Priorities:University of Florida Student Priorities

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Project Pitch Video


Creating Collaboration Between College of Engineering and the College of Business

Priorities:

  1. Collaboration- “Bridging the Gap”- between the College of Engineering’s Innovation Institute and Heavener School of Business’ Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
  2. “UFund” Crowdfunding Platform.
  3. Starting Early: Implementation of Entrepreneurship and Innovation principles and experiential learning into fundamental courses for undergraduate engineers.
  4. Spreading the Word: Increasing marketing efforts for existing programs and resources.
  5. Freshmen Engineering Internship Program
  6. UF Maker Faire
  7. Gator Engineered Maker Space

Implementation Plan

Spring 2015

  • Initial research
  • Initial campus analysis (as first Fellows)
  • Begin discussions with individual college leaders for CEI and COE collaboration
    • Dean of College of Engineering, Director of Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Director of COE Innovation Institute, faculty, stakeholders
  • Begin creation of UFund model, record how-to steps for other schools to follow
  • Get stakeholders on board with each project/ be open to feedback
  • UFund website and necessary logistics all set up
  • Solidify UIF as permanent program at UF, seek out next UIF’s
  • Complete business model for increased cross-functional collaboration between COE and CEI; have at least 1 constant marketing approach to inform engineers of existing programs


Fall 2015

  • Roll out UFund and try to get BEC organizations, design teams, and CEI start ups interested
  • Later in semester, officially roll out program to alumni and industry
    • Work with UFAA for alumni, CRC maybe for industry during spring showcase
  • Increase engineering participation in existing events by 25%; Co-sponsor existing events
    • ex: UF Innovation Summit (with COE Innovation Institute and CEI)
    • potential additional resource: ELI Student Leadership Advisory Board
  • Create incentives, marketing programs or competitions to bring together engineering and business I & E organizations
  • Begin discussion on curriculum modifications to include CEI and COE students in I & E classes
  • Increase marketing efforts to motivate more COE students to pursue Entrepreneurship Minor (offered by CEI) and/or certificate (offered by COE Innovation Institute
  • Apply for Venture Well Grant to suport Gator Engineered Maker Space


Spring 2016

  • UFund established entity with COE and CEI (mostly I & E focused) projects first to be advertised/hopefully funded.
  • UFund expansion to other projects and schools around the university
  • Tangible event/program/experiential course that was planned since Fall between COE & CEI is held
  • Re-analyze campus landscape for I & E (new landscape canvas)


Fall 2016

  • UFund widely available resource for UF organizations, discuss with stakeholders any next steps possible
  • CEI and COE relationship has been solidified, continue to work on merging curriculum, creating collaboration between students/organizations
  • CEI and COE begin to include Levin College of Law and College of Health and Sciences in existing events.
  • Expand I & E opportunities at UF to include other schools, become REGIONAL beacon for I & E efforts (summit?)


Spring 2017

  • Expand I & E opportunities at UF to include other schools, become NATIONAL beacon for I & E efforts (summit?)

Top Projects and Fellows Leading

  1. Collaboration- “Bridging the Gap”- between the College of Engineering’s Innovation Institute and Heavener School of Business’ Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
    Point Fellow: Natalie DeVarona
  1. Plan: Introduce COE students and resources to existing events and programs in CEI. Rather than “inventing the wheel” in 2 different colleges/departments, collaborate to have cross-functional workings between students and faculty.
    • Introduce Fellow Daniel Kleinman’s idea “UFund” Crowdfunding Platform to further motivate cross-functional collaboration between COE and CEI.
    • Once collaboration between COE and CEI in place, begin to invite Levin College of Law and College of Health and Sciences, respectively to grow cross-functional workings in existing programs.
  2. Timeline
    • Spring 2015
      1. Early semester: Complete UIF training session to graduate to Fellow; Canvas entire E&I efforts ongoing at the University of Florida.
      2. Later semester: Complete business model for COE & CEI collaboration. Market existing CEI events to engineering students. Recruit potential Fellows to join UF’s Leadership Circle
    • Fall 2015
      1. Early Semester: Organize and further develop collaboration of E&I existing programs. Utilize UFund program to incentivize this collaboration.
      2. Later Semester: Have cross-functional teams and organizations utilize UFund to fund start-ups and organizational E&I programs.
    • Spring 2016
      1. Early Semester: Open conversation for cross-functional courses between COE and CEI.
      2. Later Semester: Introduce other colleges (i.e. Law and Health and Sciences) to E&I existing efforts to broaden cross-functional work.
    • Fall 2016
      1. Early Semester: Paradigm shift of having E&I efforts as a university-wide/ cross-functional program rather than compartmentalized programs/events.
      2. Late Semester: Use model at University of Florida to aid other universities and Fellows.


