2023 Cohort
34
edits
Changes
=Fall 2023=
===Strategy #1: Improving students comfortability with public speaking in the form of a pitching activity while also further developing entrepreneurial skills===
----Based on the research conducted through a student survey and the landscape canvas, we identified the lack of tangible involved professional development opportunities on campus. Therefore, we developed a multifaceted approach to help students improve those missing components by creating a wide-ranging deck of cards. The cards are composed of three different categories: Instance, Audience and Reflection. Students would be required to pick both, an Instance and Audience card, which make up their specific pitch challenge. And after they finished their challenge, they then proceed to reflect on their experience with the help of the Reflection card.
Considering the combination of game, challenge and the use of resources on campus, we believe that with this idea we can encourage students to learn more about themselves both professionally and personally while meeting one of the needs expressed by our students (the lack of professional development support).
<br />
===Strategy #2: Reimagining an mandatory course intended to help students transition to our college===
----Responses from our student survey gave us insight on the need to revisit the content of Menlo 101, our required introductory to college course. We intend to combine current MLO 101 units with new hands-on activities that empower students to utilize our institution and outside resources. What motivates this change is the desire to create emotional investment in our college, a more helpful transition to college life, and give students more control of their college experience. This will require us to consult various faculty members, consult the student body, and ideate with fellows who've expressed interesting in revitalizing the course in the past. In measuring the results of our impact, we will follow-up with student/community pulse-checks and implement a succession plan in which the course gets reassessed and updated every two years.
Our initial course additions include:
- (Within first two weeks) What is Menlo College? A thorough introduction to provided majors, minors, study abroad programs, UIF, etc. This will be not unlike the landscape canvas we devised earlier in training. The activity would be followed-up with a guided walk-through of how to develop a rough 4-year plan of what they intend to do at Menlo.
- A professional development support program that guides students through the building of a strong resume, the research for areas of career interest, and potential companies they would like to intern or work in. A set of activities that would align with and introduce the Internship & Career Services.
- A detailed explanation combined with practical lessons on how to utilize different resources on campus, and how to engage in extracurriculars. This addition would lead students to truly understand the function of different departments existing on campus, and how to effectively get involved by taking initiatives such as creating a club.
<br />
=== '''Strategy #3: Strategy #3 Curating excitement and better understanding of the role the University Innovation Fellowship program plays on campus along with developing sustained interest and support from the student body for future cohort pursuits''' ===
----Throughout the progression of our training it became clear that cohorts encounter difficulties with executing and engaging student participation because a majority of our peers remain unaware of what UIF does and provides. This three part strategy begins with increasing awareness of the Menlo College UIF chapter and increasing interest in utilizing design thinking techniques. Once we've created awareness about the program, we will focus on providing an immersion or simulation that provides the students with the opportunity to experience recurrent UIF dynamics such as brainstorm sessions. Afterwards, we will be able to implement a "shadow program" that will serve as a succession plan for future UIF applicants, and students who want to be involved but have time limitations.
<br />
=Early Training Fall 2022=
<big>Menlo College is lacking in the university technology transfer function. Students are innovators and come up with amazing ideas. To build the bridge between ideas and economy some students need a hand. That is why we want to find a way to support their creative minds. In order to help students starting their own business, it is crucial to have a center, a club or a delegated person to talk to. That way students would not only be supported, but also motivated to implement their projects. That is a big step towards a more innovative and entrepreneurial Campus at Menlo College.</big>
<div>
People involved in the Menlo ecosystem have also often complained about the lack of student engagement. This includes participation in campus events, responsiveness to survey's or other news that requires student action. That's why we propose to update the main method of communication of Menlo, which is email today. We recommend to push the different main communcation to a different tool such as the Menlo app or social media with modern ways to engage the student body (slack, discord, instagram). It is also crucial to improve the myMenlo mobile version or organize workshops that emphasize the importance of communication.
==<span style="font-size:large;">'''<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Strategy #3: Guiding students in organizing innovative events.</span>'''</span>==
Students have creative minds and ideas, sometimes they need a hand on how to implement projects. In as Project Management Class, a Professor that has experiences in event planning will guide students and prepare them with everything that’s necessary for a successful project. The syllabus will contain topics like funding, management and marketing. Together as a class, students will decide on one project that they want to implement. Outcomes could be TedX Menlo College, Startup Weekend or Design Thinking Workshops. This will not only foster students to be creative and engaged, but also foster a more innovative climate on campus and events that every student can benefit from. <span style="font-size:large;">'''<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Strategy #4: Personalizing the learning experience with STEAM</span>'''</span> STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) education develops students’ soft and hard skills with the hands-on approach. This does not only increase engagement and motivation but makes personalized learning experience possible. In addition to the existing collaborative space, innovation center, Menlo College will offer resources and supplies to help students explore various subjects and opportunities they can create. This will also help attracting students to visit innovation center.
</div>
=<span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Fall 2021</span>=