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The first would mean incorporating innovative ideas in the classroom environment, and ensuring that innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship find their way into every class, one way or another. The second would mean providing the perfect setting for students to explore innovation on their own, outside the classroom through organizations, design spaces, and projects (This seems to be the preferred approach of Union faculty). To say that both can be implemented right away would be far too ambitious, but one without the other would not allow Union College to achieve its full potential and become the leader for applying innovation and creativity in upstate New York.
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Each of the following strategies is designed to significantly expose and educate students in the areas of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship. <u>Note</u> that they the strategies listed below are in no particular order of completion. = Strategy #1: Creating a More Interdisciplinary Atmosphere for Engineers = == Sean Farrell - Tactic #1: Daily Interdisciplinary Sessions for Engineers == I would say that this is the one idea I feel most stongly about. Although I will work diligently to help make Hristina's idea a reality, I really feel as though Union College Engineering classes should be not be changed, but enhanced in a particular regard. As a mechanical engineer, I have been through quite a few fundamental engineering courses up to my current Sophomore year. The courses are full of math, physics and fundamnetal engineering concepts that make up the truly versatile mind of a professional engineer. But, some key aspects are missing from these courses: innovation, a bit of entrepreneurial focus, and an interdisciplinary atmosphere. I agree that the fundamenal courses are extremely important for the deelopment of a competent engineer, but the world needs dynamic engineers for dynamic problems. I would like to propose an idea to my school's Dean of Studies, as well as the head of the engineering department. === My IdeaI === I want to see engineering immersed in liberal arts. Engineering students are allowed to take liberal arts courses from a bountiful selection, but liberal arts and engineering are not intertwined as well as they should be here at Union; there is a difference; there is a problem with this. I have an idea of daily sessions, held at night, each on different liberal arts topics, and tailored toward engineers. Any student at Union can attend a variety of discussions held each day at Union. However, most of the discussions do not have anything to do with science or engineering. One might ask what my issue is with this. By no means do I have an issue with with the many discussions that Union hosts; I think it's fantastic. But, I do propose that there be more liberal arts discussions tailored for engineers. For example, a speaker comes to talk about his/her research on how rooms that consist of different materials effect the sound of stringed insturments. Perhaps even a professor of music and an electrical engineering professor would join together to deliver an interesting discussion, with the musician actually performing a few songs in different settings to exemplify the engineering and science behind the talk. Or, an entrepreneur with an engineering background can come in to talk about the processes behind launching one of his/her products or services, creating an interactive and detailed presentation for the students sitting in on the discussion. Here is a basic outline of my idea: *sessions held each night or every other night; different topic each night... this way, each student should be able to attend at least one*students must attend at least one session, and write a report or create some sort of project relating to the session(s) they attended I really think that this idea would work here at Union College. There is already a vibrant liberal arts atmoshphere that has been established for a long time. The engineering element of Union needs to amalgamate fully with the liberal arts element to make for a truly invigorating and versatile education.
= Strategy #2: Developing a Culture of Creativity =