School:University of North Alabama
Contents
Overview
The University of North Alabama is a liberal arts college in one of the oldest and most historic cities in the state. The school was foudned on a basis of education and nursing and has grown into a culture of arts, entrepreneurship, and a wide array of multidisciplinary studies. Last year, the College of Business brought Innovation Engineering onto campus, transforming the community and department into a place where cultivating entrepreneurship and STEM programs is vital.
Four students were chosen to pursue the Innovation Fellows Candidacy Program last Fall. We work alongside a faculty group whose aim is to spread Innovation Engineering and Entrepreneurship into all departments as well as bring Engineering as a program onto campus. Our job is to get students excited and informed about these changes, and to educate them on the vitality that skills of entrepreneurship and innovation holds in their majors and career paths.
While surveying, students informed us that they didn’t believe their majors needed entrepreneurship or innovation, because it wasn’t a business department and they didn’t want to own a business. First, we had to change the verbiage to get students to understand that this topic is not only relevant, but absolutely VITAL for their majors, departments, and careers, community and the university.
Promoting Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Though our community and faculty is excited and engaged about bringing these changes to UNA, the students are disconnected, lacking motivation or knowledge in the process, terms, importance, or relevance. During our team meeting, the candidates analyzed a SWOT analysis of the culture at UNA. We found the following Strengths, Weakenesses, Opportunities, and Threats:
Strengths:
-University Leadership: Our students have ample support and opportunity to create or grow organizations with unlimited resources. We push for students to become involved in some way, and over half of our students are involved in two or more organizations on campus. We also have a fair Student Allocations system with processes in place to provide decent funding to all organizations.
-Community Leadership: The Shoals Entrepreneurial Center, alongside the Generator, the Chamber of Commerce, and other local companies long to see students succeed. The environment of Florence is a perfect climate for new entrepreneurs, and the city strives on fulfilling dreams and passions.
-Collaborative Spirit/Positivity: We have found that the community and students, though possibly unknowledgable, is still welcoming to these ideals and change. We have high spirits for new programs and abundant resources as well.
-Diversification: UNA has one of the largest international programs, as well as one of the most variable, student bases in the state. Our diversity allows for a better culture for innovation, as new perspectives and behaviors can be found within the community.
Weaknesses:
-Weak presence: From our research, Innovation and Engineering and STEM is not only missing on campus, but we also have a disconnected view of its importance to the community. Many of the students believe the arts is enough and cannot see a need for analytical, technical communication.
-Misunderstood: We need to change language/verbiage of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in order to relate to students. Right now, it is a confusing and daunting term.
Opportunities:
-Community: Florence and the Shoals are now primed up for innovation and entrepreneurship through new scholarships, investors, media, and a major increase of local businesses gaining attention from a national and international market.
-Employment for IE: All around the Florence/Huntsville area, engineering and analytics mixed with a business and innovation background is needed and desired. Jobs are beginning to hire again in our area, and having these skill sets is greatly benefitting both UNA and the community.
-Mane Capital Fund: Finally, UNA has a large and sustainable fund for entrepreneurship and capital for students. This fund holds a board of directiors and officers that is spreading the word of innovation and entrepreneurship and our program everywhere they go.
Threats:
-Running out of capital: Though it is short-term sustainable, we must continue to find investors and add value for people to invest in this idea, or we will lose all funding.
-Lack of resources (technology): Due to a lacking technological presence, we are behind other large cities in the form of technology, which can hinder our innovation. We need the skills in order to become a greater university.
Encouraging Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship
The backing of the faculty at UNA is very prevalent. The faculty and staff are the whole reason we are able to have the limited amount of innovation and entrepreneurship that we do have. They are working hand and hand with us to increase the amount of innovation and entrepreneurship that is on our campus. They are bringing in different start-ups and programs to help increase the awareness of the importance. The faculty are deep in planning to implement STEM on our campus. They are also trying to involve innovation and entrepreneurship into all majors, internships, and careers. The staff and faculty here at UNA are very supportive and understand the importance of having innovation and entrepreneurship on campus and the positive impact it can have on the student’s life and careers.
Actively Supporting the University Technology Transfer Function
Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration
With the help of the University of North Alabama and substantial leaders in the area, our community has been able to create and maintain key centers such as the Generator and the Entrepreneurial Center. The Generator is UNA’s very own student incubator center that will be used to assist aspiring students with business startups. The Entrepreneur Center will be used to further facilitate un-peraralled industry collaboration. With these resources combined we will have a full arsenal of resources at our fingertips to further promote the growth of UNA.
Please refer to this link for more information on the Generator: