Priorities:University of New Haven Student Priorities

University of New Haven Student Priorities

Overview

The University of New Haven is a very up and coming school in innovation and entrepreneurship.  The curriculum is unique and introduces experiential learning starting freshman year. The university is currently developing a minor in Entrepreneurship through the business school and the engineering school introduces innovation and entrepreneurial thinking into its courses through its KEEN module (http://www.newhaven.edu/engineering/kern-entrepreneurial-engineering-network/774399/keen-online-modules/)

Currently, University of New Haven does add some I&E into its curriculum but wants to see it applied outside of the classroom. The main goal for University of New Haven is to have interested students creating and developing products and businesses on campus by applying the skills that they have learned in class.

In order to have a stronger innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem on campus, University of New Haven plans to generate awareness of the importance and fundamental elements of I&E to students, to teach students how to apply knowledge of I&E to a specific challenge or problem, and to create more opportunities on campus that will give students a chance to exercise their creative thinking and to get some “out of the classroom” experience.

Main Priorities

1.       Inspire students to create project teams

2.       Spread awareness of Innovation and Entrepreneurship on campus

3.       Create a Maker Space on campus

4.       Add more Innovation and entrepreneurship into Curriculum

 

Strategy #1: Inspire Students to Create Project Teams

Description: Several students want to get involved in big projects but there aren’t many going on, on campus. The University has the ASME Super Mileage Vehicle, and the ASCE Concrete canoe. Both of these projects are senior design projects and have very limited creative freedom. There should be more projects that undergraduates can participate in and have more freedom.

 

Milestones

·         Discuss with faculty about possible funding sources

·         Get in touch with sources that were given by faculty and on landscape canvas

·         Find a Faculty member who can be in charge and help spread the word.

·         Find on campus advertising sources and use them to spread the word.

·         Talk to people around campus and see if they are interested.

·         Meet with students and faculty to discuss if it will be a club or program

·         Faculty and students can pitch/come up with ideas  and discuss the marketability

·         Discuss Possible project ideas for now and future. Possibly reach out to IP factory and set up a program with them. http://www.theipfactory.org/

·         If IP factory works with students set up a program with them and have an entrepreneur watch over project.

·         Find one faculty member or hire an entrepreneur to be in charge of projects.

Strategy #2: Increase Awareness of Innovation and entrepreneurship on campus

Description: Students should be more informed about innovation and entrepreneurship on campus because it is something that anyone can get involved in. Being innovative and having an entrepreneurial mindset are both good traits for several majors to have, and not only business and engineering.

Tactic #1: 3-day Startup

Description: This is a three day program similar to Startup weekend. Students pitch ideas and come up with a marketable business model and a company in an intensive 3 day event. http://3daystartup.org/about/

Milestone

·         Find a team leader-2/15

·         Find faculty advisor for event-2/15

·         Get approval from school-3/15

·         Contact and organize the event-3/15

·         Spread the word on campus and give out information-3/15

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ14gkepCrU&feature=youtu.be 

Tactic #2: Have an Innovation week or promote I&E during engineering week

Description: Have several small events on campus that have to do with I&E to promote awareness. Some ideas for events can be fun challenges that require out-of-the-box thinking, these can be building activities or even physical/teamwork activities.  Also there can be new startup companies that can share their success stories and how they became a company.

 

Milestones

·         organize student group to help organize events-4/15

·         Find faculty advisor-4/15

·         Discuss possible events to have-5/15

·         Contact any outside companies and ask them to come-6/15

 

Strategy #3: Develop Club that will be interested in I&E and promote awareness

Description: In order to keep people actively interested in Innovation and entrepreneurship, a club must be developed for students who want to be involved and spread awareness.

Milestones

·         Find a faculty advisor-5/15

·         Find a team leader who is willing to become a club founder.-5/15

·         Advertise club-9/15

·         Discuss goals and ideas with faculty and interested students-10/15

·         Set up a general yearly event schedule to keep student involvement on campus-9/15

·         Some Event ideas: TedX, DIY events, Open Workshops, Crafting classes, try to get a patent course, have a makers-day

 

 

 

 

 

Strategy #4: Create a Maker Space

 

Tactic #1: Find a location and Create makerspace

Description: A makerspace on campus would be a great place for students to collaborate, prototype, create, invent and learn.  They often have 3D printers, software, electronics, craft and hardware supplies and tools, and more.

Milestones:

·         Discuss with faculty and dean about possible locations-5/15

·         Establish sponsors and funding sources-9/15

·         Create a student interest group-10/15

·         Plan out how much it will cost after it is all done-10/15

·         Start construction-12/15

Tactic #2: Provide workshops/seminars in maker space

Description: Students can learn some basic skills by attending workshops on 3D printing, Laser-cutting, soldering, ect…  Also get a students trained in safety before using equipment to design.

Milestone:

·         Plan possible workshops with faculty and students

·         Have a Faculty member or trained student teach the workshop/seminar

 

Tactic #3: Host engineering/Design Challenges

Description: Hosting engineering/design challenges will keep students interested in innovation and out-of-the-box thinking.

Milestones:

·         Plan events with faculty and interested students