Priorities:Elon University Student Priorities
2016 UIF Pitch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAjhrGy_YII
2015 UIF Pitch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGugNRw0iQ0
Contents
- 1 Priority 1: Innovating a more Inclusive campus
- 2 Priority 2: Students Motivating Students in Innovation Learning
- 3 Priority 3: UIF Collaboration with Maker Hub
- 4 Priority 4: Burst the Bubble Coding Curriculum
- 5 Priority #5: Elon Maker Space Improvements
- 6 Priority #6: Elon Innovators Network
- 7 Priority #7: Interdisciplinary Classes
- 8 Priority #8: Increase Innovation and Entrepreneurship Engagement
- 9 Related Links
Priority 1: Innovating a more Inclusive campus
Purpose:
This is an initiative to have a more casual, easy access dialogues surrounding by diversity. The idea is to have easy conversations surrounding the backgrounds, experiences, turning point, and goals of our beloved faculty members. Elon faculty do a fantastic job of mentoring students but some students are not as willing to reach out for a one on one advising. This program will be designed as a series of ongoing weekly dialogues between a faculty member on a specific theme or question giving the students the opportunity to hear more about how their professors found themselves at Elon or in their area of interest. This program capitalizes on diversity of thought and diversity which is very much present at Elon but lacks a discussion to surround it. This brings the liberal arts education to life outside of the classroom, inspiring students to explore new areas and have a more fluid discussion surrounding inclusion.
Strategies:
- More fluid conversations surrounding diversity, diversity of thought, experience, background
- Faculty transparency = student commitment
- Ties to: diversity / inclusion, design thinking (personal application), personal wellness
- Themed, casual discussions
Priority 2: Students Motivating Students in Innovation Learning
Purpose:
Inform the Elon community as a whole about innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities by allowing students to teach and motivate each other. By doing this, students can feed off each other and create more ideas than they could when learning on their own.
Strategies:
Allow for students to create their own plans for learning about innovation.
Reach out to teachers to understand the ways in which students learn best.
Evaluate which learning activities seem to help students grasp innovation concepts better than others.
Priority 3: UIF Collaboration with Maker Hub
Purpose:
To teach students on campus about the innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities on campus, while introducing them to the Maker Hub and all the resources it contains. To explore different innovative projects happening on campus and help students generate ideas in an environment that promotes innovation and entrepreneurship.
Strategies:
Prepare a list of speakers around campus that have completed an innovative project
Ask the Maker Hub to speak about the resources they have
Create a design space (“think space”) for students to collaborate and generate ideas for new innovative projects
Provide more awareness about the Maker Hub, the UIF program, the Doherty center, and the I&E program on campus
Priority 4: Burst the Bubble Coding Curriculum
Purpose:
To teach coding to students of all majors without the pressure of a grade, show people what UIF is all about, and recruit other students who inspire change and want to make the campus a more innovative space. This gives people of all majors the opportunity to learn to code in a positive environment without the pressure of a grade.
Strategies:
Decide on the best coding software to teach
Strategize with the team to decide how to best go about creating a curriculum to teach people of all exposures how to code
Contact the computer science department
Priority #5: Elon Maker Space Improvements
Purpose:
With the establishment of the Maker Hub in Fall 2015, Elon took the first step towards establishing a dedicated I&E makerspace. However, students still need a space that is effectively staffed, well and reliably equipped, and where they feel comfortable to brainstorm and prototype their ideas.
Strategies:
Identify what aspects of the Maker Hub are most in need of improvement.
Work on training every student staff member on the full arsenal of tools and equipment available in order to streamline students' making process.
Improve equipment uptime; especially the 3D printers.
Advertise the Maker Hub by integrating the space with traditional class curriculums.
Connect the space with other incubators in the area.
Priority #6: Elon Innovators Network
Purpose:
One way to encourage others to take their ideas and dreams to the next level is to show them that it has and is being done! This project would seek to shine a light on Elon’s current and past entrepreneurs.
Strategies:
Contact individual currently in charge of Doherty Center Electronic message board TV.
Research students involved with I&E on campus.
Email these students asking for a “profile”.
Feature students on the board and expand to online.
Establish an Elon Innovators page on various social media platforms.
Feature students and alumni working on innovative and entrepreneurial projects.
Priority #7: Interdisciplinary Classes
Purpose:
One opportunity for improvement at Elon is a current lack of interdisciplinary courses which bring together different subjects to engage students in subjects outside of their majors. Elon should create courses to combat this which bring together the different disciplines offered on campus to offer students a well-rounded education by connecting areas of study.
Strategies:
Strategize with a team to create and test prototype (aka mock syllabi, possible coursework, lecturers, etc.).
Get feedback from students to gauge who would be interested, gain support.
Contact the Dean of the Love School of Business, Raghu Tadepalli, about the possibility of the course(s).
Propose course(s) to academic council, department heads of all schools, provost, and more faculty who could help introduce the course(s) into our curriculum.
Priority #8: Increase Innovation and Entrepreneurship Engagement
Purpose:
The campus does not lack innovation or entrepreneurship events and resources. Instead, the campus must cultivate student engagement in entrepreneurship and innovation. There are more events hosted than students who attend. In order to increase engagement with entrepreneurship courses, maker hub spaces, and other opportunities, there must be an investigation into the lack of student involvement.
Strategies:
Engage Elon students in conversations and surveys with students in regards to their motivation for attending campus events. The following questions can guide the conversation:
a. How did you find out about this event? (Email Newsletter, Flyer, Word-of-mouth)
b. Is this event related to your major?
c. Were you required to attend?
Analyze data compiled by Nicole Filippo, communications manager, to explore university advertisement engagement rates. It will help determine how to target students who express interest in innovation and
entrepreneurship events.
Implement a method of working from the inside-out: Focus on engaging students who express an interest in innovation and entrepreneurship before reaching out to the broader student body.
Speak with students who have previously run successful events and determine causation for the student-body turnout.
Compile an overview of sources and successful methods of student engagement across campus.
Move entrepreneurship events to theaters with larger foot traffic such as Turner Theatre in the School of Communications.
Related Links
University Innovation Fellows
Fall 2018: Gillian Hook, Sydney Thornton
Spring 2018: Yousaf Khan, Regan O'Donnell, Noor Irshaidat, Haley Brengartner
Spring 2017: Josh Cadorette, Briana Brady, James Setzer, Nick Smith
Spring 2016: Elizabeth Jordan, Gabrielle Vance, Sean Webber, Kyle McKinley, William Kakavas
Spring 2015: Ben Driscoll, Jensen Roll, Matt Snow, Giles Roll
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