Difference between revisions of "Priorities:Texas A & M University Student Priorities"

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== Overview ==
+
= Project Pitch Video =
  
−
Texas A&M has a large Innovation and Entrepreneurial ecosystem as it is ranked the sixth largest University in America. They have a lot of resources that are primarily used by faculty and graduate students because of the maturity of their research or seriousness of seeing their idea through. Therefore, there is a gap in undergraduate involvement in the vast amount of resources due to their lack of confidence or being unaware of the resources that are readily available to them. The primary way this gap can be filled is through students equipping other students with the knowledge and confidence they need to use these resources.
+
{{#Widget:Youtube|id=bD8pjGfm1PUA}}
  
−
Creating a student organization, Innovation Leadership Council, will be the group of students who are knowledgeable of all resources available on campus. Their primary goal will be to council other students to see an idea from start to finish. The council will consist of ten students from various majors around campus such as: Engineering, Agriculture, Biomedical, and Business. Each student will then be responsible for finding a faculty member who will support them as to build a council of faculty members to turn to.
+
= Overview =
  
−
At first, the organization will be used to continue building a model of what each major perceives the innovation and entrepreneurial gaps are within their major and what resources are available to fill that gap. All of these resources will then be consolidated into one place where all students can easily access and understand them. There are four stages that students can go through to reach their full potential. When the council is knowledgeable of all available resources on campus, they will begin to seek ways to engage students in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The council will engage students through four stages: Excitement, Education, Creation and Support, and Continued support. These stages are meant to: build personal interest in innovation and entrepreneurship, give students the confidence to begin their journey to have a startup company, help them launch their business or organization, then to connect them with all the resources they need to be independent.
+
Texas A&M has a large innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem. We have a variety of resources aimed at reaching both graduate and undergraduate students, as well as faculty. However, many of the more developed programs are limited to graduate students due to the fact that funds are easier spent on students that are very serious about their pursuits. Undergraduate programs are not non-existent, but simply younger and less robust. Student body awareness is an issue that plauges these newer events as well as an uncertainty of what our campus wants to develop in order to increase the I&E mentality. Knowing what students would want to attend is somewhat of a shot in the dark, hampering the development of new programs.
  
−
These strategies are primarily focused on equipping undergraduate students with the knowledge they need to follow a great idea from start to finish through using the resources already available at Texas A&M.
+
That being said, programs are being developed with modest success by the engineering faculty. The ultimate pathway to growth in student auidience sizes can be found in student-aided promotion and program development ( i.e. University Innovation Fellows). The Texas A&M University UIF's are devoted to allowing these new and immensly important programs to flourish. We intend to be the bridge between the faculty that have the ability to appropriate the neccessary funding and the students that have aspirations for the campus environment.
  
−
Link to Prezi overview of campus ecosystem:
+
= Project: <span style="font-size:smaller;">Second-Tier Idea-to-Startup Support Structure</span>&nbsp; =
  
−
{{#Widget:Prezis|id=_sto8qf_0vcs}}
+
UIF Involved: Brendan Cooper
  
 +
This project is aimed at developing an additional undergraduate program that helps to increase the conversion rate between ideation and startup businesses.
  
 +
There exists a program within Texas A&M called Aggies Invent in which students participate in an all-inclusive innovation weekend. They are tasked with deciding on a need that requires a solution, and are then expected to diagnose the issue and develop an early stage solution. Through this avenue of creative incitement, groups and ideas are created that have genuine business potential, and could be taken to further stages of development.
  
−
== Innovation Leadership Council ==
+
Currently it is very difficult to gather the neccessary momentum to proceed into a business venture. This is because of several issues:
  
−
'''<u></u>'''
+
1) Students are unmotivated/ get discouraged not knowing what to do next
  
−
'''<u>Tactic #1: Form student organization - Innovation Leadership Council</u>'''
+
2) School is demanding
  
−
There is a gap that needs to be filled in giving students an avenue to be innovative. Building a council of students who pave the way for others to be innovative would fill this gap. Students will be more willing approach a council of students for advice about their ideas of innovation and entrepreneurship where the council can then encourage them and point them in the right direction. The council will constantly be up to date with what is going on in the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystem and the resources available on campus to help students.
+
3) Students become doubtful of their products' or their own potential
  
−
'''Team Leader:''' Graham, Dean
+
4) The group has bad chemistry/ not all members wish to continue
  
−
'''Milestones:'''
+
These are issues that need to be minimized in order to effectively promote the ideas that have true merit.
  
