar to what entrepreneurs experience on their journies:

*forming an idea
*speaking to others in one's specific discipline as well as people across many disciplines; decide if idea is plausible enough to make a reality
*develop idea into a product, pitch or presentation
*attract potential customers
*make a difference

There is a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere at Union College that has been well established for a long time.  However, the engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.  I hope to make a lasting impact on my campus with the support of my faculty and fellow students, and the guidance of the University Innovation Fellows Cohort. 

 ''I have already begun to speak to student students about my idea''

''Expected date to reach out to the department heads of engineering: March 2, 2015 -----> work to implement by fall term of 2015''

''Expected date to reach out to the Dean of Studies (only if approved by majority of engineering department heads): March 9, 2015''

= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: A Maker Space''' ==

Following the UIF Meetup and the incredible experiences at Stanford's Design School, I (Hristina) have been buzzing about the overwhelming importance of setting up a maker space on Union's campus. And what's even better, everyone who has heard this, has agreed with a resounding 'YES!' One important thing to consider is the background idea that will be specific to Union's maker space. It is apparent that everyone gets excited at the mention of white boards, white table surfaces, blank studios, post-its, prototyping supplies, and good coffee. The challenge comes with ensuring that this space will live up to its full potential, which means that it will truly bring together students from all disciplines, and foster conversation and collaboration between STEM students and humanists, artists and social scientists.

The Robotics Lab at Union College currently contains a 3D printer and blank vertical surfaces, and is considered the grounds for forming a maker space on campus. The only issue is that its core idea is robotic design and computing, which although wonderful, should not be the core of the campus-wide maker space. With this in mind, I will begin the campus-wide initiative: '''U-CREATE'''. This will be a campus-wide initiative for students to get involved in hands-on projects, workshops, as well as rapid prototyping and ideation sessions as a prelude into designing and pitching the idea for the maker space to committes and departments with funding. 

==== Update (1/15) ====

Hristina has worked diligently on finding a viable location for the makerspace, as well as searching for the best aesthetic and educational options for the space.  Her idea has resonated with all who have heard of the idea.  Sean has joined Hristina on this mission, and together, they are both working toward a successful launch of Union College's first MakerSpace, dedicated to enhancing the virtues of collaboration and innovative thought.

''Target date for U-CREATE formation: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for maker space set-up: June 1, 2015''

== '''Hristina Milojevic, Sean Farrell - Tactic #2: Creativity Curriculum''' ==

There are numerous possibilities for integrating creativity into the class curriculum at Union. One should use Google's 20% model. Union College requires that each student, regardless of their major, completes General Education Requirements, among which the First Year Preceptorial (writing class) and Sophomore Research Seminar seem to particularly fit the 20% model. The idea is to provide no constraints on what students do with 20% of their class work, yet require a project execution or presentation upon completion of the particular project students seem passionate about. It would also not be graded, and would simply count towards or against participation in class, i.e. ambitious students would have to complete it in order to perform well in the class, but they would have a chance to set off on a journey of academic, personal, or professional exploration as they go along.

''Target date for 20% model idea pitch: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for 20% model implementation: April 1, 2015''
''[[File:Innovation-cartoon.jpg]]''
In addition to this, and following up on tremendously high Union faculty interest in Tina Seelig's online course "Creativity: Music to my Ears," I will be advocating for creating Union's very own course on creativity. This idea is in its early stages, and I would primarily be speaking with Professor Erika Nelson, the head of Union's German Department, who is tremendously interested in the topic, then making the final decision between having the course be student-led, or searching for an intersted faculty member.

''Target date for Creativity Course design: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for Creativity Course implementation: April 1, 2015 (Spring Trimester)''

== '''Tactic #3: Visual and Technology-Based Learning''' ==

The change in academia is at once fast and slow:

1) If there is a new technology to be developed, or research to be conducted, professors jump right in! -> '''FAST'''

2) When it comes to using computer technology or innovative learning tools, most professors settle for a marker and a white board, or at best a PowerPoint presentation. -> '''SLOW'''

''Sometimes, this is all one needs'' ''(so don't take this as a judgement)''. Other times, it would be quite nice to branch out and do something entirely different. Imagine a class that only allows homework submitted as Prezi's or youtube videos. Wouldn't that be cool? What about a class that required in-class visualization of the task and the solution (whether that be a numerical problem, or a literary argument)? What about teaching visually? Too often, we focus on words and writing. Way back in high school, I would study geography by drawing my lessons. This means that I would briefly sketch the map of the country or continent in question, then add a whole lot of connecting lines, and additional drawings portraying anything from lessons on tourism in Spain to the natural resources of Canada.

