Changes

Since its founding in 1864, Swarthmore College has given students the knowledge, insight, skills, and experience to become leaders for the common good. Offering a liberal arts and engineering curriculum, the College is private, yet open to all regardless of financial need. It is also decidedly global in outlook, drawing students from around the world and all 50 states. The diversity of perspectives represented by Swarthmore students, faculty, and staff - including different viewpoints, identities, and histories - contributes to the community's strong sense of open dialogue and engagement with ideas and issues.”

''Center for Innovation & Leadership (CIL)''

 

Because Swarthmore is a teaching rather than research based university, professors are encouraged to focus on students and classes rather than their own projects. Nevertheless, the Lang Visiting Professor, Denise Crossan, was a prime example of faculty entrepreneurship on campus. She worked on a social innovation map, which charts all kinds of entrepreneurial activities going on at Swarthmore. She also created a Swarthmore Social Innovation Lab and helped to spearhead the Presidential Sustainability Research Fellowship Program, which connects faculty and students over sustainability initiatives on campus. Denise was also the faculty advisor for the University Innovation Fellows chapter at Swarthmore.

Universal design, human-centered design, and critical design approaches are explored as they relate to how they can be applied to existing technologies and projects in society that place particular groups and communities at a disadvantage.

''Design Thinking Workshop''

SwatTank is an idea competition that provides students with the opportunity to take a rough idea, product, or concept and develop it towards its next incarnation, ideation, or realization. The process has student teams working on developing their ideas and projects by attending workshops, programs, or meeting with staff before putting together an official pitch.

''Center for Innovation and Leadership trip to San Francisco''

The Center for Innovation and Leadership (CIL) at Swarthmore seeks to build capacity for entrepreneurship and leadership, by fostering collaboration and innovation while promoting experimentation, collaboration, and reflection. One of the ways the CIL implements its mission, is a fully funded 6-day intensive trip to San Francisco. During this trip, a group of ten students visit Swarthmore alumni at major companies in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. The tech-oriented nature of the trip, allows students to engage with a variety of entrepreneurs in start-up, venture capital, and tech communities.

Swarthmore’s externship program allows students to participate in a one-week shadowing experience with alumni, which in turn gives a glimpse into specific careers. The externships offered encompass a variety of different sectors, and provide students with the ability to learn from, and connect with alumni that are experts in their respective fields.

180 Degrees Consulting is a club that aims to develop strong leadership, communication, and teamwork skills in its members. It is run entirely by students to bring high-quality and affordable consulting services to non-profits and social enterprises.

''180 Degrees Consulting''

However, outside of the Lang Center for Social and Civic Responsibility and 180 Degrees Consulting, there are no concrete technology/industrial/wet lab spaces nor outside Lang Center financing opportunities (i.e. VC, angels) that encourage and support grassroot student commercialized enterprises/projects to continue and pivot over a 3 to 10 year span.

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Swarthmore_College Swarthmore College Overview]