−
*Faculty advisor - 12/13
+
Our plan is to develop a secondary event or program that comes in to re-inspire students and provided much needed guidance at the right time--just before most groups face an utter demize. There are several ways to achieve this, and a multitude of events that could be hosted to make the entrepreneurial process smoother on campus.
−
*Student Leaders go through training - 12/13
 
−
*Write organizations constitution - 12/13
 
−
*Become recognized student organization by university&nbsp;- 12/13
 
  
−
'''<u></u>'''
+
== Milestone #1: ==
  
−
'''<u>Tactic #2: Build council team</u>'''
+
Research needs to be conducted within the existing Aggies Invent program in order to establish a program that faculty and students agree would be mutually beneficial. Intentions:
  
−
To influence innovation and entrepreneurship on a grand scale, you need to build a diverse council from many different majors throughout campus. This will allow the council to be informed on many different events/resources available all over campus. This will make the council all the more influential in how it can help students through whatever phase of innovation they're in rather it be engineering, agriculture or business.
+
'''1) Conduct interviews at an Aggies Invent weekend for groups that participate.'''
  
−
'''Team Leader:''' Graham, Dean
+
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Types of input expected:
  
−
'''Milestones:'''
+
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; What program would they like to see?
  
−
*Determine which majors will benefit the council most - 11/13
+
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; How would you rate your group effectiveness?
−
*Contact faculty to recommend outstanding students - 11/13
 
−
*Interview students - 11/13
 
−
*Build council team - 12/13
 
  
−
'''<u></u>'''
+
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Do you think you will continue developing your idea?
  
−
'''<u>Tactic #3: Gain faculty support</u>'''
+
'''2) Particpate in an Aggies Invent weekend.'''
  
−
Faculty support is crucial. Faculty are the decision makers on campus who can supply the council with whatever resources they need to grow. They are able to advise the council on the course of direction they are headed and whether or not it will have a positive impact.
+
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Types of takeaways expected:
  
−
'''Team Leader:''' Council team
+
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Did our group expect to continue?
  
−
'''Milestones:'''
+
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Why did or didn't we?
  
−
*Inform council team the importance of faculty support - 12/13
+
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; What obstacles did we face?
−
*Council team gains faculty support from each major - 12/13
 
  
−
== From Education to Creation & Support ==
+
'''Dates:'''
  
−
<u</u>
+
October 23-25: Research conducted for participants of an Aggies invent, base line interviews.
  
−
<u>'''Tactic #1: Educate students to bring out their creativity in innovation'''</u>
+
Week of November 2nd: Conduct Follow up interviews to determine how many groups did infact continue and why.
  
−
There is already a desire in many students to be innovative. The attraction is there, but the avenue needs some work. There are many resources already on campus but they only attract a specific crowd of students. The Innovation Leadership Council will be able to find which avenue will attract a diverse group of students from all majors to work together. These avenues will challenge students to use what they already know from class, and to educate them on what they want to know. The overall goal with this approach is to give students an environment where they can be innovative to solve a problem on a team.
+
November 20-22: Particpate in Aggies Invent weekend.
  
−
'''Team Leader: '''Council team
+
== Milestone #2:&nbsp; ==
  
−
'''Milestones:'''
+
Construct a model for the innovative group's lifecycle. Data that was gathered in the research phase needs to be compressed into a general template or diagram that expresses exactly what a group faces at any point in the Texas A&M Startup timeline. This lifecycle will be mostly concerned with the early development and strength of a group's motivation.
  
−
*Brainstorm what students want to learn - 2/14
+
'''1) Develop the physical model.'''
−
*Create events/competitions where students can be creative - 2/14
 
−
*Inform students of events sponsored by other organizations - 2/14
 
  
−
<u</u>
+
'''2) Present this model to faculty to triangulate where this secondary program would be most beneficial.'''
  
−
<u>'''Tactic #2: Creation & Support'''</u>
+
'''Dates:'''
  
−
Creation and support is where most student projects never move to the next step. Students are either afraid of failure or are unaware of the resources that it will take to turn their project into a startup company. That is where the council will come in. They will gather all the resources students need and simply point them in the right direction.
+
December: FInish model and present to faculty.
  
−
'''Team Leader:''' Graham
+
December (after semester): develop comprehensive plan of when we can implement a test event.
  
