Difference between revisions of "School:Converse College"

From University Innovation Fellows
Jump to navigation Jump to search
 
(29 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 5: Line 5:
 
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">[[File:970312 624336567587821 953896863 n.jpg|center|970312 624336567587821 953896863 n.jpg]]</span></span></span>
 
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:large;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">[[File:970312 624336567587821 953896863 n.jpg|center|970312 624336567587821 953896863 n.jpg]]</span></span></span>
  
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;">Converse College is an all-women’s liberal arts college in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Founded in 1889, Converse College continues to adhere to its founder's ideals, seeking to inspire "voice, value, and vision" in its students.&nbsp;It has received press in past years for lowering its tuition by 43 percent. In 2014, it ranked 23<sup>rd&nbsp;</sup>among Regional University South’s college rankings.</span></span></span>
+
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;">Converse College is an all-women’s liberal arts college in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Founded in 1889, Converse College continues to adhere to its founder's ideals, seeking to inspire "voice, value, and vision" in its students.&nbsp;It has received press in past years for lowering its tuition by 43 percent. In 2014, it ranked 22nd<sup>&nbsp;</sup>among Regional University South’s college rankings.</span></span></span>
  
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;">At the end of the 2014/2015 academic year, Converse initiated many progressive changes to its curriculum and culture under the umbrella "LEAD" Action Plan. The LEAD Plan (Learning, Enrollment, Access, and Activation)&nbsp;at Converse College includes the addition of programs, certificates, and centers in a variety of disciplines, an experiential learning graduation requirement for all majors, and the&nbsp;"Creativity that Works" plan in the School of the Arts. Converse College also has a strong presence in the Spartanburg community for service and service learning. This January, Converse had the highest participation rate in Spartanburg, SC, for students actively involved in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.</span></span></span>
+
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;">In 2017 a new Quality Enhancement Plan was launched with several goals in mind. The purpose of the QEP is to intergrate existing and new initiatives into the General Education Program requirements in order to broaden perspectives in real world areans through diverse experiences. The QEP also sponsors visiting speakers, film screenings and workshops to expose students to different cultures, backgrounds and identities. It will also provide oppurtunities for internship and study abroad programs for students to learn about different cultures. Converse College also has a strong presence in the Spartanburg community for service and service learning. This January, Converse had the highest participation rate in Spartanburg, SC, for students actively involved in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.</span></span></span>
  
 
== '''<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Promoting student innovation and entrepreneurship</span></span></span>''' ==
 
== '''<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Promoting student innovation and entrepreneurship</span></span></span>''' ==
Line 13: Line 13:
 
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">For what Converse lacks in engineering and technology programs and resources, it makes up with student passion and initiative.&nbsp;Students are encouraged by faculty, staff, and campus leaders&nbsp;to participate in innovative activities, provide solutions for campus-wide problems, and create programs or organizations to tackle them.&nbsp;There is no formalized problem solving or venture creation process, but some channels students can access when looking to implement solutions or open dialogue are the individual academic departments, the Center for Professional Development, the Office of Student Life, the Center for Leadership and Service, the President's Office, and the Student Government Association (SGA).</span></span></span>
 
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">For what Converse lacks in engineering and technology programs and resources, it makes up with student passion and initiative.&nbsp;Students are encouraged by faculty, staff, and campus leaders&nbsp;to participate in innovative activities, provide solutions for campus-wide problems, and create programs or organizations to tackle them.&nbsp;There is no formalized problem solving or venture creation process, but some channels students can access when looking to implement solutions or open dialogue are the individual academic departments, the Center for Professional Development, the Office of Student Life, the Center for Leadership and Service, the President's Office, and the Student Government Association (SGA).</span></span></span>
  
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">A significant portion of the student body is actively involved in the SGA.&nbsp;Converse College Radio, a new venture this year, has been notably entrepreneurial from its inception. At present,&nbsp;there is no SGA organization that caters to the specifically entrepreneurial needs of the students.&nbsp;</span></span></span>
+
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">A significant portion of the student body is actively involved in the SGA. However, there is&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">no SGA organization that caters to the specifically entrepreneurial needs of the students. There has established certifications such as the Music Business and Technology Certificate, Performance Certificate for Non-Performance Music Majors, and the Business Professionalism Certificate Program, all of which require students to take an array of courses across one or more disciplines.&nbsp;</span>
 +
 
