Changes

Texas A&M has a large innovation innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem. We have a variety of resources aimed at reaching both graduate and undergraduate students, as well as faculty. However, many of the more developed programs are limited to graduate students due to the fact that funds are easier spent on students that are very serious about their pursuits. Undergraduate programs are not non-existent, but simply younger and it less robust. Student body awareness is ranked an issue that plauges these newer events as well as an uncertainty of what our campus wants to develop in order to increase the sixth largest university in AmericaI&E mentality. They have Knowing what students would want to attend is somewhat of a lot shot in the dark, hampering the development of resources that new programs. That being said, programs are primarily used being developed with modest success by the engineering faculty. The ultimate pathway to growth in student auidience sizes can be found in student-aided promotion and program development ( i.e. University Innovation Fellows). The Texas A&M University UIF's are devoted to allowing these new and immensly important programs to flourish. We intend to be the bridge between the faculty that have the ability to appropriate the neccessary funding and graduate the students because of that have aspirations for the maturity of their research or seriousness of seeing their idea throughcampus environment. Therefore, there  = Project: <span style="font-size:smaller;">Second-Tier Idea-to-Startup Support Structure</span>&nbsp; = UIF Involved: Brendan Cooper This project is aimed at developing an additional undergraduate program that helps to increase the conversion rate between ideation and startup businesses. There exists a gap program within Texas A&M called Aggies Invent in undergraduate involvement which students participate in an all-inclusive innovation weekend. They are tasked with deciding on a need that requires a solution, and are then expected to diagnose the vast amount issue and develop an early stage solution. Through this avenue of resourcescreative incitement, groups and ideas are created that have genuine business potential, due and could be taken to further stages of development. Currently it is very difficult to gather the neccessary momentum to proceed into a business venture. This is because of several issues: 1) Students are unmotivated/ get discouraged not knowing what to do next 2) School is demanding 3) Students become doubtful of their lack of confidence products' or being unaware of their own potential 4) The group has bad chemistry/ not all members wish to continue These are issues that need to be minimized in order to effectively promote the resources ideas that have true merit. Our plan is to develop a secondary event or program that comes in to re-inspire students and provided much needed guidance at the right time--just before most groups face an utter demize. There are readily available several ways to themachieve this, and a multitude of events that could be hosted to make the entrepreneurial process smoother on campus. The primary way this gap can  == Milestone #1: == Research needs to be filled is through students equipping other students with conducted within the knowledge existing Aggies Invent program in order to establish a program that faculty and confidence students agree would be mutually beneficial. Intentions: '''1) Conduct interviews at an Aggies Invent weekend for groups that participate.''' &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Types of input expected: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; What program would they need like to see? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; How would you rate your group effectiveness? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Do you think you will continue developing your idea? '''2) Particpate in an Aggies Invent weekend.''' &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Types of takeaways expected: &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Did our group expect to use these resourcescontinue? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Why did or didn't we? &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; What obstacles did we face? '''Dates:''' October 23-25: Research conducted for participants of an Aggies invent, base line interviews.

The Innovation Leadership Council, a student organization yet to be created, will become the group Week of students who are knowledgeable of all resources available on campus. Their primary goal will be to counsel other students November 2nd: Conduct Follow up interviews to see an idea from start to finish. The council will consist of ten students from various majors around campus such as: Engineering, Agriculture, Biomedical, determine how many groups did infact continue and Business. Each student will then be responsible for finding a faculty member who will support them, so as to build a council of faculty members for these students to turn towhy.

At first, the organization will be used to continue building a model of what each major perceives the innovation and entrepreneurial gaps are within their major and what resources are available to fill that gap. All of these resources will then be consolidated into one place where all students can easily access and understand them. There are four stages that students can go through to reach their full potential. When the council is knowledgeable of all available resources on campus, they will begin to seek ways to engage students in innovation and entrepreneurship. The council will engage students through four stages: Excitement, Education, Creation and Support, and Continued Support. These stages are meant toNovember 20-22: build personal interest Particpate in innovation and entrepreneurship, give students the confidence to begin their journey to have a startup company, help them launch their business or organization, then to connect them with all the resources they need to be independentAggies Invent weekend.

These strategies are primarily focused on equipping undergraduate students with the knowledge they need to follow a great idea from start to finish through using the resources already available at Texas A== Milestone #2:&M.nbsp; ==

Below is December (after semester): develop comprehensive plan of when we can implement a lead model that helps determine the gaps and how to fill themtest event.

