By Jamie L. Freedman
GW’s innovation initiative continued to gain momentum this month, as task force members prepare to present their first set of recommendations at a series of community-wide meetings designed to solicit feedback on leading proposals.
“The Innovation Task Force has reached an exciting point in our planning process,” says Jeffrey Lenn, associate vice president for academic operations and chair of the ITF Steering Committee. “After a rigorous process that began in November, our Business Processes and Learning/Teaching Committees will issue their recommendations on the top 15 ideas on which to move forward—innovations they believe will have the greatest impact on enhancing academic and research excellence throughout GW.”
The two working committees submitted their short lists to the ITF Steering Committee for feedback last week and will solicit community-wide input at three "showcases of ideas" this month. The meetings, scheduled for April 20 on the Foggy Bottom Campus, April 22 on the Mount Vernon Campus, and April 26 at the Virginia Science and Technology Campus, will feature a brief overview of all the recommendations, followed by breakout sessions focusing on individual proposals.
“Attendees will move from table to table, where Innovation Task Force members will provide them with background information on specific proposals of interest to them,” Dr. Lenn explains. “Participants will have ample time to visit at least two tables and will be encouraged to ask questions and provide feedback. After the community meetings, task force members will discuss the feedback, make necessary modifications, and prepare their final set of recommendations for endorsement by President Knapp and his council of senior administrators, followed by specific plans for implementation in the next fiscal year.”
Over the next four years, the vetting process will be repeated for the hundreds of other ideas that have poured in. “This is just the first round, focusing on the proposals we felt would have the greatest, most immediate impact,” Dr. Lenn says. “The working committees have done an outstanding job prioritizing and analyzing the 237 ideas that came through the ITF’s electronic suggestion box, along with the 60 recommendations that were submitted directly to them. We look forward to moving forward on many more of these excellent proposals in future years.”
Dr. Lenn lauds the GW community for its outstanding contributions to the innovation process. “The participation and feedback of the entire GW community has been a vital part of our success,” he says. “It’s been wonderful to bring so many stakeholders together. We look forward to a great turnout at the three community-wide meetings this month, as we continue to work together to enhance excellence through innovation.”