School:James Madison University

James Madison University

Promoting Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Architectural Design Club

• The ARCD club at JMU allows students to join chapters of the American Institute of Architecture Students and the American Society of Interior Designers, where students can attend national conferences, meet professional mentors, and gain points that lead to accreditation in the professional world.

Center for Entrepreneurship

• The Center for Entrepreneurship offers teams of students the chance to grow their ideas into a startup company through the Venture Creation Fellowship. Small teams of students and/or faculty members can apply to the fellowship and if accepted they will attend an 8-week program running from June to July aimed at helping them transform their ideas into success stories. Teams are given a stipend, granted access to the ICE House workspaces, and paired with an experienced mentor. 

Industrial Design Society of America

• ​The IDSA at JMU is an interdisciplinary group that meets weekly to organizes workshops, keynote speaker events, collaborative design projects, and trips to conferences. At its core, the IDSA is empowering industrial design students to make an impact on their community with their innovative design skills. Many are active in other groups that are altering campus or have personal pursuits in design and entrepreneurship. With the industrial design concentration now becoming a full major and the number of students increasing, it is becoming a more vital part of the track for industrial designers at JMU.

Mad Inc. Labs

• Mad Inc. Labs is JMU’s first seed-stage startup investment accelerator. It aims to serve JMU’s most talented student founders by allowing them to experience a traditional accelerator program; with the mentorship, funding, and office space - while maintaining status as a student.

Society of Entrepreneurs

• ​The JMU Society of Entrepreneurs brings entrepreneurially minded students together. In the organization, members educate each other and the JMU community on topics of interest, support each other with new ventures, and reach out to entrepreneurs in the community to help them and learn from them. The society also hosts speakers and events to educate the JMU community about different topics based around entrepreneurship. The society is application based and therefore consists of high-caliber entrepreneurs at JMU.

TEDx

• Students are able to attend lectures from other students, professors, and guest speakers.
• Events can be located here:
• 2016 (Theme: Fool's Gold), 2017 (Theme: Horizons), 2018 (Theme undetermined)

Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities (A2RU)

• ​James Madison University has been accepted as a founding member of the Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities largely for its proven reputation as an institution valuing and supporting interdisciplinary undergraduate research. JMU is one of 28 founders and the only comprehensive institution in the alliance whose aim is "to help equip students and faculty to address the world's most pressing, complex and open-ended challenges with creative confidence as well as disciplinary expertise," according to alliance documents.

ISAT Capstone Projects

• ​As part of the ISAT experience, every senior completes a capstone project. Working individually or in teams, students work on a problem with a real-world component, sometimes teaming with a local industry or governmental sponsor. Capstone project ideas can come from the students themselves, from faculty advisors, or from sponsors. The capstone project allows students the opportunity to use the knowledge and skills they learned in ISAT to address a real-world problem and receive valuable hands-on experience. Students are required to produce a final project report, both in written form and in the form of an oral presentation to the faculty, their student peers, and the public.  

Engineering Ambassadors

• The Engineering Ambassadors Network is an international program that focuses on "changing the conversation" about engineering. The focus of the group is to demonstrate that, while math and science are important, art, history, and other classes are just as important. Other classes can provide a well-rounded insight to understanding how engineering is incoroporated into every day life. Students who participate in workshops are taught the Human Centered Design Process to brainstorm innovative solutions for their clients.

Engineering Capstone Projects

• ​Students work in teams under the direction of a faculty advisor to tackle an engineering design project. Engineering communication, such as reports and oral presentations are covered. We emphasize practical, hands-on experience, and integrate analytical and design skills acquired in companion senior-level core courses.

Engineers Without Borders

• ​Engineers Without Borders is an organization established to partner with developing communities worldwide in order to improve their quality of life.  JMU EWB is open not only to Engineering majors.  Our hope is to recruit students in ISAT, Health and Human Sciences, Business, and Education.

Entrepreneurship RLC

• ​The Entrepreneurship Residential Learning Center is in the process of being developed here at JMU. Students who participate in this Residential Learning Community will have the unique opportunity to live and take classes with a small group of students who share similar interests in Entrepreneurship.  The Entrepreneurship RLC is planned to be ready for the incoming class of 2019.

MBA Program

• ​This two-year masters program starts with the fundamentals of business before taking a deep dive into creating an inventive environment where students transform into leaders in technology. The program responds to the realization that the business world outside of the university setting is increasingly getting faster so the content of the class aligns with functional topics. While in the curriculum the student is required to take an international trip to one of three countries and gain leadership skills through workshops. Overall, the Innovation MBA provides the graduate with a competitive advantage for approaching problems in a business setting.

