Social Innovation Fellows Program

The Social Innovation Fellows (SIF) program complements the Arrupe, Leadership, and Honors programs. Those programs align with 3 of the 4 University Learning Goals. The fourth goal is Character, which will be addressed by the SIF Program. Through curricular and co-curricular paths, students will develop an entrepreneurial character as they:

• Develop a holistic awareness of self and others

• Cultivate a habit of reflection

• Understand, value, and respect their own and others’ talents, unique characteristics, and socio-cultural identities

• Develop a personal belief system that is inspired by Ignatian values (rigor, generosity, gratitude, inclusivity, solidarity, and a desire for the greater good)

• Practice mature decision making and care for the whole person

• Act competently in a global and diverse world

We will accomplish this by challenging students to grow in the following areas:

• Mindset: SIF will develop their entrepreneurial mindset.  They will develop curiosity and a desire to experiment, and collaboratively and iteratively build solutions around social issues in their community.

• Reflection: SIF will be reflective learners. They will integrate curricular and co-curricular learning experiences to advance their understanding and practice of social innovation and entrepreneurship. The curricular path will consist of the SIF completing the Entrepreneurship Minor as a cohort.

• Sustainability: SIF will demonstrate a commitment to sustainable social innovation. They will actively engage with their community to empathize with & understand the problems citizens face, and to build responsible, sustainable solutions.

• Advocacy: SIF will advocate for social innovation and entrepreneurship. They will be a catalyst for social innovation and entrepreneurship across the John Carroll campus, and in communities around the world.

Requirements

Social Innovation Fellows are challenged to think entrepreneurially and grow intellectually while at John Carroll University. To facilitate this, the program offers a suite of social entrepreneurship and innovation-oriented courses that students take as a cohort while fulfilling the requirements of JCU’s Integrative Core Curriculum. In addition, SIF will be required to complete the Entrepreneurship Minor.

Courses

Note: ER 150 will be taken during the Fall of the student's first year; ER 151 will be taken during the spring of the first year; ER 350 is taken during the Fall of Junior year; and ER 351 is taken during the Spring of Junior year.