Priorities:University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Priorities

Overview

UWM has a uniquely vibrant culture. It is a diverse hub for research and hands-on experience which is immediately embedded in a great city that offers a wide range of ecological, historical, intellectual, and monetary resources and opportunities. Pragmatism, optimism, and social empathy are written on the DNA of the city, and accordingly, the university. There are many young, knowledgeable faculties on the campus, and students have a hunger to learn and create.

We think student priorities need to be addressed on three main stages.

1. Solving Problems
2. Building Upon Existing Assets
3. Creating New Opportunities

Each stage can be further explored on two levels of strategic and tactical. It should be noted that there is a considerable degree of overlap between these three stages, however, they also have distinct characteristics. While each of these stages can stand on its own, they are presented in a suggested sequence under the assumption that each stage represents a level of experience before going on to the next stage.

Solving Problems

1.1. Strategic: Inspiration & Celebration

There are many undergrad and grad students that are skeptic of the value of what they receive as education in the university. Also, many graduate and PhD students gravitate towards merely conceptual research endeavors to maintain a place in the community of researchers. By framing “becoming innovative” as a legitimate knowledgeable identity for students, we can evoke the masses’ curiosity about the culture of I&E and encourage them to join the movement.  

Tactical: Storytelling

o   Seminars and lecture series

o   TEDx, Ignite Talk, PechaKucha

o   Jotting Imaginations on Walls

Building Upon Existing Assets

2.1. Strategic: Exposure & Awareness

Increasing student exposure to existing resources on campus to promote awareness

Tactical: Increased Presence

o   Conducting I&E fare by involving organizations, clubs, interested faculty, etc.

o   Idea Competitions (1000 Pitches, 3 Day Startup, UWM Student Startup Challenge etc.)

2.2. Strategic: Interdisciplinary Dialogue

Introducing the resources on campus to each other in favor of fostering interdisciplinary interaction

Tactical: [major]explore[majors] events (e.g. ArchiMath, ArchiPhysics, ArchiChemi, ArchiEE, ArchiPsych, ArchiME, ArchiBioMed, etc.)

2.3. Strategic: Sense of Community

I&E sub-communities on campus need to shape a greater community in order to increase communication, support, and productivity

Tactical: UIFs can reach out to existing I&E-related organizations, clubs, faculty, groups, etc. and share their mission and goals with them. Gradually, we can create a larger community with a common language that is self-aware of its existence and is able to make change in larger scale. 

Creating New Opportunities 

3.1. Strategic: Empowering Campus Crossroads

Campus crossroads are places where most serendipitous encounters occur.

Tactical: Identifying and leveraging existing crossroads on campus and creating opportunities for I&E-related discussions and activities

o   I&E Landscape Kiosk in the Student Union

o   I&E Hub in the Library

3.2. Strategic: Think Outside the Campus's Box

Milwaukee is a great city with a wide range of resources. We need to plug into these resources and use the energy that is generated in the city.

Tactical: Involving the City in & Involving in the City

o   Finding sponsors for Case Competitions

o   Exploring sites in the city that has social or ecological potential and value which can be used to the benefit of people, local businesses, etc.