 +
<span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma, geneva, sans-serif;">The college and its faculty and staff encourage student innovation and entrepreneurship through the Social Entrepreneurship minor, SCICU grant applications, SGA funding, and Student Excellence funding by the Office of the Provost and Associate Provost.</span></span>
 +
 
  
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">The college and its faculty and staff encourage student innovation and entrepreneurship through the Creative Collaborative Grant program and SCICU grant applications. Aspects of the new LEAD Action Plan are already being implemented. The School of the Arts is in its first year of conducting courses that specifically link innovation and creative entrepreneurship with arts disciplines for freshmen and sophomores. Eventually, the entire campus academic system will follow this lead.</span>&nbsp;</span></span>
 
 
<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p>
 
<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p>
 
== '''<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Encouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship</span></span></span>''' ==
 
== '''<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Encouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship</span></span></span>''' ==
Line 27: Line 29:
 
== '''<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Actively supporting the university technology transfer function</span></span></span>''' ==
 
== '''<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Actively supporting the university technology transfer function</span></span></span>''' ==
  
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Converse currently has no formalized function to support student ventures on campus. Students looking for venture support should look to outside sources of information, like the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation, communicating their need and vision to various donors, partnering with local businesses like The Iron Yard, or with&nbsp;like-minded students on campus to start an initiative for a project or business idea. Support is available through many sources, but the majority of students do not seek it.&nbsp;</span></span></span>
+
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Campus Technology provides students with the necessary resources to start student ventures on campus. Converse currently has no formalized function to financially support student ventures on campus. Students looking for financial venture support should look to outside sources of information, like the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation, communicating their need and vision to various donors, partnering with companies like Milliken, or with&nbsp;like-minded students on campus to start an initiative for a project or business idea. Support is available through many sources, but the majority of students do not seek it.&nbsp;</span></span></span>
  
 
== '''<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration</span></span></span>''' ==
 
== '''<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration</span></span></span>''' ==
Line 35: Line 37:
 
== '''<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Engaging with Regional and Local Development Efforts</span></span></span>''' ==
 
== '''<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Engaging with Regional and Local Development Efforts</span></span></span>''' ==
  
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;">As an Algernon Sydney Sullivan school, Converse has a longstanding tradition of service to others. In recent years, this focus has continued to develop to an academic and experiential focus on social entrepreneurship. &nbsp;A select number of courses are dedicated to Social Entrepreneurship’s applications in the surrounding community and worldwide. Particularly interested individuals can choose to attend the Sullivan Social Enterprise retreat in the fall or spring sessions. Converse has also sent a team to the foundation’s social venture competition. Converse continues to increase its Social entrepreneurship offerings, from courses and seminars to exploratory learning trips.</span></span></span>
+
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;">As an Algernon Sydney Sullivan school, Converse has a longstanding tradition of service to others. In recent years, this focus has continued to develop to an academic and experiential focus on social entrepreneurship. &nbsp;A select number of courses are dedicated to Social Entrepreneurship’s applications in the surrounding community and worldwide. Particularly interested individuals can choose to attend the Sullivan Social Enterprise retreat in the fall or spring sessions. However, the social entrepreneurship minor has not been able to form a separate entity with courses and professors from different disciplines. Currently, the minor requires courses that most business majors have already taken.&nbsp;</span></span></span>
  
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;">There is a strong need for concretized partnerships between Converse and its neighboring colleges (Wofford, USC etc.) as well as Spartanburg area businesses.&nbsp;Because of Converse's long standing commitment to service, there is much that could be done between college-community partnerships that could aid the development of Spartanburg as a whole.&nbsp;</span></span></span>
+
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size:medium;">There is a strong need for concretized partnerships between Converse and its neighboring colleges (Wofford, USC etc.) as well as Spartanburg area businesses.&nbsp;Because of Converse's long-standing commitment to service, there is much that could be done between college-community partnerships that could aid the development of Spartanburg as a whole.&nbsp;</span></span></span>
  
 
== '''<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Future</span></span></span>''' ==
 
== '''<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Future</span></span></span>''' ==
  