−
'''Milestones:'''
+
== Milestone #3: ==
  
−
*Obtain support from various resources on/off campus - 1/14
+
With the correct information in hand, now comes the time to try to build the new event and/or program. A program curriculum and event timeline needs to be drafted in order to make sure that the test event is well planned and perfoms the function that we are hoping it will perform.
−
*Find a maker space - 2/14
 
−
*Encourage dedicated student teams to take their projects to the next step
 
  
−
<u</u>
+
'''1) Ideation of what the program needs to contain (using research as guide).'''
  
−
<u>'''Tactic #3: Provide resources to build independence for innovative students'''</u>
+
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Things to remember:
  
−
It is not enough for innovative students to create a startup, but they need continued support to back them up even after college. They need the support of other companies or organizations who will give them financial and business advice to really lift their startup off the ground. This will give the students the confidence they need to be independent with their innovative design even after college.
+
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The aim of this event is to support the development of a business model and plan.
  
−
'''Team Leader:''' Council team
+
&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; The event should resemble the same basic structure as its parent event: Aggies Invent, but with a few twists.
  
−
'''Milestones:'''
+
'''2) Draft the program based on what is settled upon in the stage above.'''
  
−
*Gather support for specific student teams - 3/14
+
'''3) Reserve the resources needed to complete the event.'''
−
*Help build their network so they can be independent - 3/14
+
 
 +
'''4) Invite teams that have participated in Aggies Invent in the past (max 10 teams).'''
 +
 
 +
'''5) Run the test program.'''
 +
 
 +
'''Dates:'''
 +
 
 +
January 2016: Complete ideation and start drafting the program structure.
 +
 
 +
February 2016: Reserve the resources and host the event.
 +
 
 +
= Project 2: <span style="font-size:smaller;">SpaceX Hyperloop Design Competition</span> =
 +
 
 +
UIF Involved: Carson Muscat
 +
 
 +
Our university has been given an&nbsp;amazing opportunity to host a large scale event focused around fostering the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit within student minds.
 +
 
 +
Texas A&M University and SpaceX have been working closely together to be able to host the SpaceX Hyperloop Design Competition. This event will bring a spotlight on innovation and entrepreneurial mindsets as students gather from around the country and world to develop innovative solutions to a future problem.&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
The University Innovation Fellow program and the student body has an amazing opportunity to help this event be a spotlight to encourage the ecosystem not only on our campus, but also campuses across the globe.&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
== Milestone #1:<br/> ==
 +
 
 +
Discuss and work closely with the Engineering Innovation Center to be able to make a positive impact on the competition and to bring something new to the table.&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
== Milestone #2: ==
 +
 
 +
Coordinate with other representatives of the Texas A&M Student body to be able to bring a stronger student involvement and interest into the event.
 +
 
 +
== Milestone #3: ==
 +
 
 +
Help run the event to perfection come January 2016.
 +
 
 +
= Project 3: TAMUHack integration =
 +
 
 +
Currently, one of the largest Innovation and Entrepreneurship events at our school is TAMUHack. TAMUHack is a 24h event in which students from multiple schools come to build a hack, pitch their idea, and win prizes.
 +
 
 +
At the moment, the event is completely student-organized and the university does not provide a significant amount of sponsorship or coverage to it. The funds for the event are raised through industry sponsors.
 +
 
 +
I believe the event could be expanded to include more people, and there could be additional ways to integrate more engineers, rather than computer scientists.&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
== Milestone #1: ==
 +
 
 +
To begin the process of change:
 +
 
 +
1) Contact the TAMUHack board to let them know my intentions.
 +
 
 +
2) Join the board and aid with organization and sponsor/fund acquisition.&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
== Milestone #2: ==
 +
 
 +
After I've joined, we need to take the following steps/goals:
 +
 
 +
1) Improve fund acquisition to increase attendance;&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
2) Have better media coverage of the event, and more publicity/advertising.
 +
 
 +
3) Arrange a meeting between the I & E steering council of A&M with the TAMUHack board.
 +
 
 +
== Milestone #3: ==
 +
 
 +
After we've arranged / integrated TAMUHack with our I&E expansion, we can then begin the process
 +
 
 +
of arranging / implementing all the goals.
 +
 
 +
= Project 4: U-Ignite Video Competition =
 +
 
 +
UIF Involved: Jean-Claude Faa
 +
 
 +
The U-Ignite Video Competition is a one-minute idea pitch competition established in Fall 2014. It establishes a platform for students to submit a one minute video, detailing an innovation idea they may have, for a chance to win a grand prize.
 +
 
