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==The University of North Florida==
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The University of North Florida (UNF) is a nationally ranked university located in the scenic Northeastern Florida city of Jacksonville. Composed of six colleges of distinction, the University currently has an enrollment of nearly 17,000 students and employs more than 500 full-time faculty as well as over 1,000 staff members.
==Promoting Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship==
UNF is an emerging center for entrepreneurship in Jacksonville, and in Northeast Florida. UNF’s Coggin College of Business is primarily responsible for the increased emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation. Most recently, after a $1 million dollar donation, UNF created the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
<div>[[File:UNF Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.jpg|left|640x640px|link=Special:FilePath/UNF_Center_for_Entrepreneurship_and_Innovation.jpg|UNF's Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation in downtown Jacksonville. Each of the two floors provides start-up companies with about 7,000 square feet of lab space.|thumb]]The [https://www.unf.edu/coggin/CEI/About_the_Center.aspx UNF Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation] (CEI) is open to 15 start-up companies per year where entrepreneurs undergo a year-long development program at the 13,000-square-foot living, learning lab, located in the center of downtown Jacksonville in the Barnett National Bank Building. The CEI is a space available to any students in business, engineering, health, education, and arts and sciences, providing access to necessary services and living-learning lab space to help foster start-up growth. Some of the provided resources include developing business plans, finding student interns for support, professional advising, and networking. Involved entrepreneurs are also able to propose their ideas to a local panel of experts who have applied to support UNF's CEI. In 2022, the CEI sponsored events such as the Innovation Challenge Week sponsored by [https://www.unf.edu/coggin/CEI/Crowley_Innovation_Challenge.aspx#contact Crowley] and [https://www.unf.edu/coggin/CEI/Community_First_Challenge.aspx Community First] and the [https://www.unf.edu/coggin/CEI/Cohort_Information.aspx Swisher Growth Pitch Competition] which specifically helps minority entrepreneurs.
The Coggin College of Business also offers a minor in entrepreneurship that all students have the opportunity to partake in. The minor itself is predominantly business-oriented but does offer courses that teach creativity and design thinking. This minor coincides with the 200 registered student organizations on campus, one of which is the Entrepreneurs, Creators, and Innovators club. In addition, UNF offers courses such as GEB4942: Entrepreneurial Internship, which stimulates innovation and allows students to gain real-world experiences in entrepreneurial business. Other courses such as MAN4294: Creativity and Innovation in the Workplace, teach students how to have a creative mindset when exploring different possibilities in complex and uncertain environments. There may be an opportunity to expand the number of clubs or students involved with social innovation because the UNF Student Government, which has an annual budget of roughly $4.5 million dollars, just announced the creation of a new Student Involvement Center.
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is one of the ways UNF encourages student innovation and entrepreneurship through funding a variety of different research-based projects. The final way that UNF encourages student innovation and entrepreneurship are through Transformational learning opportunities (TLOs). TLOs may take a myriad of forms that include study abroad experiences, service-learning experiences, research/directed independent study experiences with a faculty member, and leadership experiences.
In 2023, the University of North Florida’s Coggin College of Business received a grant from the Blackstone Charitable Foundation. This leveraged Blackstone to establish programs across campus for students to expand their skill sets. [https://www.unf.edu/coggin/blackstonelaunchpad/index.html Blackstone LaunchPad] became a way for students to explore innovation, entrepreneurship, and creativity. In addition, students develop their professional background during their journey of building careers and companies. This resource fosters community and allows students to connect with faculty and their peers. With Blackstone, students have access to various tools and systems, such as mentorship, funding options, equipment, spaces, and events to help support them in their endeavors as entrepreneurs. Some partners Blackstone has collaborated with include Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CEI), Career Services, and Small Business Development Center (SBDC). With these partners, Blackstone creates events for students to engage in, such as Pitch Competitions and Career Readiness Events. Whether you’re a student interested in innovation, or just curious about the entrepreneurship world, there are many resources available for students to explore, get engaged and get involved on campus.
==Encouraging Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship: ==</div>The University of North Florida is does not offer a nationally ranked university located tremendous amount of resources for faculty interested in entrepreneurship and innovation. The Office of Faculty Enhancement hosts the scenic Northeastern Florida city [https://www.unf.edu/newsroom/innovation.html Teaching Innovation Institute] every summer. The institute focuses on redesigning an existing course of Jacksonvilledeveloping a new course while involving innovative instructional strategies. Composed The interdisciplinary focus of six colleges of distinctionthe institute allows for all faculty and department teams to participate, underlining the University currently has an enrollment of 17,000 students opportunity for innovation and employs more than 500 fullentrepreneurship to become a university-time faculty as well as over 1,000 staff memberswide point of focus.
