Difference between revisions of "Priorities:UMass Lowell Student Priorities"

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= Overview- A Campus on the Move<br/> =
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= '''Overview- A Campus on the Move''' =
  
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<span style="font-size:small;">UMass Lowell Innovation and Entrepreneurship Landscape Canvas is full of opportunities. The University of Massachusetts Lowell is growing at high rates, and we are moving along these lines in order to achieve even better results than ever.&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20.15999984741211px;">UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.</span></span>
+
The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a top-tier research university with a full plate of offerings for innovation and entrepreneurship. The faculty and administration are eager to connect with the movement of promoting an innovative culture at the university level. Being a national research university, UMass Lowell has been evolving quite a bit in the past few years: new buildings have sprouted everywhere, classrooms are being upgraded to support a culture of learning, and centers for innovation are being built to involve as many students as possible in I&E. As well, programs and offerings have been refined over the years to adapt to our changing society.
  
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<span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20.15999984741211px;">UMass Lowell's Entrepreneurial culture is budding and many changes are already in the works. The faculty and administration at the University of Massachusetts Lowell are supportive of the movement and want to embrace the economic developments that are possible for students, the school, and the city of Lowell. Programs and organizations have been put into place to give us a great head start, but there is still more to come from our University.</span></span>
+
UMass Lowell's entrepreneurial culture has been active since around 2011, with the DifferenceMaker Program kicking off in 2012. Since then, a wealth of programs have been started to connect students with more opportunities for entrepreneurship. The university has taken many steps to work with the City of Lowell and local companies for the greater benefit and economic development of the area. There are many programs in place that have given us a great head start, but there is more to come yet.
  
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<span style="font-size:small;"><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68); font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20.15999984741211px;">Our strategic plan will incorporate the promotion and growth of what already has began to grow a reputation on campus (DifferenceMaker, Hawk Hatch, and other opportunities), the development of new space, and the organization and funding for a design challenge to give students innovative and entrepreneurial experience as well as help our university's surrounding community.</span></span>
+
Our strategic plan centers around the idea of Jump-Starting Awareness, where students acknowledge that the programs exist but aren’t necessarily aware of the other offerings in place to help the entrepreneurial process go as smoothly as possible. Our priorities are to introduce fun and engaging events to get students inspired toward an entrepreneurial venture. We want to show that the work can be extremely rewarding, even in failure. We aim to do this through a variety of channels.
  
−
= Strategy #1: Changing the Potential Value on Clemson's Campus<br/> =
+
= '''Fall 2015 Innovation Fellows''' =
  
−
Following are an array of strategies that will fully address Gap #1 over a 2-3 year period:
+
==== Rachel Silk – Marketing and Entrepreneurship ‘16 ====
  
−
== Tactic #1: The Design and Entrepreneurship Network (The DEN) ==
+
Rachel is an active member of the entrepreneurial environment at UMass Lowell. A participant in the DifferenceMaker Program, her team started a non-profit, Love of the Game, dedicated to connecting people with disabilities to their community through sports. As an Innovation Fellow, she hopes to unify the university by generating increased awareness for the offerings for I&E.
  
−
*Description: The opportunity to take a Creative Inquiry is built into the current curriculum for undergraduates.  However, within Bioengineering, these "electives" are limited to research focused classes such as Orthopaedics, Cardiovascular, BioSensors, etc.  These courses are limited to those who wish to strive to take what they develop in their research laboratories or in their dorm rooms to market where it can serve the purpose it was created for.  Therefore, we will be implementing a Creative Inquiry known as The DEN that span topics within I&E as a separate sector from which undergraduates can currently select.  Examples of such include: Opportunity Assessment and Project Management, Start-Up Business Models, Start-Up Finance and Investment, and Product Development and Management.  In addition to a Creative Inquiry weekly meeting, teams of undergraduates will enter The DEN with technologies they are passionate about developing into ventures and will apply the I&E topics to those technologies.  Established entrepreneurs, technology transfer officers, and venture capitalists will guest lecture to these students to spark interest and highlight the opportunity of a career in this space.
+
==== Stephen Kender – Plastics Engineering ‘18 ====
−
*Team Leader(s): Breanne Przestrzelski, Sarah Helms (current BioE Master's candidate), Colin Burns-Heffner (current BioE Master's candidate), Natalie Patzin (current Bioengineering Advisory Board President), and Martine LaBerge (current Bioengineering Department Head)
 
−
*Milestones:
 
−
**Curriculum Assessment- completed with undergraduate student services coordinator (Tammy Rothell)- November 2013
 