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">In 2014, Converse funded its first university Innovation Fellow, Nadia Gathers. Funding this program has put Converse’s dedication to constant growth and institution-wide innovation at the forefront. It joins other upstate SC universities in the program, including Wofford, Clemson, and Furman.</span></span></span>
+
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">In 2014, Converse funded its first University Innovation Fellow, Nadia Gathers. In 2019, Converse funded three University Innovation Fellows, Aliyah Hancock, Jhazmin Gomez-Reyes and Marisa Daquil-Kawabe. Funding this program has put Converse’s dedication to constant growth and institution-wide innovation at the forefront. It joins other upstate SC universities in the program, including Wofford, Clemson, and Furman.</span></span></span>
  
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Converse currently offers extensive programs in skills such as leadership, managerial processes, and others necessary to build a successful repertoire outside of college or university. It also provides multiple opportunities for students to conduct individualized institutional research.</span></span></span>
+
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Converse currently offers extensive programs in skills such as leadership, managerial processes, and others necessary to build a successful repertoire outside of college or university. It also provides multiple opportunities for students to conduct individualized institutional research and experimential learning.</span></span></span>
  
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Among the news initiatives that will all be in effect by the end of the 2016/2017 academic year are the&nbsp;Business Professional Development Certificate (Economics, Business, and Accounting), the&nbsp;Digital Arts Certificate (English, Graphic Design, and Computer Science), and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Vocational and Career Development Curricular Integration Plan in the School of the Arts (Art & Design, Theater and Musical Theater, School of Music, and Dance). Programs such as these, and the attitudes they instill in campus culture, will propel the college forward.&nbsp;</span></span></span>
+
<span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:medium;"><span style="font-family:tahoma,geneva,sans-serif;">Among the news initiatives that will all be in effect by the end of the 2019/2020&nbsp;</span></span></span><span style="font-family: tahoma, geneva, sans-serif; font-size: medium; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">academic year are the&nbsp;Business Professional Development Certificate (Economics, Business, and Accounting), the&nbsp;Digital Arts Certificate (English, Graphic Design, and Computer Science), and&nbsp;the&nbsp;Vocational and Career Development Curricular Integration Plan in the School of the Arts (Art & Design, Theater and Musical Theater, School of Music, and Dance). Programs such as these, and the attitudes they instill in campus culture, will propel the college forward.&nbsp;</span>
  
 
<span style="color:#000000;">&nbsp;</span>
 
<span style="color:#000000;">&nbsp;</span>
Line 53: Line 55:
 
[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1boC2giDZ-Enj_RmlLcomATumxFMf26xkUf3gLmnjrBE/edit#gid=0 Landscape Canvas]
 
[https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1boC2giDZ-Enj_RmlLcomATumxFMf26xkUf3gLmnjrBE/edit#gid=0 Landscape Canvas]
  
= <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;">Related Links</span> =
+
= <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;">Related Links</span><br/> =
 +
 
 +
'''<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;">Converse College</span>'''
  
[[Converse College Student Priorities|Converse College Student Priorities]]
+
[[Converse College Student Priorities|<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap; background-color: transparent;">Converse College Student Priorities</span>]]
  
 
[https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/15m1w-KyVzg7_QdM8_aACSu7FrUcx9-wm-H2XsMAKT_Y/edit Business Model Canvas]
 
[https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/15m1w-KyVzg7_QdM8_aACSu7FrUcx9-wm-H2XsMAKT_Y/edit Business Model Canvas]
  
Converse College Project Pitch:&nbsp;[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0cd6s6FWAI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0cd6s6FWAI]
+
Converse College Project Pitch:&nbsp;&nbsp;[https://youtu.be/ryI_oSt2uKc] 2019
 +
 
 +
&nbsp;[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0cd6s6FWAI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0cd6s6FWAI]&nbsp;2016
 +
 
 +
University Innovation Fellows
 +
 
 +
Fall 2019
 +
 
 +
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Aliyah_Hancock Aliyah Hancock]
 +
 
 +
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Jhazmin_Gomez_Reyes Jhazmin]&nbsp;[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Jhazmin_Gomez_Reyes Gomez Reyes]
 +
 