The University of North Florida (UNF) is also has an emerging center [https://www.unf.edu/research/Research_Development.aspx Office for entrepreneurship Research & Sponsored Programs] (ORSP) which assists faculty in Jacksonvillecomplying with university, federal, state, and in Northeast Floridafunding agency guidelines, rules, and regulations during budget preparation when determining costs applicable to grants, contracts, and other agreements. UNF’s Coggin College of Business is primarily responsible If a faculty member would like to involve a student, or students, with their research, students are eligible to apply for an undergraduate research grant through the increased emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation[https://www.unf.edu/our/ Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR)]. Most recently, after a Students can receive up to $1 million dollar donation3, UNF created the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation500 in funding towards research-related expenses.
<div>UNF also offers a [[Filehttps:Second pic.jpg]]<br/></div><div><brwww.unf.edu/><asa/div><div><br/></div><div> funding-opportunities.html Faculty Scholarship Development Grant] sponsored by Academic Affairs to help support research, scholarship, and creative activities generated by faculty. The grant are seen as seed funding for developing, publishing and writing new research, and experimenting with new forms of creative expression. Academic Affairs offers $7500 per funded individual, or $10,000 each for up to three faculty members working together on selected multidisciplinary projects. This money goes towards travel, materials, student assistance, or other expenses related to project activities.
The UNF Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation is open to 15 start<span style="background-color: transparent; font-up companies per year where entrepreneurs undergo a yearsize: 12pt; font-long development program at the 13family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0,0000); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-squarevariant-foot living, learning lab, located in the bustling center of downtown Jacksonvilleeast-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span>Another program that UNF offers to support its faculty body is [https://www.unf. Learn more about the UNF Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation by watching this videoedu/ofe/ Faculty Development Fellows Program].The Coggin College of Business also offers This Program is a minor in entrepreneurship that all students have collaboration between faculty holding specific interests and expertise and the opportunity to partake in[https://www.unf. The minor itself is predominantly businessedu/ofe/programs-oriented but does offer courses that teach creativity and design thinkingfellows. This minor coincides html Office of Faculty Enhancement] with the 200 registered student organizations goal of providing professional development opportunities for faculty across campus. These opportunities include designing and presenting forums or workshops on campuscurrent topics, one of which is the Entrepreneurssupporting faculty development initiatives, Creators, and Innovators club. In addition, UNF offers courses such as GEB4942: Entrepreneurial Internship, which stimulates innovation and allows students well as organizing faculty development materials related to gain real-world experiences in entrepreneurial business. Other courses such as MAN4294: Creativity teaching and Innovation in the Workplacelearning, teach students how to have a creative mindset when exploring different possibilities in complex and uncertain environments. There may be an opportunity to expand the number of clubs or students involved with social innovation because the UNF Student Government, which has an annual budget of roughly $4.5 million dollars, just announced the creation of a new Student Involvement Centerserving as facilitators during faculty development summer institutes.
The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs is one of the ways UNF encourages student innovation and entrepreneurship through funding a variety of different research-based projects. The final way that UNF encourages student innovation and entrepreneurship are through Transformational learning opportunities (TLOs). TLOs may take a myriad of forms that include study abroad experiences, service-learning experiences, research/directed independent study experiences with a faculty member, and leadership experiences. </span><div><br/></div><div>[[File:Third pic.jpg]]<br/></div></div>
= <br/><span style="font-sizeActively Supporting the University Technology Transfer Function:large;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Encouraging Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span> ==
<span style="background-colorUNF views [https: transparent; font//autm.net/about-size: 12pt; fonttech-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); fonttransfer/what-variantis-numeric: normal; fonttech-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The University transfer technology transfer] as an aspect of North Florida does not offer community engagement, a tremendous amount value that is highly rooted in the history of resources for faculty interested in entrepreneurship and innovationthis university. The Office of Faculty Enhancement hosts Through the </span>[https://www.unf.edu/oferesearch/events/Summer_Teaching_Innovation_Institute_2019.aspx <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgbOffice of Research & Sponsored Programs (17, 85, 204ORSP); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teaching Innovation Institute</span>]<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0and the amazing work by John Kantner, Cheresa Boston, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Rosalyn Gilbert, every summer. The institute focuses on redesigning an existing course and the rest of developing the staff, there is a good foundation for ideas to move into something bigger. UNF's Intellectual property is normally transferred to the private sector, after the right procedures are taken into place that will allow corporations to develop new course while involving innovative instructional strategiesor updated services with the common goal of enhancing the community and it's quality of life. The interdisciplinary focus Through marketing and licensing activities, ORSP brings technology forward to public use and for the benefit of the institute allows inventor, the University, and the community. Income is generated for all faculty both the inventor and department teams to participatethe University through licensing agreements, underlining and ORSP encourages agreements with local and regional companies. ORSP and the opportunity Center for innovation Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship Innovation have been working in conjunction with to become a university-wide point of focusadvance idea development and technology transfers. </span>A successful transfer from a university almost always requires a partnership with a private sector, which makes this a very exciting partnership for all parties.
