Changes

<div style="float: right; clear: right;"><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">[[File:UMass-Lowell-logo.png]]</span></div><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">The&nbsp;University of Massachusetts Lowell&nbsp;(also known as&nbsp;UMass Lowell&nbsp;or&nbsp;UML) is a&nbsp;[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_university public]&nbsp;[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_research_universities_in_the_United_States doctoral/research]&nbsp;university in&nbsp;[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Massachusetts Lowell],&nbsp;[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusetts],&nbsp;[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States],and part of the&nbsp;[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Massachusetts University of Massachusetts]&nbsp;system. With more than 1,100 faculty members and more than 16,000 students, it is the largest university in the&nbsp;[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merrimack_Valley Merrimack Valley]&nbsp;and the second-largest public institution in the state behind UMass Amherst. The university offers more than 120 degree choices, internships, bachelor’s to master’s programs and doctoral studies in the College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; College of Health Sciences; College of Sciences; the Francis College of Engineering; the Graduate School of Education; and the Manning School of Business.</span>

= <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''Overview - A Campus on the Move''' </span> =

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">UMass Lowell has been evolving in every aspect; upgraded classrooms, libraries and labs; new and renovated student living and activity spaces; and enhanced parking facilities are a few on the list of what has been updated and changed over the past decade of campus improvement.</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; University Crossing: Officially completed and operating, this new building hosts student services and activities, bookstore, dining, University police, transportation services, and senior administration offices.</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Pulichino Tong Building: The University’s current construction project, the Tong Building will replace the now-relocated Honor’s Eames Dorm building on UMass Lowell’s North Campus and will house the entirety of the Robert J. Manning School of Business.</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; University Suites: This brand new dorm on UMass Lowell’s East campus provides housing for 472 students in four- and six-bed suites. There is a ground-floor common area with a café - Hawk's Nest - featuring fresh bakery, grab & go items and a late night Asian menu, in addition to delicious Red Mango frozen yogurt & smoothies and "We proudly serve" Starbucks Coffee. A multi-purpose room is open to the UMass Lowell community. Each residential floor has two common kitchen/lounge areas, two quiet study rooms and a group study room.</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Riverview Suites: The other half of the two-dorm addition to UMass Lowell in 2013, Riverview Suites has either two or three bedroom &nbsp;suites complete with a live-in kitchen, classroom and meeting rooms inside the building, and a gym inside the facility. The University leases the property from Soho Development, who also built the $42 million facility.</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; New Garages: In the past three years, UMass Lowell has added two large parking garages to each of its largest parking lots, greatly increasing the parking capacity for the strong commuter presence attending the school.</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Health and Social Sciences Building: In 2013, this new criminal justice and criminology, nursing&nbsp;and&nbsp;psychology&nbsp;building had its grand opening. The construction of this building marked the first new construction in 30 years on the University’s South Campus, including all campuses in the University’s recent wave of evolution.</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">Since 2009, the University has also been heavily updating the existing buildings while acquiring and renovating new ones. UMass Lowell renovated the newly acquired Inn and Conference Center, added Taco Bell and Subway to the University’s dining partners, renovated the newly acquired Tsongas Center, and heavily updated their Dining Hall in the tallest UMass Lowell building, Fox Hall.</span>

= <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''Student Entrepreneurship''' </span> =

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''Grab-A-BiteNonSpec&nbsp;'''</span>

Grab A Bite is a Social Food Network that engages users <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">[http://www.nonspec.org/ NonSpec] participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and helps increase restaurants customer traffic through marketing, ease of use enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and convenience that came to UMass Lowell’s DifferenceMaker™ program to steer event throughout the idea process which aided in their success.&nbsp; At the Idea Challenge they received the right direction. Providing online ordering, online reservations, food deals, online menus prestigious title of “Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and DSC_5122easily retrievable information such as handicap accessibility and hoursthe top award of $5, Grab-000. This prize represents the project most likely to make a-Bite is pushing to be the biggest online food service significant difference in the market. The team is made up of Aldo Beqiraj, Denis Lemoscommunity, Andrew MacRobert region and Andrew Webbthe world.</span>

In addition to the funds won through DifferenceMaker™s’ “First to Market” Idea Challenge, this team has also had a very successful crowd<span style="font-funding campaign on Indiegogo that can be seen herefamily: [http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/grabverdana,geneva,sans-a-bite http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/grab-a-bite]<br/serif;"><br/>Grab-a-Bite The $5,000 award has also been recognized allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by the Boston Globe and was the people choice at the Mass Innovation Foodie Nightcreating their first batch of prosthetic limbs.&nbsp; Most recently Founder and CEO Aldo Beqiraj presented With a Grab-a-Bite pitch at UMass Lowell’s new student convocation to over 1projected 15% market share in the next five years,500 new students who texted voted and awarded Grab-a-Bite $1,500 Nonspec plans to continue use this market presence to move their project forwardlaunch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The team is currently in the process purpose of redesigning this foundation would be to spread their website mission, goals, charitable cause, and mobile applications products around the world in order to launch themselves forwardmake a difference in developing nations.</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.&nbsp; They were recently named one of the top 10 semi-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.&nbsp; In addition, they were invited to attend [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppnzNSnxi-g The International Association of Plastics Distribution (IAPD) “Plastics Application Design Competition”], which was held on October 2, 2013 in Miami, Florida. &nbsp;Lastly, the team was utilized as a role model by being featured in a [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck video] that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer&nbsp;due to their motivation and high entrepreneurial spirits.</span>

Nonspec participated in the 2013 first annual DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they showed dedication and enthusiasm by attending each educational workshop and event throughout the process which aided in their success.&nbsp; At the Idea Challenge they received the prestigious title of “The Campus Wide DifferenceMaker™” and the top award of $5= <span style="font-family:verdana,000. This top prize represents the project most likely to make a significant difference in the communitygeneva, region sans-serif;">Departments and the world.Programs</span> =

The $5== <span style="font-family:verdana,000 award has allowed Nonspec to move their initiative forward by creating their first batch of prosthetic limbs. With a projected 15% market share in the next five years, Nonspec plans to use this market presence to launch a foundation called “Give a Hand”. The purpose of this foundation would be to spread their mission, goals, charitable causegeneva, sans-serif;">'''Center for Innovation and products around the world in order to make a difference in developing nations.Entrepreneurship'''</span> ==

Since Nonspec’s success at the Idea Challenge they have gained great publicity in other arenas.&nbsp; They were recently named one of the top 10 semi<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-finalists in Entrepreneur® Magazine’s “College Entrepreneur of 2013 Contest”.&nbspserif; In addition, they were invited to attend "><br/><br/>“ The International Association Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of Plastics Distribution (IAPD) “Plastics Application Design Competition”, which will be held on October 2, 2013 in Miami Florida.&nbsp; They will have 20 minutes all disciplines the opportunity to present their project work together to a live audience develop innovative and answer any field questions that may arise. Lastlyentrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the team was utilized region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as a role model by being featured well as the broader community in a video that was shown at all DifferenceMaker™ freshman orientation sessions throughout the summer&nbsp;[http://wwwwhich we live.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLwLg4XHrck]&nbsp;due The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to their motivation address social, environmental and high entrepreneurial spiritseconomic problems in our community.“</span>

&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;"><br/></span>

=== <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''Robotic Feeding ArmDifferenceMaker™'''&nbsp;</span> ===

