In 2000, the Division of Student Affairs launched Innovagency as a multi-dimensional approach to fostering a culture of innovation within the division.The innovation committee, renamed Innovagency in 2001, is charged with: developing new programs or services; improving existing programs or services; generating new revenue streams; and providing cost-saving strategies for the division and the University.
Innovators whose ideas can be implemented at no cost are mentored through the implementation stage by members of the Innovagency and its panel of implementation experts.Ideas that require funding are reviewed by a special committee that analyzes innovations based on whether they meet the established criteria and if implementation is feasible.The criteria used by the review panel include:originality, revenue opportunities, cost savings and new/improved service, among other factors.
This year, 32 students and staff members contributed more than 25 ideas to the annual innovation funding-review process, and 12 were awarded funding to implement in the coming year.