[[File== Milestone #3:Tamu Lead model.jpg|center|400px|Tamu Lead model.jpg]]==

There is a gap that needs to be filled in giving students an avenue to be innovative. Building a council of students who pave the way for others to be innovative would fill this gap. Students will be more willing approach a council '''1) Ideation of students for advice about their innovative and entrepreneurial ideas. The council can then encourage them and point them in the right direction. The council will constantly be up to date with what is going on in the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem and with the resources available on campus program needs to help studentscontain (using research as guide).'''

'''Team Leader&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Things to remember:''' Graham, Dean

*Faculty advisor - 12/13*Student Leaders go through training - 12/13*Write organization's constitution - 12/13*Become recognized student organization by university&nbsp;- 12/13&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The event should resemble the same basic structure as its parent event: Aggies Invent, but with a few twists.

== Tactic #'''2: Build Council Team ==) Draft the program based on what is settled upon in the stage above.'''

To influence innovation and entrepreneurship on a grand scale, you need '''3) Reserve the resources needed to build a diverse council from many different majors throughout campus. This will allow complete the council to be informed on many different events/resources available all over campusevent. This will make the council all the more influential in how it can help students through whatever phase of innovation they're in, whether it be engineering, agriculture or business.''

'''Team Leader:4) Invite teams that have participated in Aggies Invent in the past (max 10 teams).''' Graham, Dean

'''Milestones:5) Run the test program.'''

== Tactic #3January 2016: Gain Faculty Support ==Complete ideation and start drafting the program structure.

Faculty support is crucial. The faculty are February 2016: Reserve the decision-makers on campus, who can supply the council with whatever resources they need to grow. They are able to advise and host the council on which direction they are headed and whether or not it will have a positive impactevent.

'''Team Leader= Project 2:''' Council team<span style="font-size:smaller;">SpaceX Hyperloop Design Competition</span> =

'''MilestonesUIF Involved:'''Carson Muscat

*Inform council team of Our university has been given an&nbsp;amazing opportunity to host a large scale event focused around fostering the importance of faculty support - 12/13*Council team gains faculty support from each major - 12/13innovation and entrepreneurial spirit within student minds.

== Milestone#1: <br/> ==

= <br= Milestone #2: == Coordinate with other representatives of the Texas A&M Student body to be able to bring a stronger student involvement and interest into the event. == Milestone #3: == Help run the event to perfection come January 2016. = Project 3: TAMUHack integration = Currently, one of the largest Innovation and Entrepreneurship events at our school is TAMUHack. TAMUHack is a 24h event in which students from multiple schools come to build a hack, pitch their idea, and win prizes. At the moment, the event is completely student-organized and the university does not provide a significant amount of sponsorship or coverage to it. The funds for the event are raised through industry sponsors. I believe the event could be expanded to include more people, and there could be additional ways to integrate more engineers, rather than computer scientists.&nbsp; == Milestone #1: == To begin the process of change: 1) Contact the TAMUHack board to let them know my intentions. 2) Join the board and aid with organization and sponsor/fund acquisition.&nbsp; == Milestone #2: == After I've joined, we need to take the following steps/goals: 1) Improve fund acquisition to increase attendance;&nbsp; 2) Have better media coverage of the event, and more publicity/advertising. 3) Arrange a meeting between the I & E steering council of A&M with the TAMUHack board. == Milestone #3: == After we've arranged / integrated TAMUHack with our I&E expansion, we can then begin the process of arranging /> implementing all the goals. = Project 4: U-Ignite Video Competition = UIF Involved: Jean-Claude Faa The U-Ignite Video Competition is a one-minute idea pitch competition established in Fall 2014. It establishes a platform for students to submit a one minute video, detailing an innovation idea they may have, for a chance to win a grand prize. == Milestone #1: == 1) Establish Innovation and Entrepreneurship &nbsp;Modules for Introduction to Engineering freshman course 2) Establish student-led pop-up classes for students interested in further instruction on Innovation and Entrepreneurship 3) Advertise the U-Ignite Video Competition, and hold informational sessions Deliver date: December 14, 2015 == Milestone #2: == Launch U-Ignite Video Competition (January 2016) - Open video submission box - Open online voting and judging - Reward top submission Delivery date: April 2016 == Milestone #3: == Competition Follow-up -Follow up with competitor to see if any are interested in pursuing their ideas -Work with contestant as well on campus resources to bring ideas to life Delivery date: TBD

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Carson_Muscat Carson Muscat] [http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Jean-Claude_Faa Jean-Claude Faa] [http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Brendan_Cooper Brendan Cooper] [http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Jeff_Zhao Jeff Zhao] [[/Kanika Gakhar|/Kanika_Gakhar]] [[Category:Student Priorities|]][[Category:Student Priorities]][[Category:Texas_A_&_M_University]][[Category:Student_Priorities]]{{CatTree|Texas_A_&_M_University}}