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Robotic Feeding Arm is an assistive technology for patients who are not able to feed themselves. Currently<span style="font-family:verdana, these people depend on being fed by a health care professional. This technology was invented by Philip Colangelogeneva, a graduate student in computer engineering.&nbspsans-serif; Previously, Philip earned an undergraduate degree in electrical engineering with a minor in robotics from UMass Lowell.">'''About DifferenceMaker™:'''&nbsp;</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">The Robotic Feeding Arm is designed to feed people in need with the proper proportion of food DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in each spoonful. This technology will make the health care facilities staff more effective with their time solving big problems through innovation and increase productivity while giving some independence back to the patients in needentrepreneurship. &nbsp;“Eating The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can be a stressful, rushed experience when relying on others especially engage in assistive care facilities that are understaffedto better understand innovation,” said Philip Colangelo when asked about his projectentrepreneurship and launching a start-up of their interest. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif; Philip entered his technology in the first annual 2013 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge. After progressing through a series ">Students of workshops all majors and disciplines are welcome to help prepare join this Program and refine his ideamake a difference at UMass Lowell, he was selected to pitch in the Preliminary Round of community or in the Idea Challengeworld through innovative and entrepreneurial action. After impressing the judges in the semi-finals, Philip progressed to the final round of the Idea ChallengeThese DifferenceMaker™ projects include interdisciplinary student teams from all majors and skill sets. After a three minute rocket pitch to a panel of alumni judges, the Robotic Feeding Arm was awarded first&nbsp;place in the “Innovative Technology” category which was a $3,500 award. The Innovative Technology award represents a new technology that has the potential to change an industry, as well as change the lives of the people who use it.</span>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Since the Idea Challenge, Philip has entered the Robotic Feeding Arm into the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Accelerator Program which gave him insight towards getting his product into the marketplace. Philip also plans on incorporating the Robotic Feeding Arm into his master’s thesis by implementing new technology into the device, therefore making it more adaptable to nursing homes and other assistive care facilities.</span>

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''Goals of DifferenceMaker™:'''&nbsp; Philips Robotic Feeding Arm has received recognition outside of the Idea Challenge. The project earned second place in a High-Tech Pitch Contest over the summer, was voted the fan favorite at the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Summit Event and became a finalist in the Merrimack Valley Sandbox Accelerator Program.</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Introduce all UMass students to creative problem solving, innovation and entrepreneurship</span>

Lowell Sprouts is an organization focusing on providing gardening spaces on school grounds<span style="font-family:verdana, senior centersgeneva, and the many rooftops of Lowell. Along with pushing the planting of gardens in Lowell, a focus is also put on educating the community about alternative ways gardens can be grown in urban places like Lowell, and sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Connect current students to teach the community as a whole that crops can be grown and harvested in an urban environment.alumni experience</span>

The team is made up of Mary Beth Burwood (Alumni)<span style="font-family:verdana, Sean Hicks (Junior in Marketing)geneva, and Christopher Horne (Junior in Economics), who came together in the DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge to win the $3,500 first place award in the Sustainable Environment category.sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Encourage a social responsibility ethos</span>

Following the Idea Challenge<span style="font-family:verdana, Lowell Sprouts shifted their focus from elementary and middle school education and rooftop planting to building sustainable green roofs around Lowell. The team gathered more funding throughout the summergeneva, including a spot on a Merrimac Valley Sandbox video. They plan to create a green Lowell presence that will educate the community on urban garden growing and help grow rooftop gardens on various buildings around Greater Lowell.sans-serif;"><br/></span>

&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities Include:'''</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''PointStickDifferenceMaker™ Central-'''DifferenceMaker™ Central was opened in May 2013.&nbsp; This space is a dedicated entrepreneurial area with a vibrant start-up community atmosphere.&nbsp;The space was made for all entrepreneurial teams to come together to work, brainstorm, and network. Student teams have access to flexible workstations, televisions, computers, mentors, and a dynamic meeting space to develop their ideas and collaborate amongst their teammates and fellow students.</span>

PointStick is a product that gives tactile <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op''''''in the Center for Innovation and kinesthetic feedback Entrepreneurship''''''-'''Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to patients for both correct spinal alignment participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and breathing mechanicssummarizing entrepreneurial research, which are the essentials developing and distributing marketing materials for movement quality. Through experiencevarious center initiatives, the team noticed that physical therapists often experience difficulty when having patients use the correct motions during their PT sessions. The PointStick device provides therapists and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with a product that patients can wear that will assist them in having the correct movements which leads to a faster recovery processcenter.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>

Ramez Antoun<span style="font-family:verdana, a double River Hawkgeneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation –&nbsp;'''During the summer sessions, founded PointStick after receiving DifferenceMaker™ has a bachelor’s (10’) and master’s degree (13’) large presence in Physical Therapy from UMass Lowellthe Freshman Orientation days. He then recruited a Graphic Design major (10’)Through the Office of Orientation, Student Activities and Leadership, and ResLife, Nicholas Bleil DifferenceMaker™ was able to help work on present to every attending freshman and market gain exposure to all of the productnew students at UMass Lowell. Ramez and Nicholas then recruited two additional students&nbsp; Mike Tadros and Robert Roufail, alumnus from Northeastern University with majors in business and engineering, respectively.</span>

After hearing and learning about the DifferenceMaker™ Program<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva, PointStick was ready to apply for the DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge. Here they pitched their idea to a panel of alumni judges in the preliminary round. The judges then decided to move them onto the final round. In the finals of the Idea Challenge the judges awarded PointStick 2<sup>nd</supsans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;place in the “First to Market” award category. This came with a prize of $1,500 that the team could utilize to move their idea forward.&nbsp; In addition, they gained access to other '''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ resources including space, networking, mentors and additional funding opportunities. A video of their pitch to the judges can be found here:Convocation-'''&nbsp;[http://wwwAt the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation.youtubeEach year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.com</watch?v=RpqdUeF8DKk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpqdUeF8DKk]span>

Since the Idea Challenge the team has focused primarily on beginning their careers. In fall 2013<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva, Ramez accepted a residency position sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™-Freshman Seminars-'''A series of in Vallejo California where he is currently residing. Robert also accepted an engineering position -class discussions in Michigan. After speaking to Ramezcollaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, the team leaderand Social Sciences, he insisted that his team is still willing and The College of Health Sciences in order to collaborate on introduce the project from across the country DifferenceMaker™ Program to further its success. They are currently in the process students of researching the intellectual property of the PointStick all disciplines and to inspire them to ensure they do not infringe on any current issued patentsexplore their passions through creative problem solving.</span>

Idea Challenge Pitch Video<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;[http://www&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Introduction to the DifferenceMaker™ Program-'''A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams.youtube.com/watch?v=RpqdUeF8DKk http://www.youtubeThese events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.com</watch?v=RpqdUeF8DKk]span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC –&nbsp;'''Having a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Living/Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.&nbsp;</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Healthy HabitsHonors DifferenceMaker™ Program&nbsp;–'''&nbsp;In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.</span>

&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; After researching and realizing '''Introduction to Engineering-'''Extra Credit Project-This activity was a collaboration effort between the increasing demographic of overweight DifferenceMaker™ Program and obese children in public school systems, Healthy Habits was formed.&nbsp; The team consisted Francis College of senior nursing Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors Michelle Racioppito the DifferenceMaker™ Program, Haley Mayneinnovation, Katerina Kafkasand entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, Nicole Leblanc, Meghan Hathaway the students’ innovative ideas were explored and Jacqueline Bradley. The team developed presented in a method format which would enable their projects to be candidates for children to learn about both the various “healthy habits” they can engage in.&nbsp; The goal of this project was to teach fitness DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and well-being to young children so they do not grow up to be unhealthy, overweight or obeseCampus Catalyst program.&nbsp;</span>

