Priorities:Western Michigan University Student Priorities

Strategy 1

First Year Experience (FYE) Class

Western Michigan University, like many other colleges, offers a list of courses designed specifically for first year students. These First Year Experience (FYE) classes are designed to connect new students to faculty, staff, student leaders and peers to facilitate their success. Additionally, this two credit course provides great opportunities for students to explore their personal interests and discover the available student organizations that are pursuing these innitiatives at a professional level. A full description of these courses and curriculum can be found here (http://wmich.edu/fye/firstyear-seminar.html). As an already existing course that accesses the majority of freshman, this is a very attractive opportunity to instill and promote the values of innovation and entrepreneurship at WMU.

To gain access through these courses, the following tactics should be implemented:

Tactic #1- Begin by meeting with the leaders who design the FYE program and see what is involved in editing curriculum or creating a new section to include entrepreneurship in each FYE section for a few week period.  

Tactic #2- Workclosely with entrepreneurship professors across campus find out what they would want to include in the FYE class schedule. Educate students and help them learn more about what innovation and entrepreneuship are and how their benefits can apply to every professional enterprise.

Successful incorporation of I&E ideals into this program could begin a long lasting tradition of first year student participation in UIF's goals.