−
**Preparation of Audience- completed with help from Martine LaBerge (current Bioengineering Department Head)- December 2013
 
−
**Curriculum Preparation- January 2014
 
−
**Full Acceptance into Undergraduate Program-Spring 2014
 
  
−
== Tactic #2: Interdisciplinary Sophomore Level I&E Course with Complimentary Senior Design Venture Projects ==
+
Stephen is also active in the innovative culture in the community around him. He and his team started a sports equipment company, KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor, around a novel and revolutionary technology. With the training from the Innovation Fellows program, he hopes to develop new and existing entrepreneurial skills so he can bring back a plethora of opportunities for his school and his community.
  
−
*Description: The current I&E curriculums across campus address only juniors and seniors in the Executive Leadership and Entrepreneurship department, Engineering Senior Capstone Design Classes, or even only graduate students in the MBA in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (MBAe) program.  What is needed is a course that brings together sophomore level students from all disciplines to introduce the concepts on innovation and entrepreneurship before it is too late.  Many students do not encounter design or innovation until their senior design capstone engineering classes, at which point, the students have already committed to medical schools, law schools, graduate schools, or other careers that are not within I&E.  This course will be offered to all colleges in hopes to bring together young, innovative minds to shape the I&E landscape at the start.  In addition, plans to partner aspiring business students with senior design engineering and science students will help stimulate venture growth of life science technologies.
+
&nbsp;
−
*Team Leader: John DesJardins, PhD (current advisor and mentor to University Innovation Fellow, Breanne Przestrzelski), Peter Gianidos (graduate professor of MBA in Entrepreneurship and undergraduate professor in College of Business and Behavioral Science)
 
−
*Milestones:
 
−
**Curriculum Assessment- completed with undergraduate student services coordinators- January 2014
 
−
**Small Interest Meetings with faculty and students of affected departments- March 2014
 
−
**Preparation of Audience- completed with help from Martine LaBerge (current Bioengineering Department Head)- May 2014
 
−
**Presentation to Undergraduate Advisory Council, Board of Trustees, and University President- June 2014
 
−
**Curriculum Preparation- Fall 2014
 
−
**Faculty Search- Spring and Summer 2014
 
−
**Full Acceptance into Undergraduate Curriculum-Fall 2014
 
  
−
== Tactic #3: Summer LemonADE Stand: Acceleration in Design and Entrepreneurship ==
+
== '''JUMP-STARTING AWARENESS''' ==
  
−
*Description:  There is little direction on the Clemson University Campus once students do become passionate about I&E.  To address this gap, it is necessary to offer programs and outlets for students to learn from those who have been in their shoes, current successful CEOs of small business start-ups, from professors whose passion is in teaching design and innovation to young captivating minds.  This summer course will not be for credit.  This summer course will not be for a certificate.  This summer course will be for the experience. Two passionate individuals will lead their own version (a Clemson version) of a Lean Start-Up summer workshop- getting students passionate about I&E while teaching them a thing or two along the way about how to create their own start-up.
+
''Our plans involve getting students engaged in the process of I&E, and will work with and alongside the current programs on campus. While our projects will stand on their own, we will work very hard to display the full offerings on campus to the participants.''
−
*Team Leaders: John DesJardins, PhD, Assistant Professor, BioE Senior Design Capstone Instructor, David Orr, PhD, CEO of Kiyatec (a start-up founded on his Clemson University research), and Peter Gianidos (graduate professor in MBA in Entrepreneurship Program and undergraduate professor in College of Business and Behavioral Science)
 
−
*Milestones:
 
−
**Attend Lean Start-Up Workshops- Fall 2013 through Summer 2014
 
−
**Create a Portfolio of Topics- Fall 2013 through Summer 2014
 
−
**Formulate a Summer Curriculum- Fall 2013 through Summer 2014
 
−
**Pitch the Idea/Concept- Fall 2014
 
−
**Find a Space/Infrastructure- Fall 2014 through Spring 2015
 
−
**Funding- Fall 2014 through Spring 2015
 
−
**Purchase Supplies- Fall 2014 through Spring 2015
 
−
**Marketing Resources- Spring 2015
 
−
**Generate Awareness- Spring 2015
 
−
**Prepare for First Summer Session- Spring 2015
 
−
**Host First Summer Session- Summer 2015
 
  
−
= Strategy #2: Executing Effectiveness in the Reframing Value at Clemson<br/> =
+
=== River Hawk Tank ===
  
