Changes

The Foster Family Center for Engineering Service Learning program (ESL) currently hosts skills sessions that mostly support engineering students, e.g. CAD, Content Managment Systems, etc. What can be attained in the near future is the integration of entrepreneurial skills sessions that would allow the (mostly ) engineering participants within ESL to gain skills that they wouldn't otherwise attain in their other coursework, for example:

This additional coursework can be constructed through coordination with professors from UC Merced's Management Program. The professors with the most background in the entrepreneurship field are Dr. S.A. Davis and Dr. Theofanis Tsoulouhas. With their support, entrepreneurial skills sessions can be successfully created and implemented within two semesters, pending administrative approval. The Director of ESL, Christopher Butler, has already expressed his support for incorporating new sessions, after a concrete plan has been developed. Eventually, these skills sessions can be used to supplement the Innovate to Grow design competition, which overall encompasses not only ESL, but also the Innovation Design Clinic (Capstone), and the Mobile App Challenge. Students would will have the option to attend these skills sessions which would aid their pitches during the competition, but more importantly, would will supplement their overall skills within their tenure at UC Merced.