Priorities:University of Dayton Student Priorities

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Strategy #1: Linking Art and Science and Learning to Use Your WHOLE Brain

The essence of engineering is the use of logical constructs that creatively solve our everyday problems. So naturally, engineers are most effective when they are masters of science and are artists coherently — or in other words, when they are masters of both sides of their brains.

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= The importance of this topic can be seen everywhere. From company initiatives like Ford’s that create workshops to inspire their engineers to better create their products to university powerpoints that try to implement better ways of brainstorming that inspire innovation — the essence of being able to creatively solve is stressed.

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= Why? Probably due to the fact that engineers without abstract thought are good enough to improve on what already exists, but in order to shake the market or shape the future, you need engineers who hold that complete potential.

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= So how is UD’s Brain doing?  Here’s what we’ve heard:

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• I’m a STEM major and I have no idea what’s happening on the other side of campus, and I’m pretty sure they don’t know what happening on mine
• I was mainly pushed into engineering for the money
• Engineering is all about math and science
• I was a computer engineer but felt that the part of me that wanted to know more about the world and improving upon it was left behind, so I changed majors
• you were so interested and well versed in our english class i thought you were an english major
• you’re gonna get somewhere because you won’t follow the stereotypes, mechanical birds vs. feathers **
• there are hardly any groups of friends that have diverse majors
• we notice that the business school better prepares their students for networking while the engineering school produces students who are more equip to work on teams and solve problems, but quite frankly to be effective in either career you need both of those skills.

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= What does this mean?

• our students don’t feel connected with other important parts of our campus
• our students aren’t easily able to connect with students of diverse backgrounds and interest
• the fatal view/practice of producing engineers who are solely human calculators are hindering those who could blossom in the field
• basic strengths that could better prepare all of our students aren’t completely introduced and therefore reinforce those stereotypes

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= So what can we do?

• starting small: program that better prepares our engineers for their full potential
• what this could become: BE an Engineer in your field (all majors - projects on campus, off campus, like an engineer)

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= What does this produce?

• students with a better understanding of their potential within their field
• students with a better understanding of other fields
• produces: intercommunication between both sides of campus, lowers confusion within the undeclared community

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Related Links

University of Dayton

University of Dayton Student Priorities

University Innovation Fellows

Spring 2017:

David Fink

Khalilah Manson

Jake Tersigni

Madalyn Beban

Spring 2016:

Cameron Crasto

Suzy Dorsey

Reid Fuente

Daniela Lopez

Devin Spatz