−
Following are an array of strategies that will fully address Gap #2 over a 2-3 year period:
+
*Meant to involve students in a fun and engaging activity, as a pre-cursor to the DifferenceMaker Program
 +
*Will be akin to a mini-accelerator, with small deliverable-based learning and quick crash course sessions
 +
*Will be targeting new students, to show them the complete offerings of the DifferenceMaker Program
 +
*When the program ends, we will funnel participants directly into the DifferenceMaker competitions
 +
*Program Layout
 +
**&nbsp;Session 1: Pitch Ideas/Problems
 +
***​Form teams/solutions
 +
***Do not have to present they could just write it down and we could read it out loud.
 +
**Session 2: Reach out to teams, guide them with their solutions
 +
***Make sure things are viable/the team is passionate enough if it is not viable
 +
**Session 3: Basic Business Model (Deliverable), Practice Pitch?
 +
**Session 4: Mock Shark Tank (Practice for College Competitions)
  
−
== Tactic #1: Tiger Business Alliance through Clemson InnoVenture Network ==
+
==== ​Timeline<br/> ====
  
−
*Description: Alumni presence to a university is crucial for many reasons, with funding being that which commons to mind most often.  However, keeping a successful alumni network close to the students for mentorship opportunities is one that should first come to mind.  The Tiger Business Alliance will keep successful graduate entrepreneurs connected to the university.  This program will allow for mentorship within the community from those who have the answers, understand where the young entrepreneurs are starting out, and will be there for them along their own journey towards I&E.  It is crucial to execute this program with the right mindset.  It is not a goal to raise x dollars for Clemson University.  It is to foster a relationship between successful graduate entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs- all who have been and will forever be TIGERS.
+
''Spring 2016'': Begin organizing and promoting the program, gearing up current students on the fence about entrepreneurship
−
*Team Leaders: John Warner (CEO of InnoVenture), David Orr, PhD, and Matthew Gaevert, PhD (co-founders of Kiyatec)
 
−
*Milestones:
 
−
**Reach out to current alumni- Fall 2013 through Spring 2014
 
−
**Explore the local, regional, and national entrepreneurial space for Clemson alumni- Fall 2013 through Spring 2014
 
−
**Formulate a list of interested alumni- Fall 2013 through Spring 2014
 
−
**Create a forum and central space for these alumni- Summer 2014
 
−
**Host webinar sessions on goals of the program- Summer 2014
 
−
**Re-evaluate interested alumni- Fall 2014
 
−
**Afford benefits and rewards to committed alumni- Fall 2014
 
−
**Generate awareness of program to current students- Spring 2015
 
−
**Marketing resources- Spring 2015
 
−
**Connect students with alumni- Fall 2015
 
  
−
== Tactic #2: BioInnovation ==
+
''Spring/Summer 2016'': Talk with faculty and organizations on campus about being speakers in our Tank program
  
−
*Description: Already in place at Tulane University is a mentorship program for entrepreneurial minded scientists looking to take their research interests beyond the labspace or machine shop.  This program is designed to capture the attention of undergraduates who possess that drive for I&E but are unsure how to attack it.  To lead and mentor these students, PhD entrepreneurs (both aspiring and achieved) work with undergraduates to foster new innovators and entrepreneurs.
+
''Summer 2016'': Visit orientations, giving pitches for the River Hawk Tank and getting incoming students interested
−
*Team Leader: TBD
 
−
*Milestones:
 
−
**Reach out to current graduate students- Fall 2013 through Spring 2014
 
−
**Formulate a list of interested graduate students- Fall 2013 through Spring 2014
 
−
**Create a forum and central space for these graduate students- Summer 2014
 
−
**Host webinar sessions on goals of the program- Summer 2014
 
−
**Re-evaluate interested graduate students- Fall 2014
 
−
**Afford benefits and rewards to committed graduate students- Fall 2014
 
−
**Generate awareness of program to current students- Spring 2015
 
−
**Marketing resources- Spring 2015
 
−
**Connect students with graduate students- Fall 2015
 
  
−
== Tactic #3: Transformation of the Clemson University Office of Technology Transfer ==
+
''Fall 2016'': Jump-start the program in the first week or two of school, and funnel students into the DifferenceMaker Program
  