 +
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Marisa_Kawabe Marisa Kawabe]
 +
 
 +
Spring 2016:
  
University Innovation Fellow:
+
[[Sanuja Goonetilleke|Sanuja Goonetiieke]]
 +
 
 +
Spring 2015:
  
 
[[Nadia Gathers|Nadia Gathers]]
 
[[Nadia Gathers|Nadia Gathers]]
 
[[Sanuja Goonetilleke|Sanuja_Goonetilleke]]
 
  
 
[[Category:Universities]]
 
[[Category:Universities]]
 +
[[Category:Schools]]
 +
[[Category:Converse_College]]
 +
{{CatTree|Converse_College}}

Latest revision as of 19:23, 5 June 2020

20081203 CON-logo1 type.jpg

Converse College]

970312 624336567587821 953896863 n.jpg

Converse College is an all-women’s liberal arts college in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Founded in 1889, Converse College continues to adhere to its founder's ideals, seeking to inspire "voice, value, and vision" in its students. It has received press in past years for lowering its tuition by 43 percent. In 2014, it ranked 22nd among Regional University South’s college rankings.

In 2017 a new Quality Enhancement Plan was launched with several goals in mind. The purpose of the QEP is to intergrate existing and new initiatives into the General Education Program requirements in order to broaden perspectives in real world areans through diverse experiences. The QEP also sponsors visiting speakers, film screenings and workshops to expose students to different cultures, backgrounds and identities. It will also provide oppurtunities for internship and study abroad programs for students to learn about different cultures. Converse College also has a strong presence in the Spartanburg community for service and service learning. This January, Converse had the highest participation rate in Spartanburg, SC, for students actively involved in the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

Promoting student innovation and entrepreneurship

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

A significant portion of the student body is actively involved in the SGA. However, there is no SGA organization that caters to the specifically entrepreneurial needs of the students. There has established certifications such as the Music Business and Technology Certificate, Performance Certificate for Non-Performance Music Majors, and the Business Professionalism Certificate Program, all of which require students to take an array of courses across one or more disciplines. 

The college and its faculty and staff encourage student innovation and entrepreneurship through the Social Entrepreneurship minor, SCICU grant applications, SGA funding, and Student Excellence funding by the Office of the Provost and Associate Provost.


Encouraging faculty innovation and entrepreneurship

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

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

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

Actively supporting the university technology transfer function

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

Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration

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

Engaging with Regional and Local Development Efforts

As an Algernon Sydney Sullivan school, Converse has a longstanding tradition of service to others. In recent years, this focus has continued to develop to an academic and experiential focus on social entrepreneurship.  A select number of courses are dedicated to Social Entrepreneurship’s applications in the surrounding community and worldwide. Particularly interested individuals can choose to attend the Sullivan Social Enterprise retreat in the fall or spring sessions. However, the social entrepreneurship minor has not been able to form a separate entity with courses and professors from different disciplines. Currently, the minor requires courses that most business majors have already taken. 

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

Future

In 2014, Converse funded its first University Innovation Fellow, Nadia Gathers. In 2019, Converse funded three University Innovation Fellows, Aliyah Hancock, Jhazmin Gomez-Reyes and Marisa Daquil-Kawabe. Funding this program has put Converse’s dedication to constant growth and institution-wide innovation at the forefront. It joins other upstate SC universities in the program, including Wofford, Clemson, and Furman.

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

Among the news initiatives that will all be in effect by the end of the 2019/2020 academic year are the Business Professional Development Certificate (Economics, Business, and Accounting), the Digital Arts Certificate (English, Graphic Design, and Computer Science), and the Vocational and Career Development Curricular Integration Plan in the School of the Arts (Art & Design, Theater and Musical Theater, School of Music, and Dance). Programs such as these, and the attitudes they instill in campus culture, will propel the college forward. 

 

Landscape Canvas

Landscape Canvas

Related Links

Converse College

Converse College Student Priorities

Business Model Canvas

Converse College Project Pitch:  [1] 2019

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0cd6s6FWAI 2016

University Innovation Fellows

Fall 2019

Aliyah Hancock

Jhazmin Gomez Reyes

Marisa Kawabe

Spring 2016:

Sanuja Goonetiieke

Spring 2015:

Nadia Gathers