Ƶ Innovates
Our Purpose
The 2030 Boldly Ƶ Strategic Plan emphatically states, “The next decade, filled with fundamental change for our world, is an exciting opportunity to advance Ƶ’s model of student- and learning-centered higher education.” In support of this statement, the Ƶ Innovation Council (EIC) offers grants for proposals that help us reimagine our practices and deepen our values, our intellectual community and our great work at Ƶ.
The mission of the EIC is to catalyze a culture of curiosity and creativity within our Ƶ community where people are empowered to discover, develop, experiment, and pilot mission-aligned innovative solutions. Initiatives spearheaded by faculty and staff have generated creative ideas across Ƶ. We would like to invite you to continue to contribute to our innovation pipeline.
Recent Innovations
Screenings for Lung Health
A biology major and her faculty mentor are launching a pilot program to screen students’ lung health and raise awareness about respiratory risks. The project helps students “know their lung numbers,” builds a foundation for early detection and connects participants with resources for ongoing care. (Boldly Ƶ Themes: Thrive, Learn)
Collecting Real-time Water Samples
An engineering faculty member is leading a project to design a drone that can withstand storm conditions and collect real-time water samples. The system will help identify sources of pollution in the Haw River while creating hands-on research opportunities for Ƶ students. (Boldly Ƶ Themes: Learn, Connect)
Global Learning Through COIL
A faculty member is leading efforts to expand access to global learning by helping Ƶ faculty and staff design Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) collaborations with international partners. These short, structured projects connect Ƶ courses with courses abroad, building students’ intercultural communication, teamwork and problem-solving skills. (Boldly Ƶ Themes: Rise, Learn)