Healthy Habits has <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Creative Venture Competition -&nbsp;'''This contest held in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a structured curriculum that educates proposal, and engages children in healthy eating and exercise habits$250 to each finalist team was also awarded. The curriculum includes:&nbsp;</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest –&nbsp; Examining '''In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the students nutritional knowledgeindustry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative teams and cutting edge ideas.&nbsp;</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch –&nbsp; Introducing healthy foods '''This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution. The pitches included Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, Catie’s Closet and the Natick Soldier Research Development and exercise Engineering Center. Students will be able to solve these problems and present them at the studentsAnnual IdeaChallenge for funding opportunities.&nbsp;</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Freshman Business Class-Lego Problem Solving-'''This Lego activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and the Manning School of Business to introduce students to the ideation development process and problem solving method, as well as helping them strengthen their ability to work in a team. Sessions were conducted in 9 classes with over 400 students participating. Prof. Deborah Finch of the Manning School of Business led this effort.&nbsp; Having the students perform the exercises</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge–&nbsp; Asking '''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its second annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to evaluate the program after they participatedproperly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.&nbsp;</span>

In the first series of curriculum<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva, over 40 children joined.sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This outlines '''DifferenceMaker™ Workshops-'''In preparation for the importance annual DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge, we offer our students a series of Healthy Habits within educational entrepreneurial workshops throughout the communityspring semester.</span>

The team entered the 2013 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge where they pitched their project to a panel of judges.&nbsp; The team won first place in the category called “Significant Social Impact”<span style="font-family:verdana, and was awarded $3geneva,500 to further implement their idea.sans-serif;">o&nbsp; This team is proof that business expertise is not necessary to implement and pursue a project or idea.&nbsp;Team Building Mixer</span>

The Healthy Habits team graduated in May 2013 and continued on to becoming certified nurses.<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">o&nbsp; Since then, The Community Health Club (CHEC) at UMass Lowell has become the new leader of Healthy Habits and will continue to implement the project within the community and region.&nbsp;Identifying Problems and Opportunities</span>

<span style=== Coursework ==="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">o&nbsp;&nbsp; Developing Solutions</span>

The '''entrepreneurship concentration''' prepares students to be an <span style="outside of the boxfont-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;" thinker and innovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, students who complete the concentration will:>o&nbsp;&nbsp; Identifying Resources</span>

*Develop the management skills required to identify and launch new business ventures around innovative products<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva, services and technologies.sans-serif;">o&nbsp;*Develop an understanding of the concepts and activities associated with entrepreneurship and innovation.&nbsp;*Understand the financial aspects of an entrepreneurial venture from start-up to "harvest".Rocket Pitch Coaching&nbsp;*Discover their individual "entrepreneurial spirit" through experiential learning in interdisciplinary classes and the College's Venture Lab.</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Promoting the Campus Catalyst Program'''-The DifferenceMaker™ Program works closely with 'E For All', a community business accelerator funded by the Deshpande Foundation, in order to encourage students to generate and develop their entrepreneurial ideas. The required courses within Sandbox Campus Catalyst program provided seed funding for student social and business solutions with potential. Catalyst information was provided to students at all DifferenceMaker™ events. Students also received consultation when applying to the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:Campus Catalyst Program.&nbsp; The DifferenceMaker™ application and Campus Catalyst application were similar in content so that unity between these programs would be maximized. &nbsp;</span>

#Starting a New Venture<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;#Corporate Entrepreneurship&nbsp;#Managing Innovation&nbsp;#Finance for Emerging Business Enterprises#Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall nbsp;'''DifferenceMaker™ Program Promotion-'''14 not yet required)#Study Abroad In order to promote awareness of, and participation in India , DifferenceMaker™ activities among faculty, staff, and students, a variety of outreach materials were developed and distributed across the University. These activities included program launch events, a DifferenceMaker™ website, a Facebook site, a Twitter feed (not requiredUML_Difference), various posters, postcards, presentations to classrooms, entrepreneurship focused)workshops, office hours, email blasts, and information tables.&nbsp;</span>

These are the base courses involving Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University<span style="font-family:verdana, however there are many new courses currently in development which will continue to enrich the I&E ecosystem.&nbspgeneva,sans-serif;">'''DifferenceMaker™ Program Available Resources Include:'''</span>

<span style= Departments and Programs ="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; DifferenceMaker™ Central</span>

<span style== '''Center "font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi-Fi, 3 Mac computers, printer/copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for Innovation optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and Entrepreneurship''' ==other necessary office supplies.</span>

<br/span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Funding Opportunities<br/span>“ The Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship offers students and faculty of all disciplines the opportunity to work together to develop innovative and entrepreneurial solutions to the major problems facing our community, the region and the world. The Center hosts several programs that encourage social innovation and entrepreneurship among UMass Lowell students as well as the broader community in which we live. The DifferenceMaker program provides training, mentoring and other resources to UMass Lowell students and faculty who wish to address social, environmental and economic problems in our community. “

<span style=== '''DifferenceMaker™''' ==="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; DCU Innovation Contest</span>

'''About DifferenceMaker™<span style="font-family:'''verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;FAHSS Creative Venture Competition</span>

The DifferenceMaker™ Program sponsors specific events and activities that support students in solving big problems through innovation and entrepreneurship. The Program is highly experiential by offering students a series of workshops that they can engage in to better understand innovation<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva, entrepreneurship and launching a startsans-up of their interest.serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hawk&nbsp; Hatch</span>

Students of all majors and disciplines are welcome to join this Program and make a difference at UMass Lowell<span style="font-family:verdana, in the community or in the world through innovative and entrepreneurial action. These DifferenceMaker™ projects include interdisciplinary student teams from all majors and skill sets.geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Grants</span>

'''Goals of DifferenceMaker™<span style="font-family:'''verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Networking</span>

·<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Introduce all UMass students &nbsp; Connection to creative problem solvingfaculty, staff, innovation and entrepreneurshipalumni</span>

·<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Accelerate purpose in each students educationMentors</span>

·<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Connect current students to alumni experienceFaculty Fellows and DifferenceMaker™ Staff</span>

·<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Encourage a social responsibility ethosEvents</span>

'''DifferenceMaker™ Available Activities Include<span style="font-family:'''verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Team Building Assistance</span>

·&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''DifferenceMaker™ Central-'''DifferenceMaker™ Central was opened in May 2013.&nbsp; This space is a dedicated entrepreneurial area with a vibrant start-up community atmosphere.&nbsp; The space was made for all entrepreneurial teams to come together to work, brainstorm, and network. Student teams have access to flexible workstations, televisions, computers, mentorsTeamMaker Platform, and a dynamic meeting space to develop their ideas and collaborate amongst their teammates and fellow students.Team Building Mixer</span>

