Priorities:Ohio Northern University Student Priorities

Ohio Northern University is an independent university in Ada, Ohio. ONU is known for their undergraduate education experience with research being the foundation to ONU's experiential education. The unique collaboration between professors and students in research yields countless opportunities for progress, as well as, opportunity for innovation. The two key components missing between the colleges on ONU's campus to catalyze a greater level of innovation and entrepreneurship are communication and collaboration. The following proposed strategies will create a greater awareness of I & E on campus, communication, and collaboration.

Strategy #1: Create opportunities for efficient communication across campus

Numerous faculty and students have expressed a lack of a college to college communication which is a large inhibitor to the channel of progress. The colleges should have seamless communication of research, opportunities, and ideas between them leaving an opportunity for multidisciplinary collaboration.

Tactic #1: Host communication events

Event 1:  The first event will have guest speakers provide a brief experiential teaching moment in their life, where communication was vital, as well as, what they needed to make the communication/interaction in that experience successful. After the speaker provides a few key points, students/faculty/alumni will break off into groups to participate in fun activities that practice and utilize their new found communication knowledge. The event will be an opportunity for networking across the board of the ONU campus. The event will also provide incentives for attendance such as prizes given away at the end of each event.

Event 2:  The second event will be one in which students can present their ideas/research, and specifically outline what knowledge or resources they lack. After the gaps are presented, students/faculty/alumni/investors in the audience will be able to make a bid on the project they are interested in via smartphone. At which point, contact information of the presenting team and the bidder will be exchanged. The information exchange will propel ideas to products. The goal is to demonstrate and enact that communication bridges the way for collaboration.

Strategy #2: Create/Encourage new/current opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship through interdisciplinary learning

Many students have expressed their desire to actually participate in more activities that provide a greater experience related to not only their major, but other majors as well. The Landscape Canvas revealed current opportunities available for interdisciplinary collaboration through KEEN events, senior capstones, EPICS, and student clubs. The canvas also revealed areas where new opportunities must be created in order to support students in their ideas and untapped potential in innovation. Learning about how to effectively tie in other disciplines on-campus is key to generating momentum needed for innovation.

Tactic #1: Establishing an experience class/day/week

Event 1:  The Experience event that mirrors Stanford’s approach to two professor teaching collaboration. The event will pair professors in two professor teams of different colleges. The challenge for professors will be integrating the other professor’s major within to their own in a teachable, interactive, experiential class, day, or week. During the experience week, professors will be matched in teams of two. The professors will swap classes, teach and demonstrate how, for example, art related subjects such as ceramics and 3D design fit and apply within engineering classes. The goal is to expose the students to other disciplines in order to make the students well rounded, informed, and understand the importance of multiple disciplines. The overall goal is that it creates a curiosity within students to take courses outside of their required guidelines, and gain a deeper understand/necessity for multidisciplinary collaboration. 

Tactic #2: Encourage more awareness and participation for KEEN Challenges

ONU currently hosts KEEN Innovation challenges on a semester basis. The KEEN Challenges are centered on a different challenge each time requiring the application of innovation with the supplied materials students need to complete the presented challenge. The KEEN Innovation challenges are a great introduction to innovation for students on campus. The challenges will be utilized as the gateway for students gaining an understanding of innovation.

Tactic #3: Generating more participation in the EPICS Program by establishing a Grand Challenge Scholars Program on-campus

The EPICS program currently allows students to apply engineering principles in community service locally and internationally. Pairing the EPICS program with the Grand Challenge Scholars Program will create more participation, enrich the students’ opportunities for experiential learning, and overall create an even greater impact for the communities being served.

Strategy #3: Creating how-to events on any resources on-campus that can be utilized

Many students expressed their desire for being more familiar with applications or resources they could utilize. Additionally, students of all majors can partake in these events, for example a chemistry student interested in engineering could learn about engineering related software applications, theory etc. The goal is to create a program on campus that makes available every possible resource on-campus within the students’ reach in order to make them better equipped to not only exceed the university standards, but also make great strides in professional experience at an undergraduate level.

Tactic #1: Provide monthly workshops where students can learn about various resources and tools

These monthly workshops, will teach students about software or resources used for their majors, as well as, software/resources that other majors use. Within these workshops, experiential learning will be the driving force in ensuring that students feel confident enough to take their knowledge to the next step in implementing their ideas to actual projects.

Tactic #2: Assist any on-campus speaking events with communication to the student body

On ONU’s campus, countless professional speakers speak at the campus. Often, these speaking events have low turnout. The goal is to get students and faculty together to brainstorm ways in which the vast majority of students will be aware of the speakers and understand the value of these speaking events. This tactic will also be another networking opportunity.

Strategy #4: Create a mentor program for the University Innovation Fellows Program on-campus

Tactic #1: Connecting current fellows with new students

In order to keep the momentum of the University Innovation Fellows Program on-campus, current fellows should have at least one mentee an academic year or more lower than them. In these mentee relationships, it will be the responsibility of the fellow to share knowledge and resources that the underclassman fellow will need to make an impact during their time here, while also keeping the program active.

Initial Projects of Focus

I plan on first creating effective ways for promoting KEEN and exactly what KEEN's goals are. I also hope to promote KEEN events at a greater level. Currently, our campus hosts KEEN Innovation Challenges each semester that introduce students to innovation through a series of new challenges. Secondly, I will work with the T.J. Smull College of Engineering to establish the Grand Challenge Scholars Program on-campus. Currently, the college of engineering has the EPICS program which gives students an opportunity for experiential learning and earn credit towards their coursework. I hope to pair the GCSP with the EPICS  program. I will also conduct research to see if EPICS can be taken by non-engineering majors, as well as, seeing if the EPICS courses can count as a general education requirement that can help students meet their core requirements, while having the opportunity to practice innovation and entrepreneurship. Lastly, I plan on establishing the UIF mentor program to recruit future UIF candidates and ensure that the momentum the University Innovation Fellows Program has on Ohio Northern's campus continues. Once, ONU has a team of UIF fellows from all of the colleges, the other projects mentioned in the previous sections can be enacted.

 

UIF Pitch Video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUCA2u_Z5pY 

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