Project Lab (The Pit)

•  The Pit is a flexible laboratory space that contains overflow machine tools, materials testing equipment, and other experimental equipment. Labs for materials science courses are conducted in this space under the guidance of faculty and trained student assistants.

Society of Women Engineers (SWE)

• The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is an educational and service organization that empowers women to succeed and advance in the field of engineering and to be recognized for their life-changing contributions as engineers and leaders. SWE establishes engineering as a highly desirable career for women through an exciting array of training and development programs, networking opportunities, scholarships, outreach and advocacy activities, and much more.

Recruit-A-Duke

• Recruit-A-Duke is James Madison University’s online career services management system that provides JMU students access to internships, full-time jobs, career fairs, workshops, information sessions, and more.

Visualization Lab

• Laboratory for Engineering students that includes 3D printers to visualize prototypes and computers to analyze drawings or create flow simulations.

3Space Classroom

• The 3Space Classroom is the first 3-D printing lab in the country designed for general-education use. Students in any major can enroll in 3Space classes and then be granted access to the 3-D printing computer lab. 

The ICE House

• The Innovation, Collaboration, and Entrepreneurship (ICE) House is a lean startup started by the College of Business, Center for Entrepreneurship, JMU Technology Innovation and 4-VA. It is run by JMU X-Labs to set up, speed up and support business ideas or lean. startups and encourage Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

X-Labs

• This on-campus makerspace facilitates open labs and pop-up classes that teach students skills such as 3D printing, laser cutting, glassblowing, and virtual reality.

Engineering Labs

• The engineering labs offering various spaces that coincide with the design process. This includes the make shop, prototyping lab, communication studio, inspiration studo, and ideation studio. The engineering department also offers spaces for collaborative work between students.These spaces are restrictied to use by engineering students.

 

IEEE

• The purpose of IEEE Computer Society is to participate in the confrontation of key developmental tasks, particularly in the areas of moral and intellectual development and values clarification. The purpose shall be the dissemination of knowledge of the theory and practice of all aspects of electrical engineering, electronics, radio, allied branches of engineering or the related arts and sciences, as well as the furtherance of the professional development of the students.

Competitions:

BizBlitz

• ​BizBlitz is JMU’s first full scale “Startup Weekend” style events for entrepreneurs, designers, programmers, makers, and others who want to pitch a startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. At BizBlitz, teams organically form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote), and then it’s a 54-hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. The weekend culminates with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders for another opportunity for critical feedback.

Innovation X

• Innovation Xis a 24-hour hackathon facilitated by X-Labs.  Teams of students from all majors and backgrounds are guided by mentors and are encouraged to create and compete.  Idea and product generation areas include food/agriculture, healthcare, and consumer devices and tools.

I.C.C.E Pitch Competition & Conference

• ​The I.C.C.E Pitch Competition and Conference is a high energy evening celebrating JMU Entrepreneurs and featuring: JMU Student Pitch Competition, I.C.C.E Talks, networking with entrepreneurial alumni, faculty, and students.

MadHack

• ​MadHack was JMU’s first full-scale hackathon, sponsored by Capital One, offering a creative and collaborative software development experience. For 24 hours students built innovative web and mobile apps, as well as hardware.

Startup Studio

• Startup Studio is a rapid-pitch event hosted by the Society of Entrepreneurs semi-regularly.  In the confines of two hours, students meet, split into groups, recognize a problem related to the given theme, develop a solution, and pitch their idea to the rest of the groups.  This exercise helps to illustrate to students how to think with an entrepreneurial, creative problem-solving mindset.

Incubator Challenge

• The incubator challenge is a two week long problem-solving competition hosted by Booz Allen Hamilton. It gives you a chance to approach a real-world challenge in a collaborative environment - leveraging technology and a diverse skill set to create and present an innovative solution to representatives from Booz Allen.

Hacking for Defense

• This course brings aninnovative problem-solving model developed at Stanford University to complex problems faced by the departments of Defense and State. The course is sponsored by4-VAand takes place in JMU’sX-Labs 

FBLA

• The FBLA National Awards Program, also known as competitive events, recognizes and rewards excellence in a broad range of business and career-related areas. FBLA competitive events also prepare students for successful careers in business by providing opportunities to apply classroom concepts in a workforce-simulated competitive environment. 