·&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''DifferenceMaker™ Enterprise Co-op''''''in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship''''''-'''Throughout each year, DifferenceMaker™ will hire several students from various majors to participate in paid co-op experiences. Student co-ops assist in conducting and summarizing entrepreneurial research, developing and distributing marketing materials for various center initiatives, and provide center support for faculty and innovation fellows affiliate with the center.&nbsp;&nbsp;positions</span>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Freshman Make A Difference Orientation –&nbsp;'''During the summer sessions, DifferenceMaker™ has a large presence in the Freshman Orientation days. ">Through the Office of OrientationCenter for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Student Activities along with affiliated faculty and Leadershipother campus programs, and ResLife, DifferenceMaker™ was able to present to every attending freshman and gain exposure to all the University has introduced a range of activities that help students make a difference in the new students at UMass Lowellworld.&nbsp;</span>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Freshman DifferenceMaker™ Convocation-'''&nbsp;At the beginning of each academic year, we present DifferenceMaker™ to every incoming freshman at Convocation. Each year we perform a fun activity to engage students in our program.</span>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''Introduction to DifferenceMaker™-Freshman Seminars-Inaugural Year Statistics'''A series of in-class discussions in collaboration with the Manning School of Business, The Francis College of Engineering, The College of Fine Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, and The College of Health Sciences in order to introduce the DifferenceMaker™ Program to students of all disciplines and to inspire them to explore their passions through creative problem solving.</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''Introduction to the 72 DifferenceMaker™ Program-'''A series of events were held on both the north and south campuses to introduce students to DifferenceMaker™ Program concepts, allow them to share their ideas and interests, explore possible projects and solution, and to connected with each other to form teams. These events included the DifferenceMaker™ Convocation Pitch, the Climate Change Teach-in, a DifferenceMaker™ Team Building Dinner, and others.inaugural year</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3,500 &nbsp;'''DifferenceMaker™ LLC –&nbsp;'''Having students who participates in a presence in the student residence halls as well as the classroom is important to motivate students and discover new ideas waiting to happen. The DifferenceMaker™ Livingevent this past year</Learning Community brings new students together in the ResLife environment for innovation and brainstorming outside of the classroom.&nbsp;span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;$25,000 &nbsp;'''Honors DifferenceMaker™ Program&nbsp;–'''&nbsp;In collaboration with UMass Lowell Honors Program, this concerted effort of funds awarded to embed elements of social entrepreneurship in our Honors Program includes coursework and community-based student efforts that have specific focus on innovation and entrepreneurial practices.10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1,265 &nbsp;'''Introduction to Engineering-'''Extra Credit Project-This activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and The Francis College of Engineering to introduce freshman engineering majors to the DifferenceMaker™ Program, innovation, and entrepreneurship. In this introductory activity, the students’ innovative ideas were explored and presented participating in a format which would enable their projects to be candidates for both the DifferenceMaker™ Program Idea Challenge and Campus Catalyst program.summer rapid ideation workshops</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;112 &nbsp;'''Creative Venture Competition -&nbsp;'''This contest held students who participated in October of 2013 hosted by DifferenceMaker™ focused on innovation from Arts, Humanities, and Social Science students. $2500 was awarded to the best entrepreneurial business a proposal, and $250 to each finalist team was also awarded.&nbsp;First Annual IdeaChallenge</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;22 &nbsp;'''Digital Federal Credit Union Innovation Contest –&nbsp;'''In November of 2013, DifferenceMaker™ along with DCU hosted an Innovation Contest focusing on banking and financial innovation in the industry. With a grand prize of $500 per team member and peripheral prizes of $100 per team member, the contest gave thousands to innovative cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teams and cutting edge ideas.&nbsp;</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;24 &nbsp;'''DifferenceMaker™ Reverse Pitch –&nbsp;'''This pitch event was debuted on November 19, 2013. This event was a spin off of “normal” idea challenges and hackathons. Instead of academic disciplines represented by students pitching their ideas to funding sources or judges, businesses and community partners actually pitched their existing problems to a student audience in the hopes that they can develop a solution. The pitches included Merrimack Valley Housing Partnership, Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Lowell, Catie’s Closet and the Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center. Students will be able to solve these problems and present them at the Annual IdeaChallenge for funding opportunities.&nbsp;teams</span>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">&nbsp;'''Freshman Business Class-Lego Problem Solving-'''This Lego activity was a collaboration effort between the DifferenceMaker™ Program and the Manning School of Business to introduce students to the ideation development process and problem solving method, as well as helping them strengthen their ability to work in a team. Sessions were conducted in 9 classes with over 400 students participating. Prof. Deborah Finch of the Manning School of Business led this effort.&nbsp;</span>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''2015 DifferenceMaker™ Idea Challenge–&nbsp;IdeaChallenge Finalists'''DifferenceMaker™ is hosting its second annual Idea Challenge; this challenge is for student entrepreneurial teams to come up with sustainable ideas that will make some sort of impact on the world or their community. Help in the form of various workshops in the months leading up to the Idea Challenge is available, teaching students how to properly pitch their ideas and how to flesh out their business plans. There are various subcategories for each team to have a chance at winning spread out across over many different disciplines, encouraging all students to participate and welcoming all ideas.&nbsp;</span>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''Campus-Wide DifferenceMaker™ Workshops-'''In preparation for the annual DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge, we offer our students a series of educational entrepreneurial workshops throughout the spring semester.</span>

o&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp; Team Building Mixer">'''$7,000'''</span>

o&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp; Identifying Resources">'''Significant Social Impact'''</span>

o&nbsp;&nbsp; Rocket Pitch Coaching&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''1st Place - $4,000'''</span>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;'''TeamMaker Platform'''&nbsp;<span style="font- Allows students to build their project teams by posting their project ideas and information online where they can then search for “seekers” (students interested in becoming part of a team). On the other handfamily:verdana, “seekers” can utilize the TeamMaker Platform by posting their project interests and skillsgeneva, and seeking projects/teams to work with. This platform facilitates team formation.sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span>

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">&nbsp; DifferenceMaker™ Central</span>

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Large open office collaboration space equipped with Wi<span style="font-Fifamily:verdana, 3 Mac computersgeneva, printersans-serif;">'''Sustainable Environment'''</copier, 2 46” LCD TV monitors with projection capabilities, 6 white boards, 10 tables with chairs all equipped with wheels that can be easily rearranged for optimal use and collaboration, refrigerator, sink, cabinet space, coffee maker and other necessary office supplies.span>

•&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Other competitions:">'''Innovative Technology'''</span>

•&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; DCU Innovation Contest">'''1st Place - $4,000''' '''OTTOnomous'''</span>

•&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Philanthropic Crowd Funding Source">'''First to Market'''</span>

•&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Grants">'''1st Place - $4,000'''</span>

•&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mentors">'''2nd Place - $2,000'''</span>

•&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Series of Educational Entrepreneurial Workshops including materials">'''2nd Place - $2,000'''</span>

•&nbsp<div><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp">'''Honorable Mention DifferenceMaker™'''</span></div><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Team Building Assistance">'''$1000'''</span>

•&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; TeamMaker Platform, Team Building Mixer</span>

&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;"><br/></span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''DifferenceMaker™ Inaugural Year StatisticsFan Favorite'''</span>

·<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;" '''$1,000&nbsp;&nbsp'''</span><div style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px;&nbspoutline: 0px;&nbspvertical-align: baseline;&nbspbackground: transparent;&nbsp"><br/></div><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif; 72 ">'''DifferenceMaker™ events held in inaugural yearFuture Efforts:'''</span>

·&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 3Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program,500 a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges.&nbsp;students who participates in a DifferenceMaker™ event this past year</span>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year &nbsp;through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.&nbsp;&nbsp; $25Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role,000 and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club. &nbsp;of funds awarded to 10 IdeaChallenge finalist teams</span>

·&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1">In order to assist students to both record and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ events, they are planning the development and implementation of a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Program. Consistent with the goals of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Program, the Passport Program will assist students to identify,265 record and collect experiences meant to:&nbsp;freshman participating in summer rapid ideation workshops</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 112 &nbsp;students who participated in the First Annual IdeaChallengeDevelop individual entrepreneurial identity</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 22 &nbsp;cross discipline relationships notes between students among IdeaChallenge teamsDevelop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 24 &nbsp;academic disciplines represented by students in the IdeaChallenge teamsDevelop creative and sustainable solutions to complex problems</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Connect with the University, E For All&nbsp;and community entrepreneurial ecosystems</span>

'''2014 <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ IdeaChallenge Finalists'''Program and related activities will increase each year. As they encourage and reward the formation of various types of student ventures and projects, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students and track their progress through a professional Mentor Program. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new venture.</span>

'''Campus<span style="font-Wide family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">The DM UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs and alumnus, as well as faculty and staff.&nbsp; The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™'''Program. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsets.</span>

'''$7<span style="font-family:verdana,000'''geneva,sans-serif;">They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more faculty, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for students, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,</span>

'''Support <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world, they anticipate another, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our Students'''students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.&nbsp; Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.&nbsp; Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.</span>

A centrally located resource for students of low<span style="font-income or those in need of assistance.a centrally located resource for students of lowfamily:verdana,geneva,sans-income or those in need of assistance.serif;">&nbsp;</span>

· &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Teresa Shroll &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Community Social Psychology &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''DifferenceMaker™ Contact:'''</span>

· &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Mary Tauras &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Community Social Psychology &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">[mailto:differencemaker@uml.edu differencemaker@uml.edu]</span>

· &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Sadie Prickett &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Community Social Psychology &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''facebook.com/differenceUML'''</span>

· &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Xavier Guay &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Computer Science &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''twitter: @difference_UML'''</span>

· &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Chandana Penukonda &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Finance &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif; ">&nbsp;</span>

· &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Anna Henson &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Marketing &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp=== <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):'''</span> ===

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is responsible for the protection and commercialization of intellectual property at UMass Lowell.&nbsp;</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''1st Place - $4,000CVIP Mission: '''&nbsp;</span>

The BioBubbler is made from indigenous material and does not require chemicals or electricity to use. It is a slow sand filtration system that eliminates bacteria in water by absorption<span style="font-family:verdana, predationgeneva, natural death, and oxygen depletion.sans-serif;">'''CVIP Functions:'''</span>

*Rachel Paquette<span style="font-family:verdana, Seniorgeneva, Biology*Nawal Khansans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; to foster a culture of innovation, Juniorfacilitate commercially promising endeavors, Marketing and Managementpositively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem;</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University;</span>

'''2nd Place <span style="font- $2family:verdana,000'''geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer;</span>

*Ryan Hart, Senior, Electrical Engineering*Shiv Sharma<span style="font-family:verdana, Ph.D.geneva, Electrical Engineering*Kyle Vigeant, Senior, Electrical Engineering*Timothy Pflanz, Senior, Electrical Engineering*Albert Andinosans-Aponte, Senior, Electrical Engineering*Kyle Homan, Senior, Electrical Engineering*Anupama Purohit, Graduate, MBAserif;"><br/></span>

&nbsp=== <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">New Venture Initiative:</span> ===

'''1st Place <span style="font- $4family:verdana,000'''geneva,sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span>

=== <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''TermaGreenMassachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2):'''</span> ===

TermaGreen <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a waste heat recovery solutions company that has innovated lifeline for the heat recovery mechanism known as state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easy, affordable, and coordinated access to world-class researchers and resources at the organic ranking cycle. TermaGreen has innovated Lowell and Worcester campuses of the design University of this machine to make a significant difference in its operationsMassachusetts.</span>

*Gregory Bohenko<span style="font-family:verdana, Seniorgeneva, Business*Alexander Martinez, Freshman, Business, Economics and Mathematics*Aaron Stafford, Senior, Businesssans-serif;">&nbsp;</span>

<br/span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''Innovative TechnologyM2D2--Contact'''</span>

'''1st Place <span style="font- $4family:verdana,000''' '''OTTOnomous'''geneva,sans-serif;">[mailto:Stephen_McCarthy@uml.edu Stephen McCarthy], Co-Director of M2D2</span>

OTTOnomous Technology is a novel solution for replacing camshafts in car engines with electro<span style="font-mechanical actuators.family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span>

*Erik Christiansen<span style="font-family:verdana, Seniorgeneva, Mechanical Engineering*Victor Maldonado, Senior, Accounting and Global Business*Jeremy Dorson, Senior, Electrical Engineeringsans-serif;">'''E for All Mission'''</span>

<br/span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">The mission of 'E For All''First is to Market'connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All'programs:</span>

'''1st Place <span style="font- $4family:verdana,000'''geneva,sans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students.</span>

Fresh Beets is a food truck and music venue that unites three discrete areas that the Greater Lowell community values highly into one vehicle of change. By combining food<span style="font-family:verdana, music and educationgeneva, Fresh Beets will turn any street corner, stake park, festivalsans-serif;">·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or parking lot are interested in Lowell into a total experience which feeds the mind, body communities of Lawrence and soulLowell.&nbsp;</span>

*Savannah Marshall<span style="font-family:verdana, Graduategeneva, Community Musicsans-serif;">'''Learn more''':&nbsp;[http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx]</span>

&nbsp=== <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">Other Organizations</span> ===

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''2nd Place - $2,000Entrepreneurial Ventures Association''': EVA is an&nbsp;interdisciplinary&nbsp;organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and&nbsp;interests&nbsp;with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.&nbsp; [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about]</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''TreeHouseHonors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with. [http://www.umlhonors.com/ http://www.umlhonors.com/]</span>

Treehouse is a website & phone application that connects friends with plans<span style="font-family:verdana, eventsgeneva, sans-serif;">UMass Lowell hosts over 140 different clubs and small businesses nearbycommunities, most of which are geared towards equipping students to become leaders and innovators in society. A full list full of information can be found here: [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations]</span>

*James Abdallah= <span style="font-family:verdana, Seniorgeneva, Finance and Marketingsans-serif;">'''University Entrepreneurship'''</span> =

=== <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">Creative New Academic Programs<br/span>'''2nd Place - $2,000'''===

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''ZHOOMThe Manning School of Business'''&nbsp;<br/>The Manning School of Business&nbsp;offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship:</span>

ZHOOM is a mobile application that improves *<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the dining experience -box" thinkers and service innovators in restaurants. The features of ZHOOM include an online menu, mobile ordering functionality and payment system and customer reviewstoday's complex global economy.</span>

*Chuen Hong Lau<span style="font-family: verdana, Graduategeneva, Innovation sans-serif;">The&nbsp;'''entrepreneurship concentration'''&nbsp;prepares students to be an "outside of the box" thinker and Technological Entrepreneurship*Wai Yuen Tanginnovator in today's complex global economy. Using an interdisciplinary focus, Junior, Electrical Engineering*Darin Eidens, Graduate, Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship*Dan Coughlin, Graduate, MBAstudents who complete the concentration will:</span>

