<div><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The </span>[http://www2.furman.edu/studentlife/leadership/ShuckerLeadershipInstitute/Pages/default.aspx <b>Shucker Leadership Institute</b> ]<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">at Furman is a comprehensive program designed to foster change in students and the greater Greenville community. A Shucker Fellow engages in a four year experience and gains an understanding of personal strengths as a leader, practices collaborative leadership and learns how to be a catalyst for change. Each year, 25 candidates are chosen to become New Fellows in the Shucker Leadership Institute. SLI's guided process is intended to enhance the college experience and prepare an individual for a lifetime of meaningful leadership and service in any field.</span></div><div><br/><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The '''Furman Robotics Team''' is a student-run </span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">organization that connects people with an interest in robotics and electronics to collaborate on small projects - both for fun and those that are entered in regional and national competitions. Every new member is taught basic electronics and programming skills and is assigned to a group of 3-5 people working on a shared project. Group president </span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Evdokiya Kostadinova shares,</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> "No previous experience is needed, just pure enthusiasm."</span><br/></div><div><br/>[[File:Furman4.png]]<br/></div><div><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In 1988, Furman's Board of Trustees transferred $100,000 to form '''The Investment Club''' from the school’s endowment. Since then, the club's members have used that balance to identify investment strategies, purchase stocks and gain experience in the world of finance. The group also hosts events with Greenville's business leaders. The club currently meets twice a month to learn about investment topics and study its portfolio.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">'''The StudioLab,''' a branch of the Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), offers Furman students, faculty and staff access to cutting-edge technology. Student consultants provide one-on-one assistance in learning to use all forms of technology, including assistance with writing. We offer both assistance with collaborative digital projects and one-on-one writing consultations. The mission of the Writing & Media is to facilitate the effective use of communication technologies at Furman and initiate learning experiences through collaboration. <br/><br/>The '''Environmental Action Group (EAG)'''</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">''' i'''s the campus go-to group for environmental and sustainable movements on campus. They aim to educate the campus on how to live in an eco-friendly way, while doing service projects and hosting events that support their philosophy. Efforts include demonstrations of sustainable technologies, discussions around social entrepreneurship and explorations of sustainable solutions for issues of waste, transportation, climate change and energy. </span><br/>[[File:Furman5.png]]<br/><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">In the Art Department, Furman's '''Fine Arts Entrepreneurship Society (FAES)'''</span><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> fosters interest and growth in visual studies by demonstrating the value of the arts through entrepreneurial activities. The organization accomplishes this through events, social activities, field trips, workshops, and lectures with artists, designers and entrepreneurs. Speakers have included world-renowned surf artist [http://drewbrophy.com Drew Brophy], who hosted a workshop and lecture students on how to build a carreer around making what matters to them. </span><br/><br/>FU Art is also home to [[Www.createathon.org|CreateAthon]] on Campus: a <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">24 Hour pro bono design and branding blitz for social good. This annual event brings students from across campus together with mentors and designers that build brands and movements for Fortune 500 companies, social ventures and start-ups alike. </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">CreateAthon is planned in partnership with local non profits - who are the client for the project. In addition, students work with faculty and mentors from word-of-mouth marketing firm Brains on Fire and the national CreateAthon movement to bring ideas to life. </span><br/><br/>Above all, Furman students are known for their passion, enthusiasm and willingness to do things differently to have fun. From floating a giant swan made out of plastic bottles on the lake to shed light on consumption habits to planning a giant flashmob with the president in downtown Greenville, the student body isn't afraid to do things differently. It's time to harness this energy and enthusiasm and channel it through entrepreneurship and innovation, which will equip students with the tools and skill sets needed to create new solutions for the world's most pressing problems. </div>
= Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship <br/><br/> = Faculty-student relationships are what sets Furman apart from other colleges similar in size. This dynamic interaction allows faculty to have a keen sense of what students are interested in, and model their course content accordingly. '''Introductions to Entrepreneurship''' While Furman does not have a program in entrepreneurship or a particular area of study that focuses on innovation and technology, Furman faculty do explore these concepts through their teaching, coursework and research. Courses such as 411 Entrepreneurship and New Venture Development, 230 Problem Solving and Decision Making for Management and 312 Sustainable Corporation introduce students to the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship through the Business Department. Other disciplines introduce the concepts through courses like 433 Introduction to Embedded Systems in Physics and 271 Morals, Law and Society in a Digital Age in Computer Science, which invite students to dig deeper into the topics through personal research. '''Curricular Innovation''' The May Experience is an optional three-week term following spring commencement that encourages faculty to create innovative and intensive academic experiences. Successful completion of May Experience courses will yield two credits. While May Experience courses do not meet General Education Requirements, they can carry concentration credit or be an elective in a major. With its flexible guidelines, the May Experience block allows faculty to create courses like ''Design for Social Change''. This interdisciplinary course brought faculty from the Art and Sociology departments together with students from diverse academic backgrounds to engage local residents in community-based problem solving. Upon completion, students worked with residents to develop a concept for a bakery and maker space that will bring new jobs and opportunities to a neighborhood near the University. This relationship is also fostered by faculty involvement in programs like Creative Inquiries- where faculty sponsors play a large role in guiding the innovation techniques and actively contributing to the development of a technology. Few faculty incentives are provided at Clemson University to promote innovation and entrepreneurship outside of the simple motivation for student education and learning. Many faculty members strive for excellence in the research laboratory and cannot find time to chase their entrepreneurial dreams.
= University-Industry Collaboration =