Undergraduate Academic Programs in Entrepreneurship

• MGT 310 (Business Fundamentals for Entrepreneurs (non-COB majors))
• COB 300A (Integrated Business Functions (required for non-MGT COB majors))
• MGT 320 (Management of Innovation and Technology)
• MGT 471 (Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management)
• MGT 472 (New Venture Creation)
• ACTG 244 (Accounting for Non-Business Majors)
• ENGR 498 (Advanced Topics in Engineering: Innovation)
• ENGR 498 (Advanced Topics in Engineering: Realization)
• ENGR 498 (Advanced Topics in Engineering: Innovation Exchange)
• ENGR 498 (Advanced Topics in Engineering: Social Entrepreneurship)
• MGT 340 (International Management)
• MGT 365 (Fundamentals of Human Resource Management)
• MKTG 380 (Principles of Marketing (for non-CoB majors only))
• NPS 300 (Introduction to Nonprofits)
• INDU 402 (Social Innovation & Social Entrepreneurship)
• COB 218 (Legal and Ethical Environment of Business)
• MKTG 380 (Principles of Marketing)
• MGT 405 (Topics in Management)
• MGT 472 (Venture Creation)
• MUI 440 (Entrepreneurship in the Music Industry)
• SOCI 385 (Madness and Soceity Environments, Technologies and Innovation)
• ENGR 221 (Managment of Technology I: Product Development and Entrepreneurial Engineering)

Entrepreneurship Minor

• Paula Daly, Coordinator
• Phone: (540) 568-3038
• Email: dalyps@jmu.edu

The entrepreneurship minor is designed to introduce students from any discipline to the knowledge, skills and mindset necessary for successful new venture creation. The minor isopen to students in any major except management, which offers a track in innovation and entrepreneurship. Students who successfully complete the entrepreneurship minor will develop the knowledge base and skills needed for new venture creation and management. They will be able to: Understand entrepreneurship as a possible career path, its role in economic growth and opportunity, and its associated social benefits; recognize/identify entrepreneurial opportunities that fit the individual student includes self-analysis in the context of possible entrepreneurial activities and demonstration of the ability to identify and analyze the attractiveness of potential markets. Develop a business model and create a business plan. This includes completing a clear and concise written plan that serves as a blueprint for creation of the proposed venture. Apply relevant financial and business principles to assess the need for start-up capital, conduct break even analysis, and identify cash flow needed for future growth. Identify and evaluate various sources of funding. Articulate an effective pitch to gain support from investors, suppliers, customers, or potential employees. Interact and collaborate with various stakeholders to develop and evaluate ideas, and grow those ideas to fruition.

Students are required to submit an application to be considered for enrollment in the minor. More information on the entrepreneurship minor can be found here.

Encouraging Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship

4-Virginia

• 4-VA is a collaborative partnership between four Virginia universities. Its mission is to promote inter-university collaborations that leverage the strengths of each partner university in order to accomplish much more than any individual university could achieve alone. A large focus of 4-VA is in training professors and other faculty to implement innovative instructional technologies into their courses.  Additionally, 4-VA encourages and funds multiple interdisciplinary courses that deal with innovation in the medical and engineering fields.

CISE Dean's Advisory Council

• The Dean's Advisory Council is a select community of CISE students that meet with the dean once per semester to discuss issues about the college. These issues include faculty changes in methods to a more student friendly and innovative approach. Along with upcoming plans for new groups, clubs, organizations, and classes within the college.

  

Actively Supporting the University Technology Transfer Function

The Office of Technology Transfer

• The Office of Technology Transfer aims to promote innovation, enhance research by connecting inventors and industry, and foster economic development through protecting and commercializing intellectual property in an efficient and effective manner to benefit the University, the Shenandoah Valley, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and society as a whole.

Center for Instructional Technology

• The mission of CIT is to lead, support and advocate for the meaningful integration of appropriate technologies into the academic experience. Its goalsare to; the faculty and the administration of emerging technologies and related issues, develop the instructional faculty's skills in the mechanics and pedagogically-sound methods of using technology in instruction, provide resources, people, equipment, money and space to help faculty create and integrate digital content into their course materials and scholarly work, engage in research and development to create new instructional technologies, and manage and support or coordinate the management and support of instructional technology delivery systems.

Society of Entrepreneurs

• The JMU Society of Entrepreneurs brings James Madison University entrepreneurially minded students together. In the organization, we educate each other and the JMU community on topics of interest, support each other with new ventures and reach out to entrepreneurs in the community to help them and learn from them. The society also hosts speakers and events to educate the JMU community about different topics based around entrepreneurship.

James Madison Innovations

• JMI is the non-profit organization that is affiliated with JMU Technology Innovation to commercialize technologies. Together, the JMI Startup Fund, a philanthropic effort to move prototypes forward and launch companies, and the Innovation Network of professionals provide dollars and managerial expertise to prove products and markets.

Center for Entrepreneurship

• The Center for Entrepreneurship is used to promote, foster, and perpetuate the American entrepreneurial tradition for undergraduates at JMU and to strengthen both Virginia's and national economies by encouraging entrepreneurship, innovation, and the creation of new enterprises.

Society of Women Engineers

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