Changes

At Furman, small class sizes and authentic faculty-student relationships are what sets the school apart from other colleges similar in size. This dynamic interaction allows faculty to have a keen sense of what students are interested in, and model their course content accordingly.

While Furman does not have a program in entrepreneurship or a particular area of study that focuses on innovation and technology, Furman faculty do explore these concepts through their teaching, coursework and research. Courses such as 411 Entrepreneurship and New Venture Development, 230 Problem Solving and Decision Making for Management and 312 Sustainable Corporation introduce students to the importance of innovation and entrepreneurship through the Business Department. Other disciplines introduce the concepts through courses like 433 Introduction to Embedded Systems in Physics and 271 Morals, Law and Society in a Digital Age in Computer Science, which invite students to dig deeper into the topics through personal research.

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The [http://www2.furman.edu/academics/mayx/Pages/default.aspx <b>May Experience</b>] is an optional three-week term following spring commencement that encourages faculty to create innovative and intensive academic experiences. Successful completion of May Experience courses will yield two credits. While May Experience courses do not meet General Education Requirements, they can carry concentration credit or be an elective in a major. With its flexible guidelines, the May Experience block allows faculty to create courses like ''Design for Social Change''. This interdisciplinary course brought faculty from the Art and Sociology departments together with students from diverse academic backgrounds to engage local residents in community-based problem solving. Upon completion, students worked with residents to develop a concept for a bakery and maker space that will bring new jobs and opportunities to a neighborhood near the University.

Through collaborative research projects, faculty and students often work together to explore shared interests in fields across the university. Through a faculty-student research project organized by S[http://furmangreenscene.wordpress.com/2013/03/19/agua-del-pueblo-sustainable-water-project/ ustainability Science professor Bruce Clemmens],&nbsp;<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, sans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Furman students travel to a small village in Guatemala to examine how access to clean water impacts a small community. Furman students work with medical students, a Catholic mission and a non-profit organization founded by Dr. Clemens to study how access to this water has improved the village's public health system and stimulated economic growth. Several students have published papers based on their research. Along with gaining valuable research experience, students can earn academic credit by participating in a May Experience course. The research is supported by annual fundraisers held on Furman's campus.</span>

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While many faculty are interested in creating new courses and programs that explore entrepreneurship and innovation, they are limited by current curricular requirements, departmental objectives and individual responsibilities. Apart from creating new opportunities for students, few&nbsp;incentives are provided at Furman to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among the faculty. While faculty pursue research and dedicate their time to creating compelling classroom experiences, few have the time, resources or bandwitdth to explore new material or launch their own entrepreneurial ventures. One approach favored by many faculty members is a tiered system that would allow for more flexibility in course scheduling and provide incentives through pay commpensation, grants and awards.&nbsp;