Priorities:University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Priorities
Contents
UIF 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmDaFrwyeX0&feature=youtu.be
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.
- Solving Problems
- Building Upon Existing Assets
- 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
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
- Seminars and workshop series
- TEDx, Ignite Talk, PechaKucha
TEDxUWMilwaukee was founded in 2014 by a group of students from various backgrounds. The university innovation fellows at UWM we're instrumental in aiding the founding members of the group and serve as ambassadors in the community helping TEDxUWMilwaukee find new speakers and make industry conacts.
- Walls for Jotting Imaginative and Creative Ideas
Building Upon Existing Assets
Strategic: Exposure & Awareness
Increasing student exposure to existing resources on campus to promote awareness
Tactical: Increased Presence
THE FRESH IDEAS CAMPAIGN
In the fall of 2015, the UI Fellows and candidates conducted a campaign to engage new students and drive awareness about innovation and entrepreneurship. We asked the question "In 2025, what product will UWM students use everyday." We invited people to sumbit their ideas and also participate in workshops to brainstorm innovative new products. The purpose of teh campaign was to engage people who had never before considered I&E at UWM as a part of their college career. By allowing people to submit ideas in a very low risk environment, more people we're interested in what we as a cohort had to offer.
The pilot program of the campaign was a success with great room to expand moving forward. In the future the campaign will be a workshop series teaching students ranging anywhere from first year to graduate across diciplines about design thinking and business model canvasing. This way, we will be able to fuel awareness and drive the pipeline of innovation and entrepreneurship at UWM.
Strategic: Interdisciplinary Dialogue
Sharing the landscape canvas with clubs, faculties, organizations, studios, etc. in favor of encouraging interdisciplinary interaction.
Tactical: [major]explore[majors] events
- e.g. ArchiMath Ideation Competition, ArchiPhysics Ideation Competition, ArchiChemi Ideation Competition, ArchiEE Ideation Competition, ArchiPsych Ideation Competition, ArchiME Ideation Competition, ArchiBioMed Ideation Competition, etc.
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 and Sub-communities
- 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
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
- I&E Landscape Kiosk in the Student Union
- I&E Hub in the Library
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
- Finding sponsors for Case Competitions
- Creating internship opportunities
- 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.
Related Links
University of Wisconsin Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Student Priorities
Rustin Bergren