−
*Description: The purpose of a technology transfer office is to facilitate innovation from laboratory to commercialization.  This is fostered by various techniques, a benchmark of which is still to be established.  One tactic to raise the bar for technoogy transfer offices across the country is to establish a mentorship relationship between current I&E students and their university technology transfer office.  This could be facilitated through work-shops, seminars, How-To sessions.  All of these outlets generate learning experiences and shine a positive light on the technology transfer office, an entity who, if they facilitate technology development throughout all stages, will clearly be seen as facilitating innovation from laboratoty to commercialization.
+
''After Program'': Meeting with DifferenceMakers, faculty, etc. to see where to improve
−
*Team Leader: Sarah Helms (current BioE Master's candidate), Elizabeth Perpall, Chief Technology Transfer Officer, Clemson University Research Foundation (CURF)
 
−
*Milestones:
 
−
**Set goals with students (What would they like to see from their OTT?)- Fall 2013 through Spring 2014
 
−
**Set goals with OTT (What would they like to see from their students?)- Fall 2013 through Spring 2014
 
−
***Setting these goals with both parties sets expectations and responsibilities with each party
 
−
**Negotiate goals- Spring 2014
 
−
**Set Measurable Standards- Summer 2014
 
−
**Facilitate Student-OTT Interactions- Fall 2014
 
−
**Select and Prepare OTT speakers- Fall 2014
 
−
**OTT Seminars (re-curring event)- Fall 2014
 
−
**Prepare Work-Shop Attendance List- Winter 2014
 
−
**OTT Work-Shops (re-curring event)- Spring 2015
 
−
**Generate Awareness of How-To Sessions- Spring 2015
 
−
**Accept Applications- Spring 2015
 
−
**Verify Applications- Spring 2015
 
−
**Select Teams- Spring 2015
 
−
**OTT How-To Sessions (recurring event)- Spring 2015
 
  
−
= Impact<br/> =
+
=== Prototyping Hackathons ===
  
−
{{#widget:Google Spreadsheet|key=0AgHBY23xvE2CdGJHandKM3FveURGZkotUWlLNlZKbXc|width=800|height=650}}
+
*Current hackathons at the university are just idea mixers, due to the lack of spaces available for a prototyping one
 +
*New makerspaces and centers for innovation open up amazing possibilities
 +
*Hackathon allows students to get creative with others in the end goal of creating a prototype to solve a problem
 +
*Hackathons will be hosted in the Spring semester (possibly integrating a Fall semester one in the future) and will be a lead-in to other DifferenceMaker Programs. Typically will be 48 hours.
 +
*Will have one or more themes (somewhat specific) to guide teams in their ideation
  
−
{{#widget:Google Form|key=1m8dmj_mkPQEPpaX9Rd0fMeXLKpSTsDtJcQVk3MtxtrM|width=1400|height=1400}}
+
==== ​Timeline<br/> ====
 +
<div>''Fall 2016'': Once dates and spaces are finalized, reach out to local industry suppliers for donations and connections</div>
 +
''Winter 2016'': Continue collecting donations, work with DifferenceMaker program to develop specific themes and rules. Advertise and promote the hackathon (announce theme and rules before winter break)
  
 +
''Spring 2016'': First weekend of February, just before the Idea Challenge Application Deadlines
  
 +
''Spring 2016'': Host hackathon and collect feedback on how well it was operated. Contact donors and see if they are alright with being recurring sponsors at annual events
  
−
= Related Links =
+
=== TEDx ===
  
−
[[University of Massachusetts Lowell]]
+
*This event will be centered around inspiring students toward innovation with tips from local entrepreneurs
 +
*Will engage the broader innovative community
 +
 
 +
==== ​Timeline ====
 +
 
 +
''Fall 2016'': Organize a date and location with the university (or with the city)
 +
 
 +
''Winter 2016'': Begin advertising and reaching out to prospective speakers
 +
 
 +
''Spring 2016'': Advertise more heavily and finalize list of speakers. Host event, and figure out where to improve
 +
 
 +
== '''CONNECTING FACULTY AND STUDENTS''' ==
 +
 
 +
One other project we will be working on involves connecting students to faculty to help them learn more about a specific skill. We currently have a Mentor Program, but for students needing a basic education in a certain area it is much too formal.
 +
 
 +
Like the website LinkedIn, we seek to have faculty list their skills on the school website. These skills will have tags that can be searched for when students need help with one. When a student has a positive learning experience, they can endorse professors for a particular skill. There will be no way to “downvote” any professors, so there are no safeguards needed to prevent corrupting that system. All that is needed for this program is to talk with the website developers (who are currently working on a new site, so the timing could work out well) and see how it can be integrated.
 +
 
 +
&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
= '''2013 Innovation Fellows''' =
 +
 
