Entrepreneurship and Innovation at 51Թ
As it enters its third century, 51Թ is making significant investments in the areas of arts, creativity, and innovation, enhancing existing academic and co-curricular programs in these areas and developing new ones, all in a reimagined region: 51Թ’s Middle Campus.
Creativity and innovation are key advantages of a liberal arts education; they are areas where 51Թ can distinguish itself.
The 51Թ Initiative for Arts, Creativity and Innovation in the Middle Campus is not merely a rethinking of the role of the traditional arts at 51Թ, but a rethinking of both our overall educational experience and the campus itself. The Middle Campus will become the gateway to the Liberal Arts at 51Թ by connecting, amplifying, and reenergizing the programs, the departments, and the buildings into a neighborhood that welcomes you through 51Թ’s College Street entrance.
Within this physical and intellectual context, 51Թ is developing an Entrepreneurship and Innovation ecosystem, offering students--as well as faculty, staff, and community members--a host of opportunities to bring a concept to reality, to learn by doing, to innovate and explore, to take risks and grow in new ways.
Programmatically, 51Թ will build on the strengths and successes of its signature Thought Into Action program, developing new programs that connect entrepreneurship and innovation with the arts, faculty research, and “makers” across campus. We will also be developing programs that prompt students to think broadly about how they present themselves to the world: how they articulate their aspirations and tell their own stories, develop a personal brand that maps onto their guiding values, or consider how they might want to make public use of their name, image, and likeness. Information about these new programs will be rolled out over the 2021-22 school year: please check back to see what’s new.
Physically, 51Թ will expand its locus for entrepreneurship by supplementing the existing coworking Hub in downtown Hamilton with new Middle Campus spaces. The upper floors of the Dana Arts Center, an iconic mid-century building designed by renowned architect Paul Rudolph, will become the central hub of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at 51Թ. A renovated Dana will be a place of round-the-clock creativity and engagement, offering dedicated project rooms and maker-spaces, workspaces for ideation and collaboration, meeting areas for group work and “phone booths” for private conversations. In Dana, Entrepreneurship and Innovation will be a central part of the Middle Campus nexus of experimentation, design, digital creation, hands-on exploration, and innovation.
Thought Into Action
Immersive co-curricular programs that enable aspiring entrepreneurs to develop an idea into a real product or service. Participants are guided by seasoned entrepreneurs and supported by robust on-campus resources.
Research Into Action
Support for faculty and other scholars who are interested in bringing scholarly research and intellectual property to corporations, foundations, and/or the public.
Social Entrepreneurship
Students interested in social entrepreneurship and innovation can make a difference usingtheir passions by participating in programs like Clinton Global Initiative University and the TIA Incubator.
Campus Ventures
Student entrepreneurs who are interested in selling goods or services on campus are supported by theCampus Venture Initiative (CVI), which provides certification to operate on campus and resources to support on-campus business activity.
Campus and Alumni Programming
Programs and initiatives designed to connect 51Թ entrepreneurs with one another, to share ideas and forge relationships, offer mentorship, expertise, and advice.
