2024-cohort
14
edits
Changes
Updating the Promoting Student Innovation section
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is one of the ways UNF encourages student innovation and entrepreneurship through funding a variety of different research-based projects. The final way that UNF encourages student innovation and entrepreneurship are through Transformational learning opportunities (TLOs). TLOs may take a myriad of forms that include study abroad experiences, service-learning experiences, research/directed independent study experiences with a faculty member, and leadership experiences.
In 2023, the University of North Florida’s Coggin College of Business received a grant from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. This leveraged Blackstone to establish programs across campus for students to expand their skill sets. [https://www.unf.edu/coggin/blackstonelaunchpad/index.html Blackstone LaunchPad] became a way for students to explore innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity. In addition, students develop their professional background during their journey of building careers and companies. This resource fosters community and allows students to connect with faculty and their peers. With Blackstone, students have access to various tools and systems, such as mentorship, funding options, equipment, spaces, and events to help support them in their endeavors as entrepreneurs. Some partners Blackstone has collaborated with include Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI), Career Services, and Small Business Development Center (SBDC). With these partners, Blackstone creates events for students to engage in, such as Pitch Competitions and Career Readiness Events. Whether you’re a student interested in innovation, or just curious about the entrepreneurship world, there are many resources available for students to explore, get engaged and get involved on campus.
==Encouraging Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship: ==
UNF also has an [https://www.unf.edu/research/Research_Development.aspx Office for Research & Sponsored Programs] (ORSP) which assists faculty in complying with university, federal, state, and funding agency guidelines, rules, and regulations during budget preparation when determining costs applicable to grants, contracts, and other agreements. If a faculty member would like to involve a student, or students, with their research, students are eligible to apply for an undergraduate research grant through the [https://www.unf.edu/our/ Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR)]. Students can receive up to $3,500 in funding towards research-related expenses.
UNF also offers a [https://https://www.unf.edu/acadaffairs/development_grantsasa/Faculty_Summer_Development_Grants_Programfunding-opportunities.aspx html Faculty Scholarship Development Grant] sponsored by Academic Affairs to help support research, scholarship, and creative activities generated by faculty. The grant are seen as seed funding for developing, publishing and writing new research, and experimenting with new forms of creative expression. Academic Affairs offers $7500 per funded individual, or $10,000 each for up to three faculty members working together on selected multidisciplinary projects. This money goes towards travel, materials, student assistance, or other expenses related to project activities.
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Another program that UNF offers to support its faculty body is [https://https:https://www.unf.edu/ofe/Faculty_Fellows.aspx Faculty Development Fellows Program]. This Program is a collaboration between faculty holding specific interests and expertise and the [https://www.unf.edu/ofe/About_Our_Officeprograms-fellows.aspx html Office of Faculty Enhancement] with the goal of providing professional development opportunities for faculty across campus. These opportunities include designing and presenting forums or workshops on current topics, supporting faculty development initiatives, as well as organizing faculty development materials related to teaching and learning, and serving as facilitators during faculty development summer institutes.
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</div>The Andrew A. Robinson School of Communication's initiative called [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8mojzfU_Rs Campaigns] is a great example of the university's dedication to facilitating industry collaboration. Senior students on the Public Relations major track design and carry out a full scale PR campaign for a local Jacksonville non-profit. This allows UNF students to gain experience working with a client and gain hard skills for their resumes but also gives back to the community. <div>
===Engaging With Regional and Local Economic Development Efforts: ===
<br />The University of North Florida has an annual economic impact of nearly $1 billion on the regional economy. Despite this general impact, the university is committed to contributing to the growth of the regional economy through specialized initiatives, institutes/centers, and programs. One of the University’s largest center is [[The Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida(SBDC)|https://www.unf.edu/sbdc/ The Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida (SBDC)]]. With funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the University of North Florida, the City of Jacksonville, the Clay County Chamber of Commerce, Marion County, Nassau County, St. Johns County, Putnam County, Suwannee County and other public and private sector sources, the Florida SBDC at UNF is able to provide its management assistance services at little or no charge to the client. SBDC programs deliver up-to-date management advice, training and information to help business owners make sound decisions and to assist potential owners in getting started on the right foot. For every federal dollar invested in the SBDC program, nearly $10 is returned in the form of tax revenue.
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With a sponsorship from Enterprise Rent-A-Car, the university has constructed the [https://www.unf.edu/coggin/Career_Management_Center/students/ExecutiveMentors.aspx Coggin Executive Mentor Program]. This program is designed to enhance the classroom experience by linking students with leading executives for one-on-one mentoring. Mentors share career advice and valuable insight into the transition from college to work. Students build career networks and develop skills to become better professionals and leaders.
A similar but different program, [https://www.unf.edu/cass/ Community Alliance for Student Success (CASS)], is a program and community that was created to serve traditionally underrepresented students. Students are paired with experienced minority members, including industry leaders and local business owners to learn about job opportunities and network in Jacksonville. UNF MedNexus has a medical technology innovation lab that promotes students to work side by side with researchers and MedNexus partners. Students will be working with the MedNexus healthcare workers to detect cancer proteins in tissues before tumor formation and to detect other serious diseases early. The lab has a Mass Spectrometer microscope and a 3D Biomedical Print Lab. https://www.unf.edu/UNFmednexus/ </div> A regional source that UNF interacts with in order to provide a financial opportunity to students is [https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/ Bright Futures], which is a merit- and service-based scholarship awarded to students by the state of Florida for their academic achievement and community involvement during their high school years. UNF also recognizes that financial assistance is one of the biggest barriers to students completing a four-year degree and offers [https://www.unf.edu/sg/scholarships.html Competitive and Decentralized Scholarships] promoted through their Student Government.
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