  1. “UFund” Crowdfunding Platform
    Point Fellow: Daniel Kleinman
  1. Plan: Create website/tool for alumni and industry to fund student projects and initiatives in I & E (starting with college of engineering) as well as startups and business ventures (college of business) through UF Alumni Association with potential rewards including sponsorship benefits (definitely available with college of engineering design teams/projects) and more tangible benefits for alumni donations to UF.
    • Build off Georgia Funder model
    • Use as incentive to bring together COE & CEI collaboration
    • Use this as a model for other schools to be able to implement this on their campus
  2. Timeline:
    • Spring 2015
      1. Early semester: Begin creation of UFund model, record how-to steps for other schools to follow
      2. Late semester: UFund website and necessary logistics all set up
    • Fall 2015
      1. Early semester: Roll out UFund and try to get BEC organizations, design teams, and CEI start ups interested
      2. Late semester: Officially roll out program to alumni and industry, working with UFAA for alumni, CRC maybe for industry during spring showcase
    • Spring 2016
      1. Early semester: UFund established entity with COE and CEI (mostly I & E focused) projects first to be advertised/hopefully funded.
      2. Late semester: UFund expansion to other projects and schools around the university
    • Fall 2016
      1. Early semester: UFund widely available resource for UF organizations, discuss with stakeholders any next steps possible
      2. Late semester: Begin next UFund initiative based on stakeholder feedback



  1. Freshmen Engineering Internship Program
    Point Fellow: Natalie DeVarona
  1. Plan: Introduce COE students and resources to existing events and programs in CEI. Rather than “inventing the wheel” in 2 different colleges/departments, collaborate to have cross-functional workings between students and faculty.
    • Introduce Fellow Daniel Kleinman’s idea “UFund” Crowdfunding Platform to further motivate cross-functional collaboration between COE and CEI.
    • Once collaboration between COE and CEI in place, begin to invite Levin College of Law and College of Health and Sciences, respectively to grow cross-functional workings in existing programs.
  2. Timeline
    • Spring 2015
      1. Early semester: Complete UIF training session to graduate to Fellow; Canvas entire E&I efforts ongoing at the University of Florida.
      2. Later semester: Complete business model for COE & CEI collaboration. Market existing CEI events to engineering students. Recruit potential Fellows to join UF’s Leadership Circle
    • Fall 2015
      1. Early Semester: Organize and further develop collaboration of E&I existing programs. Utilize UFund program to incentivize this collaboration.
      2. Later Semester: Have cross-functional teams and organizations utilize UFund to fund start-ups and organizational E&I programs.
    • Spring 2016
      1. Early Semester: Open conversation for cross-functional courses between COE and CEI.
      2. Later Semester: Introduce other colleges (i.e. Law and Health and Sciences) to E&I existing efforts to broaden cross-functional work.
    • Fall 2016
      1. Early Semester: Paradigm shift of having E&I efforts as a university-wide/ cross-functional program rather than compartmentalized programs/events.
      2. Late Semester: Use model at University of Florida to aid other universities and Fellows.


3. Freshmen Engineering Internship Program
Point Fellow: Jasmine Perez

  1. Plan:Create an early internship program with local startups will help expose students to innovation and gain practical skills early on in their college careers.
    • Create partnerships with local businesses and start ups
    • Distribution channels through the engineering college and the UIFresh initiative.
  2. Timeline
    • Fall 2015
      1. Early Semester: Organize and plan the program from the application process to reaching out to local companies to probe for interest.
      2. Later Semester: Have a list of potential companies on board for the program to be rolled in future semesters
    • Spring 2016
      1. Early Semester: Open first round of applications, needs backing from marketing,
      2. Later Semester: Evaluate first round of program participants.
    • Fall 2016
      1. Early Semester: Build from previous application round to increase number of participants and make improvements on the program.
      2. Late Semester: Expansion of program to other colleges and continuation of building partners with local companies

​​4. Gator Engineered Maker Network

Point Fellow: Erin Winick

  1. Plan:Create a connected network of flagship maker spaces and events around campus
    • Create partnerships between current maker spaces and publicize the network
    • Create new annual events encourage use of the spaces (ie Maker Faires)
    • Distribution channels various colleges that are involved
  2. Timeline
    • Fall 2015
      1. Early Semester: Organize and plan the program Maker Faire event for spring and apply for grant
      2. Later Semester: Work on creating new app to help students pair up into maker teams
    • Spring 2016
      1. Early Semester: Put grant into action in standardizing the costs of facilities and improving website resources
      2. Later Semester: Hold first UF Maker Faire
    • Fall 2016
      1. Early Semester: Build Maker Faire into Gainesville Entrepreneurship Month
      2. Late Semester: Apply lessons learning from minimum value product into new Nexus Building maker space.

Projects Pitch Video


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Related Links


University of Florida Campus Overview

University of Florida Landscape Canvas Spring 2015

Landscape Canvas Fall 2015

For information on our University Innovation Fellows:

Danel Kleinman

Natalie DeVarona


Erin Winick

Jasmine Perez

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