In the long run, the goal is for at least 50% of Union's professors to incorporate alternative ways of teaching and learning into their classes. The specific requirements will be set by the U-CREATE team, as we work on tying the maker space idea with the idea of technology-based learning.

''Target date for requesting to join faculty committe meetings: May 1, 2014''

''Target date for getting feedback on the success of including technology and visuals: January 1, 2015''

'''Arielle Singer - Tactic #4: Innovation and Creativity Campaign'''

By surrounding our campus with signs of innovation and creativity then students will be more likely to partake in entrepreneurial activities. From this mindset we developed a concept based off of the #thismatters campaign started by William Jewell College. We will be working with the communications department to develop an ad campaign that will showcase the works of students around campus. This could be students who are leads in our aerogel lab, students who are starting their own companies, students who choreograph their own routines, the possibilities are endless. After interviewing several key people to make this possible (including the President of our College and Head of Entrepreneurship Courses) it seems as though this concept will be well received. 

''Target date for discussing with Communications Department: April 1, 2016''

''Target date for getting this started: May 1, 2016''

= Strategy #3: Bridge the Professional and the Academic =

== Tactic #1: Broadening Target Industries ==

The beauty of liberal arts education is that students don't have to select their majors early on. They are free until the end of their sophomore year to decide on what they want to do. One dificulty that seems to occur is finding the right industries to intern with. The exception to this rule is engineering students. Unless their decisions are made early, Union engineers won't be able to graduate on time, which makes a lot of students opt out of late declaration of an engineering major. This means that most students don't have a clear idea about what kinds of internships and summer programs to look for, unless they are in engineering.

Broadening target industries in engineering means going above and beyond the current information on local industrial and business offerings. It is a true challenge to find research-based internships in engineering on one's own. It is also a true challenge to obtain information about opportunities in attractive locations that are far from New York. Taking into consideration that a lot of our students do summer research at Union, and not nearly as many of them join a graduate program in their field, it will be tremendously beneficial for the Career Center to broaden its view of the target positions for engineers.

Even in other disciplines, one common trait seems to be business. After Union, students are so well-trained in working with people and so ambitious, that they typically get plenty of opportunities in business administration. But doesn't that eliminate the potential to create? In the long run, and with the goal to encourage a greater variety in the scope of positions Union Alumni hold, broadening our target industries ties in well with the next tactic.

''Target date for pitching in the proposal: September 1, 2014''

''Target date for implementation: January 1, 2015''

== Tactic #2: Workshop Series on Startups and Venture Funding ==

A former president of [https://www.asme.org/ ASME] at Union once said that there was an engineer who advised him to start his own company. The ASME president found this idea rather amusing, and the entire group laughed as he quoted the engineer saying "If you can't find a job, just create your own company, and you'll have one."

There is a lot of truth in the statement, but back then this didn't resonate with a group of talented mechanical engineers. Perhaps it wasn't the right group, but it is far more likely that there is a lack of student exposure to entrepreneurship, which I wish to change.

Ranging from 3DS to StartUp Institute and Lean Startup Machine, there are plenty of startup programs that hold a promise on improving and fostering interest in entrepreneurship and idea development in Union students. The plan is to bring in one organization each year for a weekend or week-long on-campus program that students can participate in. 

Words "venture capital" are just as rarely heard on campus as the word "startup." But, how could one start a company without initial capital? The plan is to have a pilot talk on venture capitalists, followed by a workshop, to get students initially informed on the posibilities about funding their startup, and depending on interest, continue to hold annual or monthly talks and workshops on startup businesses and venture capital.

''Target date for first speaker event + workshop: June 1, 2014''

''Target annual time: Spring Trimester (between April 1 and June 10)''

== Tactic #3: Team Building Workshops ==

Teamwork is present on Union's campus in a variety of disciplines, but the teamwork and team building skills of our students can be significantly improved. For one, experience shows that open-mindedness is the key to team success. Sometimes, the least successful teams are those consisting solely of the best students in the class. Why? Because each member of the team may want to implement only their individual idea. Furthermore, class teamwork does not take into account issues of student diversity, of their social and academic expertise, but also of their personal background, such as gender or ethnicity. Certain people seem to be more or less inclined to enforce their ideas on others, speak up, or not speak up. Without the right team strategy, there is the devastating chance of missing ideas of great potential! Utilizing the maker space that is outlined as the first tactic of strategy 1, the expectation is to be able to develop a better approach to teamwork. How should we do this? Through a series of workshops on team building with experts from a vareity of disciplines beginning with engineering, and moving into other fields.