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UNF This relationship between university and private sectors can also has an </span>go the other way where a company takes advantage of the [https://www.unf.edu/research/Research_DevelopmentInnovation/Partner_with_industry.aspx <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgbresearch and development (17, 85, 204R&D); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Office for Research & Sponsored Programs</span>Collaboration]that UNF has to offer. R <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0<ref></ref>); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(ORSP) which assists faculty in complying with university, federal, state, D collaboration allows for a partnership that comes full circle by gaining the ability to use the universities research and funding agency guidelines, rules, and regulations during budget preparation when determining costs applicable capabilities to add to grants, contracts, and other agreements. If a faculty member would like product or service that could go out to involve help the community in a student, or students, with their multitude of ways. All research, students and partnerships are eligible conducted under appropriate and approved on agreements to apply for an undergraduate research grant through protect the </span>[https://www.unf.edu/ugstudies/OUR/Research_Grants.aspx <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Office rights of Undergraduate Research (OUR)</span>]<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Students can receive up to $3,500 in funding towards research-related expensesall parties involved. </span>
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0A successful transfer from a university almost always requires a partnership with a private sector, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UNF also offers</span>[https://https://www.unf.edu/acadaffairs/development_grants/Faculty_Summer_Development_Grants_Program.aspx <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> while a corporation can gain assistance in improving and tailoring a Faculty Scholarship Development Grant</span>] <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align; white-space: pre-wrap;"> sponsored by Academic Affairs product to help support researchJacksonville, scholarship, and creative activities generated by faculty. The grant are seen as seed funding which makes this a very exciting partnership for developing, publishing and writing new research, and experimenting with new forms of creative expression. Academic Affairs offers $7500 per funded individual, or $10,000 each for up to three faculty members working together on selected multidisciplinary projects. This money goes towards travel, materials, student assistance, or other expenses related to project activitiesall parties.
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Another program that UNF offers to support its faculty body is </span>[https://https:https://www.unf.edu/ofe/Faculty_Fellows.aspx <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); backgroundFacilitating University-colorIndustry Collaboration: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Faculty Development Fellows Program.</span>] <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align; white-space: pre-wrap;"> This Program is a collaboration between faculty holding specific interests and expertise and the</span>[https://www.unf.edu/ofe/About_Our_Office.aspx <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Office of Faculty Enhancement</span>] <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align; white-space: pre-wrap;"> with the goal of providing professional development opportunities for faculty across campus. These opportunities include designing and presenting forums or workshops on current topics, supporting faculty development initiatives, as well as organizing faculty development materials related to teaching and learning, and serving as facilitators during faculty development summer institutes.
