Changes

Freshman Seminar (FRSM 1000/FRSM 1100) is a yearlong mandatory course that all incoming freshman must take to satisfy graduation requirements. The goals of the Freshman Year Experience are to empower freshmen with the skills and support needed for college success (and Xavier success), enhance their professional development, and understand their role and mission as Xavier students. Every year, over 600 students fill the seats in these classrooms and this would be a perfect opportunity to introduce students to innovation and entrepreneurship. This course could give students the chance to start thinking about world problems and collaborating in teams to find solutions to those problems. My advisor plans to set up a meeting with the faculty that teach Freshman Seminar and discuss the goals of the NCIIA, along with the importance of promoting student creativity on our campuses. If all FRSM faculty members could donate at least 30% of each class time discussing these issues, Xavier is that much closer instilling innovation and entrepreneurship in the early curriculum for the college students. Team Leaders: Professor Mark Quin, Dr. Partha Bhattacharjee, Dr. Mandal, Chigozie Dike, etc.

<span style="font-size: 14.399999618530273px;">1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Supporting Faculty members and president of the innovation club form a Xavier team that will contact all FRSM faculty members to set a date for a meeting. (May 2014)</span>

8.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Adjust any needed changes and continue (Spring 2015-Spring 2016)

The Student Government Association represents the student body in the university-policy making. They also are responsible for many campus activities that result in a large student turnout. Other organizations such as Xavier Activities Board, Biology Club, Chemistry Club, Public Policy Club, and Enactus are just a few popular organizations on campus that can work with X.U.CREATE to increase the visibility of this new organization to students. By doing fundraisers, community service events, or even sponsoring speakers or activities together, more advanced clubs can help spread awareness to the innovation club.

The executive board of the innovation club needs to create social media networks after a charter has been awarded to the organization. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn accounts are very popular ways to convey the message of the group. This will increase the amount of students and professionals aware of the organization create a means of attracting more members who may not be on campus as much, and display the ideas/prototypes that members have created. Social media is changing how the world receives information and that is something that should be taken advantage of. The innovation club has a goal of promoting creativity and entrepreneurial mindsets among college students. This positive vision deserves to be shared via these sites and create an environment where students, innovators, and entrepreneurs can share ideas.

An atmosphere conducive to innovation is important to maintain and not just begin an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Entrepreneurship Institute has designed an incubator with computers, tables, and chairs for members of Enactus to meet and work on business plans or gain business experience. A similar space is needed for innovation on Xavier’s campus. A space that is set up with white boards, dry erase markers, crafty materials, and tables that student can use to design prototypes and models of their ideas. Having a permanent space allows students to convene on their own time and work on group or independent projects that they might not have otherwise been able to accomplish. An under-utilized classroom or storage area can be transformed into an innovative maker space with the funds gained from fundraising. Approval of this space must also be gained by students, faculty, and administration through petitions or SGA. This will be the long term goal of the innovation club, hopefully to be implemented by 2016.

The information obtained from the OPEN 2014 conference revealed so many resources that could be brought back to Xavier’s campus. The employees from LinkedIn, Google, and Stanford University were excited to speak with the university innovation fellows and give feedback to improve innovation and entrepreneurship on their campuses. The New Orleans Bio Innovation Center is a local company that is committed to biomedical research and technology. Xavier University places a strong emphasis on health and science and getting people from this organization to speak to Xavier students would encourage creativity. There are local entrepreneurs that currently speak weekly hosted by the Entrepreneurship Institute in the Business Department. However, there are only a small percentage of students that attend. By opening the current gap to include local innovators as well as entrepreneurs, more students might be interested in the NCIIA’s goal and see that this movement is relevant to them as well.

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Chigozie_Christine_Dike http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Chigozie_Christine_Dike]

[http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Xavier_University_of_Louisiana http://universityinnovation.org/wiki/Xavier_University_of_Louisiana]