''Target date for selecting the first speaker: June 1, 2014''

''Target date for the first event: September 15, 2014''

''Targeting one workshop per trimester, i.e. 3 per year''
[[File:Keep-calm.png]]
= Idea Pitch YouTube Video Project =
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=xsZWQMqGvsI}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=G1l15BjYVGo}}
= Related Links =

[[Union College]]

[[Hristina Milojevic]]

[[Sean Farrell]]

[[Category:Student Priorities|u]]

Priorities:Union College Strategic Priorities

2016-02-11T18:28:39Z

Singera:

School:Union College

2016-02-11T18:27:22Z

Singera:

School:Union College

2016-02-10T03:03:04Z

Singera:

[[File:UC logo with date.PMS202.gif]]

= Overview                                                                       =

Innovation and creativity in all places should primarily be driven by the educators. Union College, according to all statistics and personal experiences, is a wonderfully balanced educational institution. With leading undergraduate engineering program embedded in a liberal arts college setting, Union should be the prime leader in innovation. This is the one thing that Union engineering students always unanimously agree upon. If there is any communication across disciplines it should be happening on this almost unique campus.

Union College admits, educates, and inspires nearly 330 engineering students annually, while the general campus population totals in approximately 2,200 undergraduate students scattered across disciplines. With small class sizes, and 96% of faculty that holds PhD degrees, Union College fosters an educational environment that supports and deeply cares about each individual. 

With the ease of access to every discipline available at Union, students can easily branch out of their area of study. This, seemingly common liberal arts college trait proves to be highly significant in educating future engineers, and Union graduates are frequently praised for their distinguished communication skills, excellent team work, and leadership abilities. One of Union's main goals is to educate well-rounded individuals who are likely to succeed in any area they choose after graduation. Union College fosters and encourages creativity and innovation, leadership and academic research. The campus is a wonderful environment that has simply not worded its efforts as "Innovation and Entrepreneurship".

[[File:543259 4602271811793 143955698 n.jpg|center|543259 4602271811793 143955698 n.jpg]]

= Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship =

Union College is a hub of social events. At this point, every department holds weekly speaker series, there is at least one speaker or discussion event going on each day, and every student can easily obtain a minor leadership position. With vibrant Greek life, and vibrant social life through campus activities, Union sometimes feels overwhelmingly educational even outside of the classroom. With a lot of campus events being student-run, Union students tend to acquire excellent advertising, planning, and event facilitating skills during their four years at the U. A large number of these students join MBA programs, medical school, or law school, and it is highly common for Union engineers to continue their education in business rather than engineering, simply because their interdisciplinary engineering experience allows them to become leaders in the business areas of engineering.

For those students interested in technological advancement, Union is the place to be. With only undergradute students on campus, the professors are committed to providing research opportunities and seeking interested students. Although different for students in liberal arts, engineering students frequently take on faculty research projects as early as their freshman year, committing to practica or summer research.

Students interested in entrepreneurship always find their niche. Ranging from academic majors in economics and menagerial economics that allow vast exploration of the curriculum, through the combined 5-year MBA program with Union Graduate College, this liberal arts college provides a good amount of opportunities for broad education that easily leads to business and entrepreneurship.

= Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship =

Professor Hal Fried, of Economics department, and Professor Ron Bucinell, in Mechanical Engineering, are joining their efforts and cooperating with the Alumni Committee on Entrepreneurship, striving to advance Union's current position on entrepreneurship. They are jointly teaching a class on entrepreneurship, offered next trimester.

Professor Fried, in particular, has organized some wonderful international opportunities, such as the Minerva Fellowship (recent graduates' year-long placement in a developing community). One such opportunity is available at a small manufacturing business in India. Professor Harold Fried has also initiated entrepreneurship exchange program to Cambodia. His efforts on campus are a true inspiration. 

Professor Bucinell in Mechanical Engineering department is one of the most passionate innovators. He consistently emphasizes importance on entrepreneurship and innovation in all of his engineering classes. He is one of the best connected faculty members when it comes to local businesses and industry.

= The University Technology Transfer Function =

Union College makes its students a priority, which means the vast majority of faculty gives their best effort to teaching, and working closely with undergraduate students on reseach projects. In engineering, the communication with industry is the greatest. Professors appear well connected and often know of industrial opportunities, as well as do consulting or work on policy making in the region. 

One of the better known cases of the technology transfer is an invention by Professor Frank Wicks, who for the longest time held a patent for his electricity-producing furnace. He used thermodynamics and heat transfer theories to arrive at a furnace design that would be producing electricity while it uses it, and in turn allow for cost decrease and advancement in efforts for creating environmentally friendly technologies.

