Priorities:University of Tulsa Student Priorities

Fall 2017: Strategic Priority: Connecting Investors and Mentors to Student Organizations

The University of Tulsa has a number of marvelous number of resources for students to take advantage of. There are a handful of highly educated and extremely motivated faculty who are available to help students in any venture they may engage in. However so, these resources may be limited and some student organizations may need additional guidance to succeed. 

One strategic priority that we hold dear to our hearts is establishing a program to connect Investors and local businesses to students to enable the flow of resources and mentorship. We strongly believe that connecting students to large companies will be highly beneficial for several reasons.

Goals and Desired Outcomes

First, and most interestingly, companies in the area will be granted access to the information of students studying Innovation and Entrepreneurship. They will be encouraged to hire students to tackle major challenges that the companies may have. Companies will be incentivized to provide guidance as they will have access to some of the most intelligent and capable pupils.

Secondly, we would like to connect students with ideas to these companies so they may have connections and such when preparing to launch or grow their companies. Initial funding in exchange for equity would be a major key to leading student companies to success. The hope is that companies as such will encourage staff to assist students with any issues they may have. For example, say a student needs legal guidance, a company lawyer can provide basic guidance and resources to help that student. 

Third, we hope that companies would allow students to tour their establishments and demonstrate how they operate. Students will become much more engaged with their studies as they can observe how applicable what they are learning is in the real world.

Fourth, our goal is to encourage companies to invest in student organizations by providing gear and supplies that is relative to their industry. Additionally, companies would be encouraged to fund excursions to conferences and other events related to the field that the company is in.

As the University of Tulsa is located in Tulsa Oklahoma, many of the largest companies in the area tend to be oil and gas companies. Companies we aim to partner with include QuikTrip, BOK, OneOK, ONE Gas, Phillips 66 and the Ross Group. 

Project Two: Innovation Spaces

1. Short term (within the semester): Pop-up design workshops all over campus. Colleges, also ACAC, Old U, etc.

2. Medium term (within two years): Permanent Innovation Hubs in multiple departments

3. Stretch goal! Create a permanent, physical innovation space that is not associated with any college or department. A TU Maker Space. Build a place to collaborate with students from all majors to solve problems at TU, in Tulsa, the world. Enact social change, practice tech entrepreneurship, participate in national competitions. Make innovation, entrepreneurship, and prototyping resources available for all students. Consult local orgs (36 Degrees North, Fab Lab Tulsa, etc.) to help design this space.

Project Three: Foster Connections

Create more connections between TU students and Tulsa entrepreneurs, incubators, resources.

1. Arrange visits to TU from more Tulsa startup leaders. Tech lunches, speaking engagements.
2. Arrange student trips to 36N, Techlahoma, Fab Lab, other area resources.
3. Promote networking opportunities to facilitate unlikely collaborations from chance encounters

Project Four: I&E for Grad Students 

• More research needed
• Self-study option
• Advanced Governor's Cup?​

Project Five: Undergrad I&E courses separate from I&E Minor 

Begin Project Spring of 2018 Fall 2018.

• Train UIF students, other interested in Design Thinking, creativity methodologies to spread to other students.
• Begin with one hour course-Intro to I&E 1001, UIFers design the course
• Incorporate original ‘training’ material-TED Talks, mini challenges, interviews to gain perspective about campus ecosystem
• Take advantage of faculty members’ input on a potential course-how would they answer questions such as:
• What is innovation to you?
• How can students excel with a design thinking mindset?
• Where are the weak spots in the world of education? Where are the strengths?
• How does cultivating an I&E environment become tangible at TU?
• Learn to develop more complex curriculum- offer a permanent course for all majors available for all undergraduate students
• Allow this course to appear on the course catalog for all schools, offering it in the summer term as well

Potential Project: NOVA Students

• Assist NOVA(an innovation program for all studies) students with their individual projects
• Help to brainstorm/prototype
• Introduce design thinking to jumpstart ideas
• Be sure to not intrude on pre-existing work, but enhance it
• Delegate really small jobs to each member
• Collaborate between projects
• Deadline is mostly year-round
• Assist current NOVA students
• If helping student, follow their personal agendas to keep on track
• Get acquainted with new members
• On campus//off campus events to promote the group and find fellow innovators
• Glassblowing
• Tulsa Art Crawl
• Studio Blue socials
• h. Provide UIF insight
• Prototype to learn flexibility, not a standard
• Perspective is important..don't lose sight of other’s sights
• Look at the big picture
• Give workshop to NOVA students-food, prizes, challengesi.  Encourage NOVA friends to apply for UIF
• October 30 for Spring 2018 session
• They have a good understanding of innovation-training can only improve this mindset
• Projects galore-individual, leadership circle, outside input

Potential Project: Oklahoma Young Entrepreneur Awards

• Second year of operation
• Headed by Dallas Elleman and communications handled by Caroline Rodgers
• Looking to expand, by way of more high schools or introduce to TU

A. November 30-deadline for teams to apply

• $50 fee waived, gives all teams a FREE opportunity to participate

B. Introduce OYEA to TU

• Allow teams to give a pecha kucha presentation
• Can be presented on ideas previously used in a course
• Potential to form teams comprised of students hailing from all the schools of study
• Would not require a lot of extra time outside class
• Network with faculty and employers (judges) during event

C. April 14, 2018 -Date of competition

• Teams present solutions/prototypes to ideas/issues they are passionate about in front of judges-TU faculty, local business partners, esteemed alumni...
• Held on TU’s campus-cultivating an innovative campus with students who may one day be undergrads at TU!
• In the Great Hall of the Student Union-make the space open to the public to see the presentations, attend the workshops and get inspired

Related Links:

Current Cohort 

Nebeyou J. Esayas

Cheyanne Wheat

Rachel Deeds

Sophie Zehentner

Cohort 1

Dallas Elleman

Caroline Rodgers 

Conner Bender