School:Loyola University Maryland

Loyola University Maryland is a Jesuit Catholic university committed to the educational and spiritual traditions of the Society of Jesus and to the ideals of liberal education and the development of the whole person. Accordingly, the University will inspire students to learn, lead, and serve in a diverse and changing world.

Overview

Loyola University Maryland, founded in 1852, is a liberal arts university located in Baltimore, Maryland. The Evergreen campus is the main undergraduate campus. Surrounded by a diverse and booming environment the potential for innovation and creativity is high. However, as of present, the resources for such ventures on Loyola’s campus is limited. Creative space for design thinking, prototyping, and research is almost non-existent on the campus, except for limited lab space reserved for the engineering students. Some courses are offered in the entrepreneurship and innovation field but expansion and improvement is needed. As the first group of University Innovation Fellows on the campus we are excited and motivated to change these aspects. With many creative and inspired minds on campus these resources would benefit students across disciplines and majors. The current resources on campus are outlined below.

Promoting Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Currently, Loyola does not offer a vast array of opportunities to dive into discovering, learning, and experimenting with innovation and entrepreneurship. There is a low sense of encouragement for students to pursue I&E. The current Fellows team is looking forward to changing this. We hope that with the support of people in the Loyola Community, we will change the attitude, atmosphere, and resources present for pursuing interest in I&E.

The following list encompasses mostly every opportunity that Loyola offers to discover, learn, and experiment with I&E.

2 Introduction to Engineering courses which aim to invoke interest in innovation
A few courses in the Sellinger School of Business which aim to provide inspiration for global entrepreneurship and new product development
A new course being offered across the Engineering, Physics, and Computer Science departments called Technical Innovation and Entrepreneurship allows students to learn how they can cross their scientific paths into the business world
Our new University Innovation Fellows team
A new VEX Robotics club. It is open to anybody on campus and allows for multidisciplinary teamwork
An Entrepreneurship Club which invites speakers to Loyola every so often to tell their personal success stories in entrepreneurship
Senior Design/Capstone projects offered in various majors to encourage students to think and create before going into their fields.
HAUBER Summer Research Program which allows students to work alongside faculty several weeks throughout the summer on a particular area of research

Encouraging Faculty Innovation and Entrepreneurship

The faculty at Loyola University Maryland have minimal encouragement to pursue I&E ventures in their research. Before the professors are tenured their research is scientifically based, with papers and theses following. Once the professor is tenured a contract is set in place for further research, but at present very few of these contracts lead to entrepreneurial research. A trend is in place for more accountable and funded research. However, until professors on Loyola’s campus are supported in innovation and creativity based studies a key aspect of the I&E environment on campus is still lacking.

Actively Supporting the University Technology Transfer Function

There is currently no tech transfer office or department set up on Loyola’s campus. However, there is the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. Through this department faculty gain research support and funding. Additionally, students can contact this office to find funding for their research programs and aid in developing legal status (especially when outside corporations are involved). However, this is the only such resource on campus and this field needs to be expanded in order to promote I&E.

Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration

Within the general Baltimore area there are maker space’s such as “The Foundry”, located downtown, and various metallurgy and casting mills, located in the Mount Washington area, open for public use. However, Loyola and these businesses/spaces have not yet formed any personal connections. Such a relationship would be extremely beneficial for students on the campus looking for design space and materials. More connections with mentors and networking in the area, especially with companies that encourage innovation, start-ups, and entrepreneurship, need to be made, as well.

Engaging with Regional and Local Economic Development Efforts

Given Loyola’s location within the city of Baltimore, one would assume that there would be strong ties to venture capital firms, start-up incubators, and startup associated services. Alas, that does not seem to be the case. For whatever reason, the aforementioned firms have taken little interest in providing their services and guidance to students. Furthermore, as of right now, Loyola does not have the capability to harbor a small business development center for the surrounding community.

Link to Loyola University Maryland's Landscape Canvas

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fUQwWcsPi3qaM0B69f25YeUq20OoPK_cZsKabC6ZtFk/edit#gid=4

Student Priorities

This page briefly explains our long term projects/goals for getting the I&E ball rolling on our campus.

Contributors

Spring 2017 Fellows