The research opportunities at Union are vastly available, and often provide not only excellent academic experiences, but also teach students valuable skills for their future work in industry.

= University-Industry Collaboration =

Union College is very fortunately located in the region full of industrial opportunities. For small and individualized businesses to GE headquarters and global research center, Union students seem to easily obtain employment in the areas of their choice. While there is a valuable collaboration between academic departments and local industrial businesses, it is important to note that the majority of students identifies their possibilities and opportunities through Becker Career Center on campus.

Due to a high demand for engineers, Union College strives to prepare its engineering students for the industrial setting to the best of its ability. Combined with the excellent research opportunities available on campus, Union engineers are prepared for every possible environment. 

Through ASME speaking competitions, GE Prize Day Awards, and IBM internships offered, Union maintains a highly successful long-term relationship with local industries.

= Regional and Local Economic Development Efforts =

Union College provides a good balance of innovation on campus and service to the community. The engineering faculty strives very hard to identify the key areas in education that need improvement in order to educate engineers who will be an excellent fit for the jobs that are currently on the market for them. At times this involves high increase of software use, very frequent team work, design projects, and open-ended questions. 

To a student, this may seem like the College is attempting to produce a "disruptive" engineer, by educating students to become marketable, competitive, and long-term desirable candidates for a wide range of positions. Union students are repeatedly told that their designs, ideas, and projects need to be cutting edge, and fresh. A Mechanical Engineering professor particularly discourages brainstorming in his class, claiming that it shuts down the most unique and innovative ideas. In his MER 419: Design of Mechanical Systems, this professor ensures that his students spend the lab portion of the course working on a design project for a local company. So far, he has found that students are able to come up with fresh ideas, and unique ways of resolving problems differently from engineers in industry.

Union College, along with RPI, and SUNY Albany, drives the technological development of the region and provides constant supply of excellent engineers ready to tackle today's technological, mathematical, and business challenges.

= The Landscape Canvas =

[[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sofKiJqVwrf2M5iEg_kI3o0Rm5PrpyfAzHvg2urhSIQ/edit?usp=sharing: 2016 Landscape Canvas]]

= Related Links =

[[Union College Strategic Priorities]]

[[Hristina Milojevic]]

[[Sean Farrell]]

[[Category:Universities]]

Resource:How to generate awareness and excitement by raising the profile of innovators on campus

2016-01-22T03:08:39Z

Singera:

Introduction

Many times when a student gathers enough courage to be a leader on their campus, they take that first exciting step by creating their own club of innovators. After making the colorful posters, inviting every friend they have on facebook, going out to buy snacks and setting up with the club's name in big letters on the blackboard, attendance is lower than hoped. So what happened? Why is it that once we discover something great that we want to bring to campus that it’s so hard to get people to commit to it? In this wiki, we will uncover the keys to creating an atmosphere on your campus in which current innovators are known and celebrated. This is important in order for their ideas to be heard and highlighted.

Look for Resources that are Already There

A great way to start is to inform people on what being an innovator is. Many people don’t want to get involved because they either don’t know what innovation is or they think that it would be too much work. Quell their fears and create and share a short video to explain/demonstrate what being an innovator is about. Lead by example and talk about the various ways that you act as an innovator. Try talking with people on campus and see who they would recommend as an innovator. This not only gets people excited that they are an innovator but that their friends recognize them as such.

Most people try to start from scratch in bringing innovation to campus, when really there are many people on campus that are already acting as innovators! Use their drive and accomplishments as an example of what innovation is by showcasing their stories!

Rather than regular meetings, focus on larger, more unique events. After all, it's easier to have someone commit to one big event then repetitive gatherings. See if you can find an established group at school and co-host an event with them. The group will be glad that their club is getting more recognition and you will have a larger network of people that will learn about your event.

Make sure to reach out to various professors and faculty that seem like they would like to promote innovation on campus. These professors are likely to encourage their students to attend innovation events through word of mouth and extra credit. In addition, involving faculty will help guide a shift in curriculum to a more I&E centered discussion.

Who to Get Involved/Finding Innovators

There are certain groups and individual innovators who could provide great support and take your cause to the next level. Key contributors would be faculty, other students, established organizations, alumni, and guest speakers.

Faculty frequently recognize students whose ideas push boundaries inside and outside the classroom. Reach out to faculty and ask for help with identifying students who they already perceive as innovative. In doing this not only will faculty become an integral part of the process but they themselves can also show their innovative side and join you on the journey.

Other students are able to do a lot of face to face recruiting and create hype within the student body. From speaking to fellow classmates/faculty to spreading their views on social media other students can either make or break the rally/momentum you have behind your cause.