 +
== Milestone #1: ==
 +
 
 +
1) Establish Innovation and Entrepreneurship &nbsp;Modules for Introduction to Engineering freshman course
 +
 
 +
2) Establish student-led pop-up classes for students interested in further instruction on Innovation and Entrepreneurship
 +
 
 +
3) Advertise the U-Ignite Video Competition, and hold informational sessions
 +
 
 +
Deliver date: December 14, 2015
 +
 
 +
== Milestone #2: ==
 +
 
 +
Launch U-Ignite Video Competition (January 2016)
 +
 
 +
- Open video submission box
 +
 
 +
- Open online voting and judging
 +
 
 +
- Reward top submission
 +
 
 +
Delivery date: April 2016
 +
 
 +
== Milestone #3: ==
 +
 
 +
Competition Follow-up
 +
 
 +
-Follow up with competitor to see if any are interested in pursuing their ideas
 +
 
 +
-Work with contestant as well on campus resources to bring ideas to life
 +
 
 +
Delivery date: TBD
 +
 
 +
= Related Links =
 +
 
 +
[[Texas A & M University]]
 +
 
 +
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Carson_Muscat Carson Muscat]
 +
 
 +
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Jean-Claude_Faa Jean-Claude Faa]
 +
 
 +
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Brendan_Cooper Brendan Cooper]
 +
 
 +
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Jeff_Zhao Jeff Zhao]
 +
 
 +
[[/Kanika Gakhar|/Kanika_Gakhar]]
 +
 
 +
[[Category:Student Priorities]]
 +
[[Category:Student Priorities]]
 +
[[Category:Texas_A_&_M_University]]
 +
[[Category:Student_Priorities]]
 +
{{CatTree|Texas_A_&_M_University}}

Latest revision as of 20:22, 5 June 2020

Project Pitch Video

Overview

Texas A&M has a large innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem. We have a variety of resources aimed at reaching both graduate and undergraduate students, as well as faculty. However, many of the more developed programs are limited to graduate students due to the fact that funds are easier spent on students that are very serious about their pursuits. Undergraduate programs are not non-existent, but simply younger and less robust. Student body awareness is an issue that plauges these newer events as well as an uncertainty of what our campus wants to develop in order to increase the I&E mentality. Knowing what students would want to attend is somewhat of a shot in the dark, hampering the development of new programs.

That being said, programs are being developed with modest success by the engineering faculty. The ultimate pathway to growth in student auidience sizes can be found in student-aided promotion and program development ( i.e. University Innovation Fellows). The Texas A&M University UIF's are devoted to allowing these new and immensly important programs to flourish. We intend to be the bridge between the faculty that have the ability to appropriate the neccessary funding and the students that have aspirations for the campus environment.

Project: Second-Tier Idea-to-Startup Support Structure 

UIF Involved: Brendan Cooper

This project is aimed at developing an additional undergraduate program that helps to increase the conversion rate between ideation and startup businesses.

There exists a program within Texas A&M called Aggies Invent in which students participate in an all-inclusive innovation weekend. They are tasked with deciding on a need that requires a solution, and are then expected to diagnose the issue and develop an early stage solution. Through this avenue of creative incitement, groups and ideas are created that have genuine business potential, and could be taken to further stages of development.

Currently it is very difficult to gather the neccessary momentum to proceed into a business venture. This is because of several issues:

1) Students are unmotivated/ get discouraged not knowing what to do next

2) School is demanding

3) Students become doubtful of their products' or their own potential

4) The group has bad chemistry/ not all members wish to continue

These are issues that need to be minimized in order to effectively promote the ideas that have true merit.

Our plan is to develop a secondary event or program that comes in to re-inspire students and provided much needed guidance at the right time--just before most groups face an utter demize. There are several ways to achieve this, and a multitude of events that could be hosted to make the entrepreneurial process smoother on campus.

Milestone #1:

Research needs to be conducted within the existing Aggies Invent program in order to establish a program that faculty and students agree would be mutually beneficial. Intentions:

1) Conduct interviews at an Aggies Invent weekend for groups that participate.

           Types of input expected:

                  What program would they like to see?

                  How would you rate your group effectiveness?

                  Do you think you will continue developing your idea?

2) Particpate in an Aggies Invent weekend.

           Types of takeaways expected:

                  Did our group expect to continue?

                  Why did or didn't we?

                  What obstacles did we face?

Dates:

October 23-25: Research conducted for participants of an Aggies invent, base line interviews.

