Priorities:University of Portland Student Priorities

Rebranding Innovation. 

Strategy One: Create

Tactic 1: Makerspace

Creating an innovation space on campus will provide students with the tools they need to implement the many ideas they have.  Allowing students to learn by doing will be a valuable asset to encouraging innovation and entrepreneurship on campus.  An innovation space enables students from all disciplines to learn to think creatively.  There are a vast amount of different activities that can be held in such a space.  This will be a space that the university can advertise in order to attract more prospective students.  All in all, an innovation space is a key factor in the pursuit of improving the culture of entrepreneurship and innovation throughout campus.

Tactic 2: Rebrand & Expose

The need to rebrand the University's Leadership, Entreprenurship, and Innovation efforts is a must if we want to excite and energize the student body with the opportunities available. This tactic will include a modern, simplistic logo and branding solution to represent the maker space and the opportunities within it.

Tactic 3: Makerspace Workshops

With carefully established protocol, we can offer MakerSpace workshops where students are welcome to observe, learn, and interact with the space with a knowledgeable guide. They can recieve beginner tutorials on the proper use of equipment, as well as a variety of other intellectual resources that will enhance their ability to be more innovative. These workshops can be once a month and cater to a certain theme, in which will open up another opportunity for us to bring in experienced innovators/creators from the local community.

Strategy Two: Pursue

Tactic 1: 3 Day Startup

3DS will bring students through the beginning steps of launching a company or project through innovation on campus.  This is an event that will allow students to learn by doing.  3DS teaches entrepreneurship skills such as ideation, customer discovery and venture pitching.  This would be a beneficial event for students interested in E&I.

Tactic 2: Multidisciplinary Hackathon

Hosting a hackathon on campus that invites students from all majors to join together to “hack” out an idea will expose students to innovation and entrepreneurship on campus.  Students are constantly developing venture ideas and an event like this would allow them to gather a multidisciplinary team and work together to accomplish a goal.

Strategy Three: Motivate

Tactic 1: Bring Entrepreneurial Speakers to campus

Every year we have a Bauccio Lecture and bring in a speaker, but we should bring more speakers in throughout the year.  Having a monthly speaker will motivate students to pursue their ideas, and show that anything is possible.

Tactic 2: Host a TEDx event on campus

Hosting a TEDx event on campus, focused on innovation and entrepreneurship, can inspire the university into initiating a movement.  TEDx events are known for their motivational speakers and talks, and an event like this on campus has the potential to attract a large amount of students and faculty.

Tactic 3: Start Up Award

Having an award that is given every year at the university will help motivate students to create meaningful ventures throughout the year.  This will give students something to work towards while working on their ventures and promote entrepreneurship and innovation on campus.  Instead of giving the startup a large cash prize every year, we can give them an award of value, not just money.

Strategy 4: Incentivize

Tactic 1: Student-led investment fund

Starting an investment fund led by students will give students to identify and student startups within the community.  Having an investment fund run by and for students will provide capital for student-led startups and allow access to the mentoring of local entrepreneurs.  This will also expose students to the Portland startup community.  Raising capital while you’re still attending school is very difficult, and has the potential to deter students from pursuing their ventures.  Therefore, a student-led investment fund has the potential to be a valuable program at the University of Portland.

~ Related Links ~

University of Portland Student Priorities

Fellow Kevin Bastien

Fellow Taylor Hendricks

Fellow Cole Preece

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