Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholars

The Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholars (EIS) Program is a multi-disciplinary program designed to harness passion for innovation and creativity.

The program will provide students with resources and support to explore their entrepreneurial ventures while connecting them with like-minded students and the global community. Through experiential learning experiences and networking with industry professionals, EIS students will gain valuable leadership skills that will prepare them for college and beyond. This program can complement or supplement any area of academic study.

First Year

First year EIS students will be required to enroll and participate in the Scholars seminar course during the autumn semester. This course is designed to help students with the transition from high school to college, inform new students of the wide array of services and support available at Ohio State, and introduce opportunities and services within the Columbus entrepreneurial and innovation community. EIS students will also be required to attend regular meetings, events, and programming.

Academics

EIS have the opportunity to engage with faculty, staff, and community leaders inside and outside of the classroom. The programs offered compliment what students are learning in the classroom and offer personal connection that other students do not find.

Seminar Course

This seminar course is designed for first-year EIS Scholars to explore topics surrounding innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship, as well as their transition to the University. Emphasis is placed on interdisciplinary opportunities and campus and local community resources. All students in this course are incoming first-year EIS students. This course should be taken concurrently with college survey course.

Course Themes

Innovation
Creative Problem Solving
Entrepreneurial Mindset

Course Outcomes

Opportunity Discovery Canvas
Services and support related to innovation and entrepreneurship available at Ohio State
Professional development opportunities within the Columbus community
Relationships with members of the EIS community (students, staff, faculty, community partners, etc.)

Entrepreneurship Minor

Although not a requirement of the EIS program, students will be provided resources and guidance on how to enroll into the Entrepreneurship & Innovation Minor at Ohio State.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholars students in a classroom

Events and Activities

EIS students have the opportunity to participate in multiple experiences both on and off campus.

Signature Programs

The EIS Program, through the seminar and extracurricular programming, managed by the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, will host a variety of speakers on a regular basis. We will hear from experienced and successful entrepreneurs, leaders in the Fisher College of Business and the College of Engineering, designers from industrial, graphic, and other areas, innovative thinkers, and more. This is also your chance to get involved and help shape the curriculum of EIS – let us know who you would like the chance to get to know and hear from!
The BOSS Competition is a semester-long startup competition run through the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship. Students can enter with any idea, at any level of development, and the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship staff will work with them to refine their pitch, conduct market research, and determine the feasibility of their idea.
The EIS Program will offer opportunities for peer mentorship and community engagement. All incoming students are placed with second-year peer mentors and are encourage to participate in activities with them. In addition, EIS students will have the opportunity to participate in Columbus entrepreneurship and innovation events such as Columbus Startup Weekend and GiveBack Hack.
The EIS Program is committed to remaining open-minded and flexible. One of the concepts of entrepreneurship we teach is to solicit – and give – input and feedback. We encourage you to speak up about what's working, what's not, and what you'd like to see implemented. We will collaborate with other Scholars programs to support their activities and to form relationships with like-minded Scholars in other cohorts.

Community

Each Scholars Program features a first-year residential community that provides students with a peer-network of high-ability students with similar interests. First-year Entrepreneurship and Innovation Scholars students are given priority to live together in Norton House on north campus.** Commuters are welcome to be a part of our Scholars programs.

**Please note that space in the prescribed residence halls is not guaranteed and students can be placed in other accommodations due to program demand if necessary.

Community Meetings and Programs

Programs and events will be in place to offer EIS students the opportunity to build relationships within their Scholars cohort, but also with other students in their residence hall.
Community meetings will be held monthly for EIS students to discuss innovation happening at and around the university, in Ohio, and nation-wide. Other meeting topics will include challenges to wellness in college, issues entrepreneurs face, and general ideation/brainstorming meetings.