Week of November 2nd: Conduct Follow up interviews to determine how many groups did infact continue and why.

November 20-22: Particpate in Aggies Invent weekend.

Milestone #2: 

Construct a model for the innovative group's lifecycle. Data that was gathered in the research phase needs to be compressed into a general template or diagram that expresses exactly what a group faces at any point in the Texas A&M Startup timeline. This lifecycle will be mostly concerned with the early development and strength of a group's motivation.

1) Develop the physical model.

2) Present this model to faculty to triangulate where this secondary program would be most beneficial.

Dates:

December: FInish model and present to faculty.

December (after semester): develop comprehensive plan of when we can implement a test event.

Milestone #3:

With the correct information in hand, now comes the time to try to build the new event and/or program. A program curriculum and event timeline needs to be drafted in order to make sure that the test event is well planned and perfoms the function that we are hoping it will perform.

1) Ideation of what the program needs to contain (using research as guide).

             Things to remember:

                      The aim of this event is to support the development of a business model and plan.

                      The event should resemble the same basic structure as its parent event: Aggies Invent, but with a few twists.

2) Draft the program based on what is settled upon in the stage above.

3) Reserve the resources needed to complete the event.

4) Invite teams that have participated in Aggies Invent in the past (max 10 teams).

5) Run the test program.

Dates:

January 2016: Complete ideation and start drafting the program structure.

February 2016: Reserve the resources and host the event.

Project 2: SpaceX Hyperloop Design Competition

UIF Involved: Carson Muscat

Our university has been given an amazing opportunity to host a large scale event focused around fostering the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit within student minds.

Texas A&M University and SpaceX have been working closely together to be able to host the SpaceX Hyperloop Design Competition. This event will bring a spotlight on innovation and entrepreneurial mindsets as students gather from around the country and world to develop innovative solutions to a future problem. 

The University Innovation Fellow program and the student body has an amazing opportunity to help this event be a spotlight to encourage the ecosystem not only on our campus, but also campuses across the globe. 

Milestone #1:

Discuss and work closely with the Engineering Innovation Center to be able to make a positive impact on the competition and to bring something new to the table. 

Milestone #2:

Coordinate with other representatives of the Texas A&M Student body to be able to bring a stronger student involvement and interest into the event.

Milestone #3:

Help run the event to perfection come January 2016.

Project 3: TAMUHack integration

Currently, one of the largest Innovation and Entrepreneurship events at our school is TAMUHack. TAMUHack is a 24h event in which students from multiple schools come to build a hack, pitch their idea, and win prizes.

At the moment, the event is completely student-organized and the university does not provide a significant amount of sponsorship or coverage to it. The funds for the event are raised through industry sponsors.

I believe the event could be expanded to include more people, and there could be additional ways to integrate more engineers, rather than computer scientists. 

Milestone #1:

To begin the process of change:

1) Contact the TAMUHack board to let them know my intentions.

2) Join the board and aid with organization and sponsor/fund acquisition. 

Milestone #2:

After I've joined, we need to take the following steps/goals:

1) Improve fund acquisition to increase attendance; 

2) Have better media coverage of the event, and more publicity/advertising.

3) Arrange a meeting between the I & E steering council of A&M with the TAMUHack board.

Milestone #3:

After we've arranged / integrated TAMUHack with our I&E expansion, we can then begin the process

of arranging / implementing all the goals.

Project 4: U-Ignite Video Competition

UIF Involved: Jean-Claude Faa

The U-Ignite Video Competition is a one-minute idea pitch competition established in Fall 2014. It establishes a platform for students to submit a one minute video, detailing an innovation idea they may have, for a chance to win a grand prize.

Milestone #1:

1) Establish Innovation and Entrepreneurship  Modules for Introduction to Engineering freshman course

2) Establish student-led pop-up classes for students interested in further instruction on Innovation and Entrepreneurship

3) Advertise the U-Ignite Video Competition, and hold informational sessions

Deliver date: December 14, 2015

Milestone #2:

Launch U-Ignite Video Competition (January 2016)

- Open video submission box

- Open online voting and judging

- Reward top submission

Delivery date: April 2016

Milestone #3:

Competition Follow-up

-Follow up with competitor to see if any are interested in pursuing their ideas

-Work with contestant as well on campus resources to bring ideas to life

Delivery date: TBD

Related Links

Texas A & M University

Carson Muscat

Jean-Claude Faa

Brendan Cooper

Jeff Zhao

/Kanika_Gakhar

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