Innovation and Economic Prosperity
Engaging UND with impactful community-based research, development, and outreach.
In line with UND’s vision to inspire a sense of wonder, a love of discovery, and a commitment to serve, specifically addressing our desire to engage in collaborations that serve the evolving needs of our people, tribal nations, and the state of North Dakota, UND is pursing the Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) designation from the Association of Public & Land Grant Universities (APLU).
About Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) Designation
Led by the APLU’s Commission on Economic and Community Engagement, the IEP designation program is both a collaborative institutional strategic planning and transformation process as well as a distinguished recognition. The IEP designation acknowledges institutions of higher education that effectively engage internal and external stakeholders to know, measure, tell, and maximize contributions to “economic engagement,” defined as the way in which universities and their public-private partners contribute to economic growth, opportunity, and competitiveness.
As a part of the APLU IEP 2023 cohort, UND seeks to demonstrate our institutional commitment to service as we better identify the strengths of our institutional economic engagement ecosystem, work to identify and improve on shortcomings, deepen meaningful partnerships throughout the state, and better understand the specific impact these partnerships are having on the people we aim to serve.
UND is known for engaging its community and industry partners and impacting the economy in many ways, such as its pioneering discoveries in unmanned flight, harnessing the power of big data and changing the game in energy exploration and environmental sustainability. We’ve been fighting the nation’s raging opioid epidemic and waging war against deadly cancers and debilitating deep-brain diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's. UND is helping to both diversify North Dakota’s economy and address social issues. We seek to utilize the IEP process to enhance our economic engagement activities and meaningfully collaborate with the people and communities across the state and region.
IEP Impact at UND
Seeking the APLU’s Innovation & Economic Property designation will provide an avenue and structure as we work to better understand the needs of the state, align our institutional resources and priorities, measure the impacts of these economic development initiatives, and communicate the story of these impacts. Being a part of the APLU IEP cohort will provide us with valuable resources as we learn from other institutions who have successfully engaged in this work and are having meaningful social and economic impact in the regions they serve.
This process, which entails completing a comprehensive self-study, allows us to:
- Utilize campus, community, and industry stakeholder feedback collected during UND LEADS and NDUS Envision 2035 strategic planning processes, which provided valuable input on ways we can better plan, implement, assess and advance our economic engagement efforts.
- Gather additional information and data from industry and community stakeholders specific to our economic engagement and complete a formal economic impact analysis.
- Champion the work of UND faculty, staff and students as they engage in community-based research, development, and outreach projects.
- Better understand what we are doing well and address areas of improvement as we work to engage with community partners on economic development and engagement activities.
- Improve communication with community partners about engagement activities and projects that affect quality of life locally, regionally, and at the state and national levels.
IEP Designation Benefits
Certainly institutional improvement that stems from evaluation and assessment is the overarching benefit of participating in the IEP program. But more specifically, the designation can lead to following potential benefits:
Achieving the APLU IEP designation provides national recognition for UND's commitment to innovation and economic development. It signals to stakeholders, including students, faculty, potential partners, and the community, that we are dedicated to driving regional economic growth and improving quality.
The designation connects UND with a network of institutions across the country that share similar goals and challenges. This network embraces collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the exchange of best practices in economic engagement, which can lead to new partnerships and initiatives.
By emphasizing innovation and economic prosperity, UND can directly contribute to the economic development of North Dakota and the surrounding region. This includes supporting local businesses, attracting investment, and promoting entrepreneurship, all of which create jobs and enhance the overall economic vitality.
Many funding opportunities, both public and private, prioritize institutions with a demonstrated commitment to economic engagement and innovation. The APLU IEP designation further strengthens UND's competitiveness for grants and funding aimed at supporting research, entrepreneurship, and community outreach initiatives.
Engaging students and faculty in economic engagement activities through initiatives like entrepreneurship programs, research partnerships with industry, and community outreach projects can enrich their educational experience. It provides real-world learning opportunities, enhances career readiness, and fosters a culture of innovation on campus.
Investing in innovation and economic development positions UND as a leader in addressing societal challenges and adapting to future economic trends. This proactive approach ensures we remain relevant and resilient in a rapidly evolving global landscape.
Message from the President
Project Timeline
The entire process of achieving the designation can take up to three years. UND is currently engaged in a self-study which entails working closely with other members of the cohort, monthly webinars with APLU staff, conferences, and use of materials and resources provided by APLU.
The framework created by APLU will guide our own efforts around three engagement pillars:
- Talent and workforce development
- Innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-based economic development
- Place development through public service, outreach, and community engagement
By completing the self-study and achieving the IEP designation, we will:
- Better understand how UND impacts the local and state economy. This will be aided by completing a formal economic impact analysis (through the Institute for Policy and Business Analytics).
- Improve communication of the economic impact of UND to critical stakeholders.
- Increase the number of individuals (both within and external to campus) involved in the work of innovation and economic prosperity and facilitate meaningful, productive collaborations, and
- Identify UND’s strengths and areas of improvement in fostering innovation and economic prosperity.This will formalized through the Growth and Improvement Plan portion of the self-study.
UND IEP Team
Jason Jensen, Professor of Political Science and Public Administration in UND’s Nistler College of Business and Business Administration and Cortnee Jensen, Director for Strategic Partnerships within the Office of the Vice President of Research and Economic Development are leading UNDs core team and serve as our institutional points of contact.
Joining them on the core team will be representatives from UND’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee, our institutional Strategic Plan Implementation Team, and other key stakeholders that oversee strategic partnerships with business and industry. Additional team members include:
- Rob Carolin, Chief of Staff
- Anna Clark, Director of Strategy & Planning for Academic Affairs
- Tiffany Ford, Director, Center for Business Engagement & Development
- Renee Shelton, Associate Vice President of Corporate & Foundation Relations
- Amy Whitney, Director, Center for Innovation
- Ryan Zerr, Associate Vice President for Strategic Planning
In addition to seeking stakeholder input as a part of this process, we plan on collaborating with other groups that are engaged in related activities, such as the LEADS strategic planning implementation team, and the Innovation, Discovery and Entrepreneurial Activity (IDEA) group. We will also access any data collected through linked initiatives, such as the recent North Dakota State Board of Higher Education strategic planning outreach process.
We encourage you to reach out to the co-chairs or any members of the team with questions or to find ways to engage with the process.