= <span style="font-sizeIn recent years, UNF has continued to expand and further develop relationships with external organizations and corporations. For example, the [https:large//www.unf.edu/coggin/CEI/ Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation] "><span id="docs-internal-guid-958f035c-7fff-efcf-bdb3-4afe83f6f544"><span style="font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0has partnered with the Life Sciences Incubator at Mayo Clinic, Beaver Street Enterprise, PS27 Ventures, Source Fuse, The Jim Moran Institute, and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Entrepreneurial Growth. In addition, four of the 15 ideas selected by the incubator this year relate to the healthcare and technology industries. This is incredibly important because Baptist Health, 0Florida Blue, 0)and the Mayo Clinic are three of the largest employers in Jacksonville. background-color<div>[[File: transparent; font-weight4th pic.jpg|thumb|right|200x200px|link=Special: 700; font-variant-numericFilePath/4th_pic.jpg]]</div>[[File: normal; font-variant-east-asian5th pic.jpg|thumb|right|200x200px|5th pic.jpg|link=Special: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"FilePath/5th_pic.jpg]]<div><div>Actively Supporting the University Technology Transfer Function: <br /span></spandiv><div>Another major aspect of developing private-public relationships is UNF’s continued dedication to earning the Carnegie Foundation “Community Engagement” designation. The University has established numerous public outreach and community partnerships that include the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, HandsOn Jacksonville, Public Opinion Research Lab, Small Business Development Center, Center for Community Initiatives, Volunteers in Medicine, and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Center for Ethics, Public Policy, and the Professions. These community partnerships allow faculty members, and dedicated student assistants, to utilize their disciplinary expertise to produce “applied scholarship” that directly addresses an array of regional concerns. <br /span> =
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">UNF does have an initiative for </span>[https://www.unf.edu/research/Intellectual_Property_and_Technology_Transfer.aspx <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer (IPATT)</span>] <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that is administered through the </span>[https://www.unf.edu/research/Research_Development.aspx <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Office for Research & Sponsored Programs</span>] <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(ORSP) and overseen by Associate Vice President for Research, Dr. John Kantner. Through marketing and licensing activities, ORSP brings technology forward to public use and for the benefit of the inventor, the University, and the community. Income is generated for both the inventor and the University through licensing agreements, and ORSP encourages agreements with local and regional companies. ORSP, IPATT, and the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation will all work in conjunction with one another to advance idea development and technology transfers. </span>
= <span style/div>The Andrew A. Robinson School of Communication's initiative called [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v="font-size:large;"8mojzfU_Rs Campaigns] is a great example of the university's dedication to facilitating industry collaboration. Senior students on the Public Relations major track design and carry out a full scale PR campaign for a local Jacksonville non-profit. This allows UNF students to gain experience working with a client and gain hard skills for their resumes but also gives back to the community. <div><span style==="background-colorEngaging With Regional and Local Economic Development Efforts: transparent font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0===<br />The University of North Florida has an annual economic impact of nearly $1 billion on the regional economy. Despite this general impact, the university is committed to contributing to the growth of the regional economy through specialized initiatives, 0institutes/centers, 0); font-weightand programs. One of the University’s largest center is [https: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Facilitating //www.unf.edu/sbdc/ The Florida Small Business Development Center at the University-Industry Collaboration:</span><span style="background-color: transparentof North Florida font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0SBDC)]. With funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration, 0the University of North Florida, 0); fontthe City of Jacksonville, the Clay County Chamber of Commerce, Marion County, Nassau County, St. Johns County, Putnam County, Suwannee County and other public and private sector sources, the Florida SBDC at UNF is able to provide its management assistance services at little or no charge to the client. SBDC programs deliver up-variantto-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">date management advice, training and information to help business owners make sound decisions and to assist potential owners in getting started on the right foot. For every federal dollar invested in the SBDC program, nearly $10 is returned in the form of tax revenue. <div><br /span></spandiv> </div>[[File:6th pic.jpg|link=Special:FilePath/6th_pic.jpg]]
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In recent years, UNF has continued now created an entire cycle of support for aspiring innovators by offering courses on entrepreneurship, to expand and further develop relationships with external organizations and corporations. For example, the </span>[https://www.unf.edu/coggin/CEI/ <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">new Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation</span>] <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">has partnered with the Life Sciences Incubator at Mayo Clinic, Beaver Street Enterprise, PS27 Ventures, Source Fuse, The Jim Moran Institute, and the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce’s Center for Entrepreneurial Growth. In addition, four of the 15 ideas selected by the incubator this year relate to the healthcare and technology industries. This is incredibly important because Baptist Health, Florida Blue, and the Mayo Clinic are three of the largest employers in Jacksonville. </span><div>[[File:4th pic.jpg|thumb|right|200x200px]]</div>[[File:5th pic.jpg|thumb|right|200x200px|5th pic.jpg]]<div><div><br/></div><div><span style="backgroundstart-color: transparent; color: rgb(0ups, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another major aspect of developing private-public relationships is UNF’s continued dedication to earning the Carnegie Foundation “Community Engagement” designationSBDC for growing small businesses. The University has established numerous public outreach and community partnerships that include the Osher