<divspan style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">'''Honorable Mention DifferenceMaker™'''The required courses within the Entrepreneurship concentration consist of:</divspan>'''$1000'''

#<span style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif;">Starting a New Venture&nbsp;'''TutorTrack'''</span>#<div span style="marginfont-family: 0pxverdana, geneva, sans-serif; padding: 0px">Corporate Entrepreneurship&nbsp; border</span>#<span style="font-family: 0pxverdana, geneva, sans-serif; outline: 0px">Managing Innovation&nbsp; vertical</span>#<span style="font-alignfamily: baseline; background: transparentverdana, geneva, sans-serif;">TutorTrack is a mobile application that makes it easy for tutors to track, add, and edit their time slots and Finance for students to subscribe a book a time slot.Emerging Business Enterprises</divspan>#<div span style="marginfont-family: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; verticalverdana, geneva, sans-align: baseline; background: transparentserif;">Entrepreneurial Strategy & Implementation (Fall '14 not yet required)<br/span>#</div>*Madhumathi Prakashspan style="font-family: verdana, Sophomoregeneva, Computer Science*Virinchi Balabhadrapatrunisans-serif;">Study Abroad in India (not required, Sophomore, Computer Science and Electrical Engineering*Disha Amin, Junior, Computer Scienceentrepreneurship focused)</span>

<brspan style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/>'''iHand&nbsp;'''<brGraduate-Programs/>The iHand is a concept integrating retinal scanning technology into a full armMSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, shoulder business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to fingertipsdrive innovation in today's collaborative, prostheticglobal workforce.</span>

*James Whiting<span style="font-family:verdana, Freshmangeneva, Mechanical Engineering*Zihao Gaosans-serif;">[http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, Freshmansuch as hospital managers/administrators, Chemical Engineeringclinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice.</span>

<brspan style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">[http:/>'''Chat UML&nbsp;'''<br/>Chat UML, a nonwww.uml.edu/MSB/Program-profit, will reach those in need of emotional help through a dedicated website where participants will chat with a Chat UML volunteer about what ever issue they feel a need to-study/New-Venture-Creation. The hope aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist people before their situation escalates professionals with undergraduate and becomes career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a crisistechnology-based business.</span>

*Brittany Morris<span style="font-family:verdana, Freshmangeneva, Psychology*Kiara Cole, Sophomore, Business*Jon Madden, Senior, Computer Science*Lauren Jendrock, Freshman, Psychology*Peter Potash, Ph.D.sans-serif;">'''College of Sciences, Computer ScienceDepartment'''</span>

<brspan style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">The Computer Science Department offers an&nbsp;[http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/>'''Prevention's PossibleMS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option]&nbsp;in their master'''s degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products.<br/span>The mission of this project is to use creative mediums and personal experience to reach today’s youth with the expectation that WE CAN prevent tragic outcomes!

*Matthew Clarke<span style="font-family:verdana, Seniorgeneva, Liberal Arts*Nick Pedinisans-serif;">'''College of Engineering, FreshmanElectrical and Computer Engineering Department, SociologyAssistive Technology Program'''</Legal Studiesspan>

<br/span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''S.imulated A.ction T.estingcomponent of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a&nbsp;'''<br[http://>A gaming option for Satp.caeds.eng.Auml.Tedu/index. testing html senior capstone project]&nbsp;aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students who can apply the knowledge they have testing anxietylearned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances.&nbsp;</span>

*Niki Roberge== <span style="font-family:verdana, Seniorgeneva, English*Amalfi Reyes, Senior, English*Kaylen Harris, Junior, English*Lisa Jackson, Junior, Peace sans-serif;">Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Conflict StudiesAcquisitions</span> ==

=== <br/>'''Fan Favorite''' '''$1,000&nbsp;'''<div span style="marginfont-family: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; verticalverdana,geneva,sans-align: baseline; background: transparentserif;">'''Mr. Meds&nbsp;The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center'''<br/span>Mr. Meds is a mobile robot used in a hospital pharmacy for medication organization, scheduling, and distribution.</div>*Philip Colangelo, Graduate, Computer Science*Bryan Nguon, Junior, Computer Engineering*Curtis Quintal, Senior, Computer Science*Gianni Falzone, Graduate, Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship*Vikas Subramani, Graduate, Computer Engineering===

<brspan style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs.</span>'''DifferenceMaker™ Future Efforts:'''

The DifferenceMaker™ Program plans to continue many of the activities and events initiated in the first year of the program.&nbsp; Some of these programs will be revised and they intend to launch several new initiatives<span style="font-family:verdana, including a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Programgeneva, a DifferenceMaker™ Mentor Program and a seed grant program to encourage faculty participation in the DifferenceMaker™ program. They also plan to expand our collaboration with several University colleges.sans-serif;">&nbsp;</span>

This year they plan to increase the role of DifferenceMaker™ Living Learning Community students in the DifferenceMaker™ program by training the members to become DifferenceMaker™ ambassadors once they transition into their sophomore year &nbsp;through weekly meetings and monthly events. The training will allow LLC members to learn more about entrepreneurship and the DifferenceMaker™ Program so they can promote it to student clubs and campus classes.&nbsp=== <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif; Once the LLC students become sophomores they will transition into a DifferenceMaker™ Ambassador role, ">'''Health and hopefully will form the nucleus of a yet-to-be-formed DifferenceMaker™ student club. Social Sciences Building'''&nbsp;</span> ===

In order to assist students to both record <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">This new building that houses criminal justice and encourage their participation in DifferenceMaker™ eventscriminology, nursing, they are planning the development and implementation of psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a DifferenceMaker™ Passport Programdemonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. Consistent with the goals The construction of the UMass Lowell DifferenceMaker™ Programthis new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the Passport Program will assist students to identify, record much needed resources and collect experiences meant to:&nbsp;space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population.</span>

·&nbsp= <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Develop individual entrepreneurial identity">'''University-Industry Collaboration'''</span> =

·&nbsp;&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Develop entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence">'''Research Activities'''</span>

·&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Develop creative ">UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and sustainable solutions to complex problemsinformation about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx]</span>

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Connect with the University==== <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva, E For All&nbspsans-serif;and community entrepreneurial ecosystems">Center for Industrial Competitiveness</span> ====

They anticipate that the number of students engaged in the DifferenceMaker™ Program <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and related activities will increase each yearsustainable prosperity. As they encourage and reward Resources available stretch all around the formation of various types of student ventures world through collaborative networks and projectsrelationships, the need for mentors who can consult with student teams will increase. They plan to guide these students providing ample information and track their progress through a professional Mentor Programglobal understanding on development. The UMass Lowell Mentor Program will provide a committed network of mentors with a broad set of skills and professional experiences, who can assist UMass Lowell entrepreneurs Research also includes local industrial development in developing the knowledge and skills, needed to grow an idea into a successful, new ventureMassachusetts.&nbsp;</span>

The DM <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">UMass Lowell Mentor Program will seek has a page dedicated to connect DifferenceMaker™ students with successful experienced entrepreneurs the CIC researchers and alumnustheir work, as well as faculty and staffwhich can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.&nbsp; The Mentor Program will focus on assisting students to further develop solutions as part of the DifferenceMaker™ Programuml. Mentors will provide guidance in further refining student team objectives and help them in building their entrepreneurial skillsetsedu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html]</span>

