Changes

Introducing potential and new students to interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial programs, classes, and clubs during campus visits and orientations is important for informing students with such interests.

Students of every major can benefit from interdisciplinary work. Classes that blend various majors together have the potential to create, innovate, and problem-solve areas that are overlooked when only one type of mindset is in the classroom. For example, the Chemical Engineering and Nursing class at Tennessee Tech uses students strengths in their different fields to create medical devices. These students must present their product and work to ensure that a built prototype would work. Entrepreneurial skills are laced throughout the coursework and strengthen students’ skills. Setting the bar for campus’ interdisciplinary work is imperative to the effective collaboration of students and their preparedness for future work.

In summary, it takes a combination of strong relationships and drive to get the necessary resources on campus. Not taking no for an answer the first, second, or even fifth time can work as long as it is done in the right way. Other community members need to feel like they are being considered and respected if they are going to contribute time and money to a program. Student leaders need to have patience when working with faculty who are wary of change, and sometimes it takes approaching a problem from multiple avenues to get the necessary result.