Lifelong Learning InstituteTogether, HandsOn Jacksonville, Public Opinion Research Lab, Small Business Development Center, Center for Community Initiatives, Volunteers in Medicine, and these resources will allow the Blue Cross Blue Shield Center for Ethics, Public Policy, university and the Professions. These local community partnerships allow faculty members, and dedicated student assistants, to utilize their disciplinary expertise continue to produce “applied scholarship” that directly addresses an array of regional concernsgrow. </span></div><div><br/><span id="docs-internal-guid-184d11d1-7fff-0ff1-4451-f72c0fcdece1"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Engaging With Regional and Local Economic Development Efforts: </span></span><br/><span id="docs-internal-guid-184d11d1-7fff-0ff1-4451-f72c0fcdece1"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The University of North Florida has an annual economic impact of nearly $1 billion on the regional economy. Despite this general impact, the university is committed to contributing to the growth of the regional economy through specialized initiatives, institutes/centers, and programs. One of the University’s largest center is </span>[https://www.sbdc.unf.edu/about-the-sbdcccbl/ <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The_Northeast_Florida_Coastal_Research___Education_Corridor.aspx The Northeast Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of North Florida</span>Coastal Research and Education Corridor] <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0is a regional connection that allows students, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">(SBDC). With funding from the U.S. Small Business Administration, the University of North Floridafaculty, the City of Jacksonville, the Clay County Chamber of Commerce, Marion County, Nassau County, St. Johns County, Putnam County, Suwannee County and other public and private sector sources, visitors alike the Florida SBDC at UNF is able opportunity to provide its management assistance services at little or no charge to the client. SBDC programs deliver up-to-date management advicelearn about their coastal ecosystems through seminars, conducting research, training and information to help business owners make sound decisions and to assist potential owners in getting started on the right foot. For every federal dollar invested in the SBDC programfield studies, nearly $10 is returned in the form of tax revenue. </span></span><div><br/></div></div>[[File:6th picetc.jpg]]
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); fontWith a sponsorship from Enterprise Rent-family: Arial; fontA-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">UNF has now created an entire cycle of support for aspiring innovators by offering courses on entrepreneurshipCar, to the new Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for start-ups, to university has constructed the SBDC for growing small businesses. Together, these resources will allow the university and local community to continue to grow. [https://www.unf.edu/ccblcoggin/Career_Management_Center/students/The_Northeast_Florida_Coastal_Research___Education_CorridorExecutiveMentors.aspx The Northeast Florida Coastal Research and Education CorridorCoggin Executive Mentor Program] . This program is a regional connection that allows designed to enhance the classroom experience by linking students, faculty, with leading executives for one-on-one mentoring. Mentors share career advice and visitors alike valuable insight into the opportunity transition from college to work. Students build career networks and develop skills to learn about their coastal ecosystems through seminars, conducting research, field studies, etcbecome better professionals and leaders. </span>
<big>With a sponsorship from Enterprise Rent-A-Carsimilar but different program, the university has constructed the </span>[https://www.unf.edu/coggincass/Career_Management_Center/students/ExecutiveMentors.aspx <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgbCommunity Alliance for Student Success (17, 85, 204CASS); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coggin Executive Mentor Program</span>] <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. This is a program is designed and community that was created to enhance the classroom experience by linking serve traditionally underrepresented students with leading executives for one-on-one mentoring. Mentors share career advice and valuable insight into the transition from college to work. Students build career networks are paired with experienced minority members, including industry leaders and develop skills local business owners to become better professionals learn about job opportunities and leadersnetwork in Jacksonville.</big>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A similar, but different program, </span>[UNF MedNexus has a medical technology innovation lab that promotes students to work side by side with researchers and MedNexus partners. Students will be working with the MedNexus healthcare workers to detect cancer proteins in tissues before tumor formation and to detect other serious diseases early. The lab has a Mass Spectrometer microscope and a 3D Biomedical Print Lab. https://www.unf.edu/cass/ <span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Community Alliance for Student Success<UNFmednexus/span>] <span style="background-color: transparent; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, or CASS, is a program and community that was created to serve traditionally underrepresented students. Students are paired with experienced minority members, including industry leaders and local business owners to learn about job opportunities and network in Jacksonville. </div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A regional source that UNF interacts with in order to provide a financial opportunity to students is [https://www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org/ Bright Futures], which is a merit- and service-based scholarship awarded to students by the state of Florida for their academic achievement and community involvement during their high school years. UNF also recognizes that financial assistance is one of the biggest barriers to students completing a four-year degree and offers [https://scholarship.lawwww.cornellunf.edu/cilj/vol27/iss2/1sg/ scholarships.html Competitive and Decentralized Scholarships] promoted through their Student Government.</span>
Additionally, through [https://unf.joinhandshake.com/login Handshake], the official career and internship platform of UNF, and [https://www.unf.edu/careerservices/ Career Services], students can browse internships and jobs to connect with opportunities online. This can be done generally or sorted into opportunities within your field/ major/ college. Handshake can also be used for networking and professional development.
[[Category:Schools]]
[[Category:University_of_North_Florida]]
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