According to the Princeton Review, the University places as number 10 in the nation for top entrepreneurship programs for our graduate programs, specifically within Darden, but does not even place in the top 25 for our undergraduate programs. There is no reason why our University, whose undergraduate commerce school ranks higher than almost every school on the top entrepreneurial undergraduate programs list, should be falling behind in this area. As impressive as the first statistic may be, this kind of academic and creative stimulation is just as important, if not more so, in undergraduate studies. This experience would not only give inspiration to students in the future in their endeavors, but also would add to the prestige of attending the University. Not every student has the ability or aspires to pursue graduate studies, and knowing this, the University should work toward creating an undergraduate experience that encourages and heavily promotes the concept of creation and innovation.
OpenGrounds is a research-based organization here at the University that allows for open communication between faculty, staff, students and partners, encouraging entrepreneurial ventures and creation amongst students. Recently, OpenGrounds hosted its first IDEAmixer, a meeting in which members give one-minute idea pitches to fellow students and community members. The mixers will be taking place on the third Thursday of every month. This organization does not receive nearly as much recognition and praise as it deserves for the mission to encourage entrepreneurial action amongst younger students.
One attendee of the IDEAMixer was fourth-year Engineering student Kevin Eisenfrats, who founded Contraline — the first non-surgical contraceptive for male cats and dogs. Eisenfrats’ product Contraline won the University of Virginia Entrepreneurial Cup in 2014 with a grand prize of $20,000 attached. This kind of individual success and invention is a perfect example of undergraduates adding action to their thoughts rather than solely participating in the encouraged route of extensive research. Eisenfrats went on to encourage this behavior by reminding current students that “just because you’re an undergraduate doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go for it.” Presenting ideas in the form of a “mixer” is a low-stakes way of sharing ideas, getting feedback and pursuing concepts that may have otherwise gone unnoticed or left in desk drawers for years to come.
Harvard University, for example, can boast of Bill Gates, CEO of Microsoft, and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, as two of many former students who serve as examples of the standard of innovation and creation in Harvard’s undergraduate students. The University should strive to instill a similar culture of undergraduates who not only follow innovation but also strive to be the source of the innovation. While many University students are still young and undecided on what careers they will pursue, having outlets such as OpenGrounds and the Entrepreneurial Cup are crucial parts of the undergraduate experience.
While the University may have various outlets of entrepreneurship available to those interested, adapting a culture of creation within our undergrads will encourage those with creative minds who may not be interested in inventing their own products, or feel incapable of doing so, to actually step outside of their comfort zones and actively search for a way to transform their thoughts into reality. This responsibility does not fall solely on the McIntire School of Commerce or the Engineering School as some may assume, but rather on each undergraduate school. We as students also need important innovation from the College of Arts and Sciences, the Curry School of Education, the Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, the School of Architecture and the School of Nursing. Innovation is not a business trait. It is a trait that can be found in each student at the University.
By leading the country by example with concepts such as student self-governance and our academic excellence, the University proves we have the ability to lead in undergraduate entrepreneurship — we just need to gather the resources and commit to the process of doing so. Creating a standard of entrepreneurship on Grounds will attract more creative and thoughtful minds that will use the opportunities given to us here to generate the worldly change we strive to create. We are on the precipice of greatness and the new opportunities presented in OpenGrounds could be the final push the University needs.
Lauren Horne is an Opinion Columnist for The Cavalier Daily. She can be reached at l.horne@cavalierdaily.com.
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