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Priorities:Converse College Student Priorities

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Once students are aware of I&E on a grander scale, they can start building the skills necessary to be successful. This priority section focuses primarily on building the skills of Innovation and Entrepreneurship applicable to all disciplines.

LEADERSHIP RETREAT TRAINING

A large portion of Converse's student body holds a leadership position on campus. One a year, these students converge in a multiple day leadership retreat, where they learn the basics of heading the coalitions and student boards they will be taking part in the entire school year. These students are go-getters- they have run for office, started organizations, or serve as extensions of student life.

During this retreat, the principles of design thinking could be taught through placing students in small groups and asking them to tackle a problem creatively. They can move from rapidly brainstorming solutions to presenting their day’s work. This process will strengthen their ability to work in high stress situations, communicate with an interdisciplinary group, quickly prototype and roll out potential solutions, and learn from failures. Use of this model rather than preaching the tenets of leadership would be a fast paced way to get these students immersed in I&E culture while also learning tangible skills that will aid them throughout the school year.

'''PRIORITY FOUR: INCREASE COMMUNITY-CONVERSE PARTNERSHIPS '''

UIF FELLOWS COALITION

One of Converse’s largest and mostly untapped advantages is its location in proximity to Wofford College, another UIF school. Regional UIF universities with more developed I&E ecosystems include Furman and Clemson.

In planning regional events with colleges like Wofford, Clemson, and Furman, and directing students to resources that Converse may not be able to produce on its own, students will be able to interact with and learn from campus communities right outside their window.

'''PRIORITY FIVE: CREATE PIPELINE FOR I&E STUDENTS  '''

In developing students passionate about this movement, we must also understand that they require a path necessary to follow once they are dedicated. Priority four is tasked primarily with the development of concrete institutional pathways through which these students can easily navigate.

INTERDISCIPLINARY, COLLEGE-COMMUNITY BASED PROGRAMMING

An area of potentially impactful growth is the establishment of sustainable relationships between Converse and Spartanburg area businesses and nonprofits. Converse already offers team taught courses, bridging disciplines like English and Biology to give students a new perspective in various topics. We offer that business focused students pair up with students in other disciplines to form new solutions for problems. As a school with a history in social entrepreneurship, solving problems in innovative, business focused ways would be a natural progression in programming. These programs could be tailored to help external entities like the Rape Crisis Center, the regional school system, and local nonprofits.

= '''Priority Three: Increase Community-Converse Partnerships''' =

Sanuja Goonetilleke

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