Established organizations work well in the sense that if they host an event people genuinely care about or are interested in then they can get a large turnout. With these large turnout possibilities the opportunity for reaching possible members for your movement increases.

Alumni have a great deal of influence within the community on your campus. This is so because when it comes to the student body they are able to persuade and inspire with their very own success stories. Having an alum that was once part of your innovation cohort or is an innovator in their own right will also provide great strides in recruiting more innovators. Alumni also have a special place within the hearts of faculty because they are the product of their teachings and endeavors. In that sense alumni will be able to help reach out to those faculty or administrators that may be stalwart or unwilling to help when you originally spoke to them yourself.

Guest speakers have the ability to draw in an audience that will recognize and possibly support your cause through their message and mere presence. They also have the great ability to rally new supporters behind your cause. With that they can also serve as figureheads for your cause which will greatly help with recruiting.

How to Generate Excitement for Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Branding

Generating excitement about innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) can be a rather difficult task at most schools. There are two key approaches that have been shown to attract the most attention: rather exclusive events and/or creating a culture shift.

Exclusive Events:The first idea when trying to inspire more I&E around a campus is typically to start a club focusing on this subject. While this can work in some cases it is not always the most effective approach (although success stories of this may be seen for example at [http://www.mtu.edu/news/stories/2015/march/university-innovation-fellows-promote-entrepreneurship-tech.html M][http://www.mtu.edu/news/stories/2015/march/university-innovation-fellows-promote-entrepreneurship-tech.html ichigan Tech]). You will plan and plan and have great curriculum but because this is a once a week meeting, students will put off actually going and end up not participating. To combat this, approach the situation with exclusive events. Have a key group of people work together to plan events that celebrate I&E and then either make them open to your campus or focus on a select group. This stirs up more attention because then students with an interest in this topic are essentially forced to attend lest they miss a fantastic learning opportunity. An example of this sort of event is mentioned in Ways to Showcase Innovators on Campus detailing an awards ceremony that was created at [http://www.jewell.edu William Jewell College] to recognize those with an I&E mindset.

Creating A Culture Shift:Another approach to promoting I&E is to help create a cultural shift around your campus, with imagery and media (both online and offline) that celebrate the students and faculty whose creative work, research, entrepreneurial ventures, and innovative ideas are making a difference in the community and in the world. Many people don’t realize the awesome things that are going on on their campuses unless it is spelled out for them. One of the main things to keep in mind when started to raise this sort of awareness around your campus is developing a branding guide.This is especially important so that your efforts can be easily helped by university communications staff, admissions staff, and other stakeholders across campus who might want to help promote these students' stories.If all of your material (posters, flyers, emails, etc…) seen by those on your campus are made by the same standards (a unified color palette, one type of font, certain spacing every time, etc…) then it makes it more legitimized. A great example of this is the [http://jewellbiz.com/category/entrepreneurship/ #thismatters] campaign started at William Jewell College. This campaign focused on showcasing students and faculty who were/are doing just really awesome things on their campus (i.e. developing an app, improving fitness for children, etc…). From these stories a group of students developed banners, printed on vinyl, that were put up all around their campus so they just became an integrated part of the college life at William Jewell. Note the basic tagline at the top that says what the student is accomplishing, then smaller it goes into why this student is doing this, says who this person is, and then #thismatters. All of the posters at William Jewell were standardized to this layout, what changed, however, were the background colors and the stories.
<div>[[File:IMG 5253.JPG|An example of a #thismatters campaign poster from William Jewell College]] </div>
'''Ways to Showcase Innovators on Campus:'''

*Creating short (30 second) clips to put on YouTube to highlight and promote one’s work
**{{#Widget:Youtube|id=_WPWrC03-C4|width=800p|height=400p}}{{#Widget:Youtube|id=Y1cpb10LvB0|width=800p|height=400p}}
*Create a hashtag to use for Instagram and Twitter posts
**Post frequently and keep people up to date with news regarding innovation as well as what is happening on campus
*Recognition Awards for Groups and Individuals
**Present these awards to faculty, students, and groups at times when others are around as to generate more awareness of their innovation
*Placing posters around campus that highlight the work of innovators
**Make sure these are posted in diverse areas on campus. This means that if a poster highlights the work of a political science student, it gets put in the math and science buildings/regions of campus, and if a chemistry student is being highlighted, the poster gets placed in the law building and the English building. This is done to encourage cross-disciplinary thinking.

'''Written By:'''

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/User:Lopezd3 Daniela S. Lopez], 
<div> </div>