<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap; line-height: 1.38;">Connecting with faculty can often be a tricky process for students as they go about their academic career. However, those that do so earlier on often find that</span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-72b63453-60f4-0ecb-0a5b-85e21e55f5a2"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">there There are unexpected rewards to building those relationships. For first year students, this might be an exclusive opportunity to join a prestigious organization or for upperclassmen it might look like an chance to be recommended for a new internship or job. Whatever the case, those that have built relationships all tend to feel that the faculty members really care about the wellbeing of their students.</span></span><br/><span id="docs-internal-guid-72b63453-60f4-0ecb-0a5b-85e21e55f5a2"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For those that are just beginning on their journey to building a relationship, the first step is to become interested. Those in the classroom, show that you care about the subject and be willing to explore the topics outside the set curriculum. You can do this by asking engaging questions that allow the professor or instructor to elaborate more about a detail. If asking a question in class is not an option, perhaps send them an email and ask it there. If there is time after class reach out to them. Let them know who you are and why you are there; begin allowing them to put a name your face.</span></span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-72b63453-60f4-0ecb-0a5b-85e21e55f5a2"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Get involved. Put yourself in an organization. Get to know the faculty advisor. Advisors tend to be heavily connected with those across the campus and they are a great resource to have. Gradually, as you build your reputation not only will your credibility grow in the eyes of faculty but also your relationship. A benefit to this route is that the number of doors of opportunity that open are directly proportional to how dedicated you are.</span></span>
'''<span><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">CONNECTING WITH ADMINISTRATION</span></span>'''
<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap; line-height: 1.38;">Though administration is often viewed as unapproachable by students, almost like a CEO of a major corporation to the average worker; making purposeful connections with administration is critical to making positive change. Establishing connections with the chairs of departments, who may also be your professors, is one way to overcome the barrier between administration and students. Once these connections are established the chairs may be willing to assist students in bridging the gap between the students and the higher levels of administration. </span>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-72b63453-610a-06cf-fe81-b91c17780cdd"><span style="font-size: 16px; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When considering which chairs to approach first look for individuals who have experience in the business world in conjunction or prior to their experience as faculty. Faculty or administration that have experience in the working world are often more open to innovation and entrepreneurship and may not be as afraid to rock the boat of the standard mode of university operations.</span></span>
<span style="font-size:larger;">'''<span id="docs-internal-guid-72b63453-6100-7738-121c-4140fb8e7bdd"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. Proposal goes into actual creation stage</span></span>'''</span>
<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.664px; white-space: pre-wrap;">After aproval approval from your dean, it is now time to start the inital steps toward creating your solution. This step is most likely going to require money, so it is important to ask around for funding. DO NOT BE SHY. Once you secure the funding, you are halfway towards solving another problem on your campus!</span>
<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 17.664px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Below is an example from Morgan State University:</span>
</div><div>[[File:Uifexample.JPG]]</div>