Changes

Academic permission is the tough part of creating an on-campus innovation space. This process is also difficult to write an exact "how to guide" because each campus has a different process and permission steps. While talking to the co-found of Design Engineering Collaborativeat UC Berkeley, Jared Karp, I was able to find some ways to overcome this hurdle. Jared first stated that you should find the person that can say yes. By this meant that universities are filled with people who will love your idea and tell you to reach for the stars; however, very few of them have the authority to sign off and say...yes! It is important to find this person or find someone who can introduce you to this person. Jared also suggested that you should be prepared for this conversations with all the materials you would need to show that this is NEEDED and it is VIABLE. These are key points that anyone will want to know before signing off. Hard evidence like your market research and cost anaylsis could go a long way towards that signature. Furthermore, you must give off a feeling of infectious excitment, enthusiasm, and passion for what you are doing/about to do. This is contagious and most people will not be able to say no. Lastly, as Jared said, "do everything with a smile." If you are passionate about changing your campus, making an impact, and have a vision then you definitely have something to smile about.