They are planning to offer DifferenceMaker™ Faculty Workshops to help faculty consider how they might engage their own students in DifferenceMaker™ activities through course related activities and through co= <span style="font-curricular activities. Our hope is that by engaging more facultyfamily:verdana, they in turn will serve as both mentors and catalysts for studentsgeneva, encouraging and guiding student project selection and development. They have also observed that student teams often need support and guidance from faculty from different disciplines, these workshops sans-serif;">'''Regional and an accompanying seed grant program are meant as catalysts to encourage interdisciplinary engagement among faculty,Local Economic Development'''</span> =

While the overarching goal of the DifferenceMaker™ program is to encourage UMass Lowell students to develop sustainable and entrepreneurial solutions to the challenges and opportunities they will confront in this world<span style="font-family:verdana, they anticipate anothergeneva, potentially significant impact on the University community itself. Our students will only be successful if they have the support of faculty, alumni, business and community members. During our first year of program activities, they have found these constituents to be most supportive and willing to mentor and work with our students.&nbsp; Alumni are mentoring and investing in student ventures.&nbspsans-serif; Faculty are working across disciplines to ensure their student teams make progress. Local profit ">'''Economic and non-profit businesses are eager to work with student teams, providing real-world problems and opportunities for student projects. In one short year, the DifferenceMaker™ program has been embraced by the greater University community. Our hope and plan is to anchor this program in the curriculum and culture Social Development of the University, so all UMass Lowell students have an opportunity to make a difference in this world.Regions Department:'''</span>

&nbsp<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment.</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''DifferenceMaker™ Contact:Lowell Makes'''&nbsp;</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">“A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [mailtohttp://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http:differencemaker@uml//www.edu differencemaker@umllowellmakes.educom/proposal/]</span>

'''facebook<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level.comIt is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan.&nbsp;</differenceUML'''span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''twitter: @difference_UMLMill No.5'''</span>

<span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources.&nbsp;</span>

=<span style== "font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">'''Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP):Conclusion''' ==</span> =

Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;"><span style="color: rgb(CVIP0, 0, 0) ; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48px;">Entrepreneurship is responsible for a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.&nbsp; During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the protection community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.&nbsp;&nbsp; A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and commercialization student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of intellectual property at programs and activities. UMass Lowellwill continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation.&nbsp;</span></span>

&nbsp= <span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">Related Links</span> =

