Draft Growth & Improvement Plan

As part of our self-study for the Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) Designation, we invite the campus and community to review and comment on the draft Growth & Improvement Plan for the University of North Dakota.

This plan not only supports our IEP self-study but also aligns directly with the UND LEADS Strategic Plan, meaning your input will be shared with both the IEP team and the LEADS implementation group, as relevant.

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1.1: Establish Economic Engagement/Development Leadership

Create Director of Economic Development position in VPRED office
Create an internal economic development board with an external advisory committee from industry/community

1.2: Establish an Economic Engagement/Development Office/Structure

Define activities and programs for office/structure (to facilitate internal and external partnerships and collaborations)
Create more formalized/intentional connections among campus entities involved in economic engagement (within Colleges, Experiential Learning Center, Center for Innovation, etc.)

1.3: Update/change internal processes and policies to allow more industry engagement

Track engagement data
Update IP, Tech Transfer and Commercialization Policies and Practices, create research project templates

2.1: Enhance internal communication related to industry engagement

Enhance internal communication and coordination around engagement activities, opportunities, and events

2.2: Enhance external communication related to industry engagement

Include partners in our communication (e.g., SBDC, Test Site, EERC)
Highlight success stories updates and communication of ND stats, economy, workforce
Include Social impact stories (need tools to measure)
Produce a monthly newsletter for external audiences about economic engagement
Communicate and call-out content directly related to innovation and collaboration
Highlight stories about individuals in industry connected to UND, in addition to alumni
Create Industry Partner Portal & Dashboard/ site for Economic development stats for state and UND
Expand marketing to include multiple strategic targets, not just recruiting

3.1: Integrate innovation and industry engagement more broadly into student experience

Curriculum: Technology Integration (AI into curriculum); Expand project-based, use-inspired, learning experiences; Design and enhance interdisciplinary programs (for credit and noncredit), while involving industry with curriculum development
Facilities/Resources: Create and Coordinate innovation spaces (physical and digital)
Expand Co-curricular Experiences: Mentorship Programs (alumni and industry), innovation competitions, university community connections, expand student led innovation organizations and inter-disciplinary entrepreneurial activity on campus
AI Committee made up of cross-college experts to focus on developing governance, policy, and implementation guidelines for UND (faculty, staff, and students).

3.2 Establish an environment that enables broad-based faculty and staff participation in work tied to innovation and economic engagement

Create an opportunity for departments to adjust PTE guidelines to allow innovation and economic engagement activity to "count" as permissible forms of scholarly activity
Reframe the Faculty Handbook's mention of primary peer-reviewed publications and extramurally funded activities to include other sources of scholarship
Engage with faculty and staff members to determine barriers to creating an innovation culture. Use results to develop a plan for making adjustments to policies, support structures, etc.
Review policies and procedures to ensure that the culture of innovation is supported (e.g., allowing for affiliated faculty to serve as PI/Co-I, participate in contract work, use IRB, etc.)
Match faculty and staff with businesses to solve problems
Develop faculty/staff training options for industry relations, AI, grants, IP, etc.

3.3: Enhance incentive structures for faculty and staff to engage in economic engagement

Allow faculty Page 2 effort to include work and outcomes related to innovation and economic engagement. This may include work that is part of the pooled resources available in a Core area (as noted above)
Create a developmental leave category which allows focused work on innovation/economic engagement work
Create a mentorship program which pairs faculty and staff members who may want to engage in innovation/IP with colleagues or industry partners
Create Seed Grants to incentivize participation

3.4 Establish Cores/Consulting

• Develop "cores" whereby shared services and spaces are available with a focus on building economic engagement. Core services offered to external partners
(consulting or R&D services)

3.5 Enhance opportunity for community engagement to grow innovation

Partnership “Front Door”; Central “partner with us” web portal; and live “air traffic controller” to talk with stakeholders and help them navigate UND
Coordinated Quarterly UND Open Houses
Yearly “Government,” “Economic Development,” and “Innovation” Days
Small Group Stakeholder Lunches
Pop-Up “Science Museum” Experiences
Provide AI Education for Community and Industry
Develop a yearly economic development conference with UND, State, industry
Expand use of community/industry leaders as guest lecturer