Inside Innovation Academy

[Gator88NE]

The Alligator is publishing a 5 part series on the Innovation Academy. Interesting (and balanced) stuff…

Innovation Academy admitted its first class of 300 in 2012. The pilot program stemmed from a combination of ideas, said Bernard Mair, associate provost for undergraduate affairs, including the accommodation of students and the pursuit of innovation development goals.

Although UF is completely full in the Fall, Mair said, there was usually more room after December graduation. A discussion with Provost Joseph Glover came at a time of innovation development goals. They got approval from the Legislature to design a unique Spring-to-Summer concept rather than following the traditional Fall-to-Spring academic calendar. Each student would graduate with a minor in innovation after taking classes focused on creativity in entrepreneurship.

The Alligator spoke with numerous students and UF officials to explore the program’s identity and challenges as it reaches the middle of its third year.

Part 1: Looking into campus involvement

http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_dd433a68-e19c-11e4-968a-1fb368be83d3.html

Part 2: Academics and IA’s calendar

http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_bf9bfe0c-e267-11e4-9465-570da1a285e7.html

Part 3: How IA affects pre-professional opportunities

http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_393ff3b4-e32e-11e4-b85d-df5968d135ff.html

More to come…

[Gator88NE]

Part 4: By the numbers

Innovation Academy has made space for 838 UF students since its inception — a small group in a school with about 50,000 students.

We broke down the numbers for the expenses and revenue associated with IA and cleared up some misconceptions related to Florida’s Bright Futures scholarship. Here is what we found:

http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_ed1bd476-e3f0-11e4-9bf3-3b6f9fd649ba.html

http://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/alligator.org/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/1b/61b925e4-e3f2-11e4-bf8f-cfb68ac0e2a1/552f3ccc2abad.image.png

[Gator88NE]

**Part 5:Getting in and getting out **

For many students, it began with what some now call the infamous checkbox.

It was an afterthought to the essays, the resumes and the personal information on the freshman application to the University of Florida in 2012 and 2013 — a box asking if the applying students were interested in having their applications considered for the Innovation Academy.

Many students, without much thought or research, clicked yes.

http://www.alligator.org/news/campus/article_4992fdc0-e4c2-11e4-ae38-5fea707f6240.html

[Gator88NE]

Bumping this thread for those who have been recently offered IA. These articles may answer some of your questions (or raise new ones!).

[Gator88NE]

Bumping this thread (again), for those that may be interested in IA.