'''CVIP Mission: '''&nbsp; The mission of UMass Lowell’s Office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP) is to facilitate the transfer of technology arising from government, foundation and industrial sponsored university research to the private sector. They facilitate development of inventions toward commercial relevance and utility, nurture mutually beneficial and sustainable relationships between the University and industry, promote an innovative and entrepreneurial culture at the University and contribute to the economic vibrancy and well-being of the Commonwealth. CVIP’s activities enable the successful transfer of commercially viable technology from the laboratory to the marketplace for public use and benefit.&nbsp; '''CVIP Functions:''' &nbsp;<br/>The main objectives of CVIP are: ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; to license patents and other protections to industry in order to promote the development of inventions toward practical application; ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; to foster a culture of innovation, facilitate commercially promising endeavors, and positively contribute to the University’s entrepreneurial ecosystem; ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; to seek new business opportunities and form productive collaborations with industry in an effort to increase research and licensing revenue to the University; ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; to generate income for inventors and the University as a whole for use in supporting further research, technology development and transfer; ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; to advocate for the research community and seek to create incentives, provide rewards and obtain resources to advance commercialization of the technologies they generate. &nbsp; '''CVIP--Contact:''' *[mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill S. Murthi], Director of CVIP by email: [mailto:Jill_Murthi@uml.edu Jill_Murthi@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4722*[mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish Kaushik], Licensing & Business Development Manager of CVIP by email: [mailto:Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu Rajnish_Kaushik@uml.edu] or phone: 978-934-4708   span style=== New Venture Initiative: === New Venture Initiative (NVI) is a mix of university resources and equity investment designed to provide a path to and facilitate more start"font-up activity at UMass Lowell.&nbsp; As part of the larger Commercial Venture and Intellectual Property Office (CVIP), the NVI fund focuses on inventions, discoveries, products and services that have been developed in whole or in part at UMass Lowell, have achieved proof of concept (or an early prototype) and are ready for commercial product development, rather than those requiring further basic research.&nbsp; For more information please contact [mailto:Nancy_Saucier@uml.edu Nancy Saucier], Director of New Venture Development. &nbsp; === '''Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2)family:''' === The Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2) is a lifeline for the state’s smaller medical device companies, offering inventors and executives easyverdana, affordablegeneva, and coordinated access to worldsans-class researchers and resources at the Lowell and Worcester campuses of the University of Massachusetts. '''M2D2 Available Resources:''' *9000 square feet of space on second floor including:**6 wet laboratory suites**Two office suites**Large open office collaboration area**Board room**Reception area**Break Room equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator, microwave, sink, dishwasher, and coffee maker*5000 square feet of space on first floor including:**Six individual offices&nbspserif;**Bright shared kitchen space equipped with a table and chairs, full size refrigerator and sink**One large state of the art conference room with full pull down screen, computer with web access and a projector&nbsp;&nbsp;**All conference rooms contain a 46" Aquos LCD screen, as well as computer with web access and a projector**Business and medical feasibility assessments**Product development space**Medical and clinical pathway assistance**Connection to additional services such as laboratory use, incubator space for start-ups and clinical trial support through the product life cycle**SBIR and STTR research**Access to capital**Networking events**New Venture Competitions &nbsp; '''M2D2--Contact''' [mailto:Stephen_McCarthy@uml.edu Stephen McCarthy], Co-Director of M2D2 &nbsp; === '''E For All (Formerly Merrimack Valley Sandbox)''' === 'E for All' is a project of the&nbsp;Deshpande Foundation, which has encouraged the use of entrepreneurship and innovation as catalysts for sustainable change in the United States, India and Canada since 1996. Deshpande supported centers including the&nbsp;MIT Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation, the Deshpande Center for Social Innovation&nbsp;in Hubli, India, the Pond-Deshpande Centre&nbsp;at the&nbsp;>University of New Brunswick, and our own 'E For All' &nbsp;at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. 'E for All' includes higher education partners (Middlesex Community College, Merrimack College and Northern Essex Community College) and a host of regional community and business partners. '''E for All Mission''' The mission of 'E For All' is to connect and strengthen the ecosystem in Lowell and Lawrence, Massachusetts, around entrepreneurship and leadership. This mission is supported by the following three principle 'E For All' programs: ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Catalysts-The Catalyst program provides seed funding and mentoring support to foster initiative around new ideas and programs among local high school and college students. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Entrepreneurship-The Entrepreneur Program is a community-wide initiative supporting entrepreneurship. More than 30 partner organizations and institutions are participating in this initiative,&nbsp;which gives entrepreneurs a greater chance at success through pitch contests, workshops and intensive programs.&nbsp; ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Leadership-The 'E For All' Leadership Institute (SLI) offers leadership development for individuals that live, work or are interested in the communities of Lawrence and Lowell.&nbsp; '''Learn more''':&nbsp;[http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Innovation-Entrepreneurship/MV-Sandbox.aspx] === Other Organizations === '''Entrepreneurial Ventures Association'''Fellows: EVA is an&nbsp;interdisciplinary&nbsp;organization that is open to all majors; they share resources, advice, and&nbsp;interests&nbsp;with other COM and UML clubs to help students turn their entrepreneurial ideas into reality.&nbsp; [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/organization/entrepreneurial-ventures-association/about] '''Honors Ambassador Program: '''Students participate in the Honors Ambassador Program to gain valuable experience through courses tailored for higher development and to foster relationships with communities and organizations that the program is involved with. [http://www.umlhonors.com/ http://www.umlhonors.com/] UMass Lowell hosts over 140 different clubs and communities, most of which are geared towards equipping students to become leaders and innovators in society. A full list full of information can be found here: [https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations https://umasslowellclubs.collegiatelink.net/Organizations] = '''University Entrepreneurship''' = === Creative New Academic Programs === '''The Manning School of Business'''&nbsp;<br/span>The Manning School of Business&nbsp;offers two academic programs focused on entrepreneurship: ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [http://www.uml.edu/MSB/management/Entrepreneurship.aspx Undergraduate - Entrepreneurship Concentration]: Prepares students to be "outside-of-the-box" thinkers and innovators in today's complex global economy. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITE.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE)]: Provides engineers, business majors and scientists with the skills and knowledge required to drive innovation in today's collaborative, global workforce. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Graduate-Programs/MSITEhealthcare.aspx Graduate - Master of Science in Innovation and Technological Entrepreneurship (MSITE) Healthcare Innovation & Entrepreneurship (HI+E) Option]: This option is targeted towards healthcare professionals, such as hospital managers/administrators, clinicians, physicians and other medical professionals who need to understand and manage the impact of emerging technologies and innovations in the healthcare industry. The Program will also benefit recent graduates who wish to enter the healthcare industries as a career choice. ·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; [http://www.uml.edu/MSB/Program-of-study/New-Venture-Creation.aspx Graduate Certificate - New Venture Creation]: This program is focused specifically on the creation of technology-based ventures and is designed to assist professionals with undergraduate and career experience in science, engineering, technology or business fields in better understanding how to develop and launch a technology-based business. '''College of Sciences, Computer Science Department''' The Computer Science Department offers an&nbsp;[http://www.uml.edu/Catalog/Graduate/Sciences/Computer-Science/MS-in-Computer-Science-Entrepreneurship-Option.aspx entrepreneurship option]&nbsp;in their master's degree. It is directed at those with a strong undergraduate background in Computer Science who are interested in both deepening their technical knowledge and in understanding the tools required for developing a company directed towards software services and products. '''College of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Assistive Technology Program''' A component of the undergraduate Electrical and Computer Engineering program, senior ECE students complete a&nbsp;[http://atp.caeds.eng.uml.edu/index.html senior capstone project]&nbsp;aimed at designing and producing an assistive technology device for a person with a disability. Engineering students can apply the knowledge they have learned from their courses and help solve problems for disabled people through creating technological advances.&nbsp; == Entrepreneurial Capital Projects and Acquisitions == === '''The Mark and Elisia Saab Emerging Technologies and Innovation Center''' === This new UMass Lowell 2012-13 construction is a building developed for bringing innovation and industry together. Faculty and student researchers use the resources available in this building to meet industry challenges and improve lives using UMass Lowell technologies and patents. Core facilities for use in fundamental and translational research are available to faculty and students; it contains class 100, 1,000, and 10,000 cleanroom spaces, wet lab and engineering lab space, and a plastics processing high bay. The ETIC is has LEED Gold Certification, and is considered green. The construction of this building also is estimated to supporting at least 130 new jobs. &nbsp; === '''Health and Social Sciences Building'''&nbsp; === This new building that houses criminal justice and criminology, nursing, and psychology provides classrooms, simulation laboratories, observation facilities, a demonstration hospital wing, and ample meeting space for community projects. The construction of this new building supported more than 800 construction and related jobs, and provided the much needed resources and space for UMass Lowell’s growing social science population. = '''University-Industry Collaboration''' = '''Research Activities''' UMass Lowell places a large focus on professional research, as evidenced by the ample lab space professors have to work with in buildings such as the ETIC. A comprehensive list of all research areas and information about them can be found on the UMass Lowell website. [http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx http://www.uml.edu/Research/Centers/default.aspx] ==== Center for Industrial Competitiveness ==== For nearly 20 years, UMass Lowell’s Center for Industrial Competitiveness has conducted research on industrial innovation, regional development, corporate governance, financialization, and sustainable prosperity. Resources available stretch all around the world through collaborative networks and relationships, providing ample information and a global understanding on development. Research also includes local industrial development in Massachusetts.&nbsp; UMass Lowell has a page dedicated to the CIC researchers and their work, which can be found here: [http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html http://www.uml.edu/centers/cic/Research/Research.html] = '''Regional and Local Economic Development''' = '''Economic and Social Development of Regions Department:''' This graduate program focuses on giving an interdisciplinary education that is tailored to fit the needs of the individual. By educating both the private and public sectors of economic and social development, this program aims to create work ready individuals that can bring innovation and change to shifting social and economic environment. '''Lowell Makes'''&nbsp; “A membership‐driven collaborative space equipped with a wide variety of tools, machines, materials, computers and other resources where individuals can gain and practice modern skills with state‐of‐the‐art technology, access to resources they could not otherwise, and a community of creative minded people who make all kinds of things. “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good” is both the City of Lowell’s motto, and a reminder of Lowell’s rich industrial and artistic history as our inspiration.” - [http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/ http://www.lowellmakes.com/proposal/] Lowell makes was founded to be a space where those who do not have access to certain equipment to bring their ideas to life will have that access they need and have the support they need to push their innovation to the next level. It is a space that has resources tailored for budding entrepreneurs, and can be rented out by anyone with a plan.&nbsp; '''Mill No.5''' Mill No.5 is one of the few non-UML entrepreneurial constructs in the Lowell urban environment. Like many mills in Lowell, it has been renovated and repurposed. Being subdivided and updated to proper code, there are rooms available for offices and start-ups looking to have an office space to centralize their resources.&nbsp; = '''Conclusion''' = <span p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 13px; text-align: justify; text-indent: 48px;">Entrepreneurship is a strategic objective at the University of Massachusetts Lowell.&nbsp; During the last five years, UMass Lowell has re-positioned itself with students, faculty, staff, and the community as a true public enterprise committed to taking an entrepreneurial approach to innovation in all aspects of its structure.&nbsp;&nbsp; A rapidly expanding innovation ecosystem encourages and guides entrepreneurial action, whether academically or commercially, amongst its faculty and student body -- fostering an entrepreneurial approach to economic development through a variety of programs and activities. UMass Lowell will continue to thrive in all aspects of entrepreneurship and innovation. &nbsp;</span> = Related Links = University Innovation Fellows:<p style="textfont-alignfamily: justify; textverdana,geneva,sans-indent: 48pxserif;">[[Ana Gouveia|Ana Gouveia]]</span></p><p style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">[[James Abdallah|James Abdallah]]</span></p><p style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">[[KevinMDesjardins|<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: small;">Kevin Desjardins</span>]]</span></p><p style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">[[Jacob Hulme|Jacob Hulme]]</span></p><p style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;"><u><span style="color:#0000ff;">Kyle Pitocchelli</span></u></span></p><p style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">[[UMass_Lowell_Student_PrioritiesUMass Lowell Student Priorities|<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: small;">UMass Lowell Student Priorities</span>]]</span></p><span style="font-family:verdana,geneva,sans-serif;">[[Category:Universities]]</span>