Changes

Most students attending Mines are exposed to design in EPICS I, EPICS II (including department specific Department-Specific EPICS II) and Senior Design. Only a few of the curriculums incorporate the following ideas/processes widely practiced in the industry: design-thinking, problem -focused design, rapid & and low -resolution prototyping, fast failure and lean principles. Incorporating all of these practices into the curriculum would properly prepare students to develop truly innovative solutions to real problems. The design courses can could allow for more creativity and innovation by shifting from constraining projects to open-ended , problem -based projects. 

To demonstrate that entrepreneurship is a priority to the University and the Department of Economics and Business, the ASI needs to be updated and promoted. There are several course offerings focused on design -thinking and entrepreneurship that should be incorporated into a certificate program, minor or area of special interest for entrepreneurship.

Ideally , the entrepreneurship program would incorporate a multidisciplinary senior design alternative course that allows students from any major to apply principles from the engineering and entrepreneurship curriculums.

Mines requires all first -year students to live on campus in the residence halls. Programs that promote design, innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship can be put in place for interested students living on campus. Mines has several themed learning communities , and a community focused on DICE would have a large impact to create in creating a sustainable culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.

Creating a regular speaker series focused on design, innovation and entrepreneurship will develop interest , as well as connect the entrepreneurial community around within Mines to current studentsin other disciplines. Many Mines alum and faculty have relevant experience and insight to , which could inspire a new generation of makers, doers and entrepreneurs. A series focused on I&E would be a multidisciplinary initiative that would have wide -spread support across campus , due to the universal nature of I&E principles.