Priorities:Western New England University Strategic Priorities
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Contents
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- 3 Western New England University Strategic Priorities Pitch
- 3.1 Priorities
- 3.1.1 Project 1: Creating workshops for students to gain the basic skills needed in engineering and business.
- 3.1.2 Project 2: Centralizing Innovation Lab
- 3.1.3 Project 3: Innovation Youth Exploration Series (iYES)
- 3.1.4 Project 4: Focusing on Students Internships
- 3.1.5 Project 5: Starting Western New England’s Center First Innovation Club
- 3.1.6 Project 6: Facilitate more monthly innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) activities
- 3.1.7 This page contains the following errors:
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- 3.1 Priorities
- 4 UIF 2017 Goals
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Western New England University Strategic Priorities Pitch
Our universities always ask the best from us, pushing us to our limits, to the edge of our mental and physical boundaries... I say it is our turn to ask the same from them! Projects 1 and 5 are of highest priority and will be implemented immediately, whereas Projects 2-4 and 6 are task that will be ongoing and will supplement the success of Projects 1 and 2. All projects would benefit the school, but will have a better success rate if each are focused on individually. Once one or two programs launch and are successful then the group can move on to the other projects.
Spring 2016
Spring 2014
'
Priorities
Project 1: Creating workshops for students to gain the basic skills needed in engineering and business.
Description: In order for students to be successful, they need to develop the basic skills that will be useful in their careers at Western New England University and their future. This skills including wiring, soldering, word and excel skills, review on programming, along with other useful trainging on machinery. Classes teach you what to do with the machines, but they don't always teach you how to do them. These workshops will help underclassmen develop important skills that will be useful for up coming programs
MILESTONE |
PROJECTED DATE |
Develop a list of important tasks |
February 2016 |
Fellows need to be trained in all of the task if they aren't already |
February 2016 |
Set up times and dates for workshops |
February 2016 |
Publicize Workshops |
February - March 2016 |
First Workshop |
March 2016 |
Review First Workshop and Change as needed |
Late March-Early April 2016 |
Continue Workshops and finding out what other skills students what to learn outside of the classroom |
April-May 2016 |
Project 2: Centralizing Innovation Lab
Description: Western New England University has two innovation labs, one is on the third floor of the engineering building and the other is on the third floor of the library. Most people do not know about the one in the library. The other innovation lab only the engineers use it when they are working on a project, they rarely use it to be creative or innovative. The goal is to relocate the lab and combine both aspects of the innovation labs in a centralized location. It would also be beneficial to have a makerspace cart in the new lab to make prototype
MILESTONE |
PROJECTED DATE |
Investigate the possibility of creating a new innovation lab |
September 2016 |
Investigate financial possibilities |
October 2016 |
Consult with faculty, investors, deans, and the provost |
November 2016 |
Work on getting a Makerspace Cart |
November 2016 |
Developing a plan for both the cart and new lab |
December 2016 |
Grant/funding search (1 grant) |
December 2016 |
Starting to get more people involved and excited about the new lab |
January 2016 |
Project 3: Innovation Youth Exploration Series (iYES)
Description: From personal experience, early intervention in the STEM fields at a young age is key to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. Innovation Youth Exploration Series (iYES) will implement a monthly visit to local grade schools to spread the joys of innovation to young children.
MILESTONE |
PROJECTED DATE |
Consult with school education department (education majors) |
January 2017 |
Create a proposal for innovation series at local schools |
February 2017 |
Revise proposal with Ellery White |
February 2017 |
Distribute proposal to Education department for revising |
|
Create monthly goals/activities |
March 2017 |
Coordinate with student engagement to integrate program into their system |
April 2017 |
Find volunteers to help facilitate activities |
April - May 2017 |
Project 4: Focusing on Students Internships
Description: Employeers look for experience when hiring an intern, but the only way to get industry experience is to get hired by a company. WNEU needs to focus on helping students with no experience get an internship. This can be done by reaching out to alumni and along with using faculty connections.
MILESTONE |
PROJECTED DATE |
Communicate with faculty and career development |
March 2016 |
Draft proposal for internship program |
April - May 2016 |
Revise draft with professors |
May 2016 |
Reach out to Alumni and Professors with connections |
May- September 2016 |
Propose an idea for the process of the internship program |
October 2016 |
Trial of Internship program with participating students, faculty and alumni |
December 2016 - February 2017 |
Project 5: Starting Western New England’s Center First Innovation Club
Description: Starting an Innovation Club would help successfully accomplish project 6 and make sure it is always growing. An innovation club would also create a bind between faculty and students excited about innovation.
MILESTONE |
PROJECTED DATE |
Investigate how to create a club |
February 2016 |
Investigate the members/entities needed to start the club along with finding a faculty advisor |
February 2016 |
Begin networking and recruiting for the club |
Febraury - March |
First Meeting |
March - April 2016 |
| Brain storming and ideas for clubs | April 2016 |
First Project |
April - May 2016 |
Project 6: Facilitate more monthly innovation and entrepreneurship (I&E) activities
Description: The university is beginning to explore different avenues to have collaborated/interdisciplinary activities. One that exists is called the Innovation Challenges, which involve random challenges that are only revealed the day of the event. Using this base, other activities, such as Ignite presentations, think-a-thons, 3D start-up etc. will be explored to create more monthly activities.
MILESTONE |
PROJECTED DATE |
Evaluate strategic resources spreadsheet assignment while also talking to faculty |
February - March 2016 |
Draft proposal of monthly I&E activities |
March 2016 |
Revise proposal with UIF mentor |
April 2016 |
Collaborate with key student organizations and faculty |
April 2016 |
Start planning events |
April 2016 |
Review the first session and make adjustments as necessary |
May 2016 |
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UIF 2017 Goals
Lack of Space
Currently, the space available is too crowded for the amount of students on campus. The space we are planning will be available to everyone on campus and have enough room. There will also be whiteboard and prototyping carts in the space to encourage creativity. Area will open up in our current Campus Center to build this innovation space.
| Milestone | Projected Date |
| Create Presentation | September 2016 |
| Connect with Deans and professors from every school | November 2016 |
| Present to the Dean of Engineering | November 2016 |
| Present to Provost | February 2017 |
| Obtain approval from Provost and Board of Trustees | February 2017 |
| Finalize plans for the space | March 2017 |
| Create vonlunteer team | March 2017 |
| Build/Buy materials and furniture | April 2017 |
| Select speakers for future presentation | May 2017 |
| Area becomes available in the Campus Center | October 2017 |
| Build Innovation Space | November 2017 |
Internships
We had the idea to use the existing Alumni Mentoring Program within the College of Engineering to help aid students trying to find internships. Bringing in alumni for events other than in fall of freshman year can allow students to maintain a connection with their mentor and possibly gain an internship. The connections can help ease the process and make obtaining an internship less daunting.
| Milestone | Projected Dates |
| Meet with Alumni Association | February 2017 |
| Contact Engineering Dean's Office | February 2017 |
| Survey Organizations for contacts | February 2017 |
| Create Master List of Alumni | March 2017 |
| Send Invitation for Spring Alumni Dinner | March 2017 |
| Setup Mentoring Program and Establish Possible Pairings | April 2017 |
| Establish Engineering Job/ Internship Fair | April 2017 |
| Contact Master List for Fall Dinner | September 2017 |
| Hold Fall Dinner | October 2017 |
| Setup Mentoring Program and Establish Possible Pairings | November 2017 |