 +
== '''Enhance & Synergize the University I&E Ecosystem''' ==
 +
 
 +
=== '''Inspire Club''' ===
 +
 
 +
Inspire Club seeks to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship as well as connect them to campus and community resources such as ‘DifferenceMakers”, “M2D2”, “E For All”, etc. Weekly meetings will be held to expose students to an assortment of enriching experiences from innovative business model development tools and rapid prototyping exercises to guest panels and networking events. Students will be encouraged to develop ideas and solutions on an individual basis as well as to form teams in which they will combine, re-create, refine, and expand on them. We believe that this approach will engender high levels of student leadership and foster teamwork. Inspire will become an integral part of the student I&E pathway leading students from simple ideas to sustainable venture ready models. The skills learned will reflect the lean and iterative nature of the evolving economy and not only be valuable for start-ups but also in a traditional corporate environment where forward thinking, collaboration, and creativity are rapidly being adopted.
 +
 
 +
==== &nbsp;'''Goals of Inspire''' ====
 +
 
 +
*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Introduce creative problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
 +
*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Identify purpose in each student's education
 +
*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Connect students to I&E resources
 +
*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Encourage student leadership
 +
*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Push for development of a Maker Space&nbsp;
 +
*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Help develop new experiential activities&nbsp;
 +
*&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Motivate & Capture new audiences
 +
 
 +
&nbsp;
 +
 
 +
= '''Related Links''' =
 +
 
 +
[http://universityinnovation.org/University%20of%20Massachusetts%20Lowell University of Massachusetts Lowell]
  
 
University Innovation Fellows:
 
University Innovation Fellows:
  
−
[[Ana Gouveia]]
+
[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Stephen_Kender Stephen Kender]
−
 
 
−
[[James Abdallah]]
 
  
−
[[Kevin Desjardins]]
+
&nbsp;
  
−
[[Jacob Hulme]]
+
[[Category:Student Priorities]]
 +
[[Category:Student Priorities]]
 +
[[Category:Student Priorities]]
 +
[[Category:University_of_Massachusetts_Lowell]]
 +
[[Category:Student_Priorities]]

Latest revision as of 01:06, 5 June 2020

Overview- A Campus on the Move

The University of Massachusetts Lowell is a top-tier research university with a full plate of offerings for innovation and entrepreneurship. The faculty and administration are eager to connect with the movement of promoting an innovative culture at the university level. Being a national research university, UMass Lowell has been evolving quite a bit in the past few years: new buildings have sprouted everywhere, classrooms are being upgraded to support a culture of learning, and centers for innovation are being built to involve as many students as possible in I&E. As well, programs and offerings have been refined over the years to adapt to our changing society.

UMass Lowell's entrepreneurial culture has been active since around 2011, with the DifferenceMaker Program kicking off in 2012. Since then, a wealth of programs have been started to connect students with more opportunities for entrepreneurship. The university has taken many steps to work with the City of Lowell and local companies for the greater benefit and economic development of the area. There are many programs in place that have given us a great head start, but there is more to come yet.

Our strategic plan centers around the idea of Jump-Starting Awareness, where students acknowledge that the programs exist but aren’t necessarily aware of the other offerings in place to help the entrepreneurial process go as smoothly as possible. Our priorities are to introduce fun and engaging events to get students inspired toward an entrepreneurial venture. We want to show that the work can be extremely rewarding, even in failure. We aim to do this through a variety of channels.

Fall 2015 Innovation Fellows

Rachel Silk – Marketing and Entrepreneurship ‘16

Rachel is an active member of the entrepreneurial environment at UMass Lowell. A participant in the DifferenceMaker Program, her team started a non-profit, Love of the Game, dedicated to connecting people with disabilities to their community through sports. As an Innovation Fellow, she hopes to unify the university by generating increased awareness for the offerings for I&E.

Stephen Kender – Plastics Engineering ‘18

Stephen is also active in the innovative culture in the community around him. He and his team started a sports equipment company, KEnDERS Athletic Body Armor, around a novel and revolutionary technology. With the training from the Innovation Fellows program, he hopes to develop new and existing entrepreneurial skills so he can bring back a plethora of opportunities for his school and his community.

 

JUMP-STARTING AWARENESS

Our plans involve getting students engaged in the process of I&E, and will work with and alongside the current programs on campus. While our projects will stand on their own, we will work very hard to display the full offerings on campus to the participants.

River Hawk Tank

  • Meant to involve students in a fun and engaging activity, as a pre-cursor to the DifferenceMaker Program
  • Will be akin to a mini-accelerator, with small deliverable-based learning and quick crash course sessions
  • Will be targeting new students, to show them the complete offerings of the DifferenceMaker Program
  • When the program ends, we will funnel participants directly into the DifferenceMaker competitions
  • Program Layout
    •  Session 1: Pitch Ideas/Problems
      • ​Form teams/solutions
      • Do not have to present they could just write it down and we could read it out loud.
    • Session 2: Reach out to teams, guide them with their solutions
      • Make sure things are viable/the team is passionate enough if it is not viable
    • Session 3: Basic Business Model (Deliverable), Practice Pitch?
    • Session 4: Mock Shark Tank (Practice for College Competitions)

​Timeline

Spring 2016: Begin organizing and promoting the program, gearing up current students on the fence about entrepreneurship

Spring/Summer 2016: Talk with faculty and organizations on campus about being speakers in our Tank program

Summer 2016: Visit orientations, giving pitches for the River Hawk Tank and getting incoming students interested

Fall 2016: Jump-start the program in the first week or two of school, and funnel students into the DifferenceMaker Program

After Program: Meeting with DifferenceMakers, faculty, etc. to see where to improve

Prototyping Hackathons

  • Current hackathons at the university are just idea mixers, due to the lack of spaces available for a prototyping one
  • New makerspaces and centers for innovation open up amazing possibilities
  • Hackathon allows students to get creative with others in the end goal of creating a prototype to solve a problem
  • Hackathons will be hosted in the Spring semester (possibly integrating a Fall semester one in the future) and will be a lead-in to other DifferenceMaker Programs. Typically will be 48 hours.
  • Will have one or more themes (somewhat specific) to guide teams in their ideation

​Timeline

Fall 2016: Once dates and spaces are finalized, reach out to local industry suppliers for donations and connections

Winter 2016: Continue collecting donations, work with DifferenceMaker program to develop specific themes and rules. Advertise and promote the hackathon (announce theme and rules before winter break)

Spring 2016: First weekend of February, just before the Idea Challenge Application Deadlines

Spring 2016: Host hackathon and collect feedback on how well it was operated. Contact donors and see if they are alright with being recurring sponsors at annual events

TEDx

  • This event will be centered around inspiring students toward innovation with tips from local entrepreneurs
  • Will engage the broader innovative community

​Timeline

Fall 2016: Organize a date and location with the university (or with the city)

Winter 2016: Begin advertising and reaching out to prospective speakers

Spring 2016: Advertise more heavily and finalize list of speakers. Host event, and figure out where to improve

CONNECTING FACULTY AND STUDENTS

One other project we will be working on involves connecting students to faculty to help them learn more about a specific skill. We currently have a Mentor Program, but for students needing a basic education in a certain area it is much too formal.

Like the website LinkedIn, we seek to have faculty list their skills on the school website. These skills will have tags that can be searched for when students need help with one. When a student has a positive learning experience, they can endorse professors for a particular skill. There will be no way to “downvote” any professors, so there are no safeguards needed to prevent corrupting that system. All that is needed for this program is to talk with the website developers (who are currently working on a new site, so the timing could work out well) and see how it can be integrated.

 

2013 Innovation Fellows

Enhance & Synergize the University I&E Ecosystem

Inspire Club

Inspire Club seeks to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship as well as connect them to campus and community resources such as ‘DifferenceMakers”, “M2D2”, “E For All”, etc. Weekly meetings will be held to expose students to an assortment of enriching experiences from innovative business model development tools and rapid prototyping exercises to guest panels and networking events. Students will be encouraged to develop ideas and solutions on an individual basis as well as to form teams in which they will combine, re-create, refine, and expand on them. We believe that this approach will engender high levels of student leadership and foster teamwork. Inspire will become an integral part of the student I&E pathway leading students from simple ideas to sustainable venture ready models. The skills learned will reflect the lean and iterative nature of the evolving economy and not only be valuable for start-ups but also in a traditional corporate environment where forward thinking, collaboration, and creativity are rapidly being adopted.

 Goals of Inspire

  •       Introduce creative problem-solving, innovation and entrepreneurship
  •       Identify purpose in each student's education
  •       Connect students to I&E resources
  •       Encourage student leadership
  •       Push for development of a Maker Space 
  •       Help develop new experiential activities 
  •       Motivate & Capture new audiences

 

Related Links

University of Massachusetts Lowell

University Innovation Fellows:

Stephen Kender

 

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