What if there were a way to make connections with future employers, have a lot of fun, enhance your innovational skills and make your resume look better? Better yet, what if this opportunity required only six credit hours and a creative mind?

  
This opportunity has now become reality with the introduction of Professor Jim Falkiner’s “Certificate of Innovation.”

  
The College’s Mark E. Johnston Professor of Entrepreneurship, Falkiner will present the first certificates at the end of spring semester.

  
The requirements for the certificate are simple. You must complete the two entrepreneurial elective classes, IDIV 200: Entrepreneurial Thinking, and IDIV 201: Entrepreneurial Skills.

  
The Entrepreneurial Thinking class lays down the theoretical foundations of innovation. In essence, this class teaches students to think creatively. The Entrepreneurial Skills class teaches students how to implement creativity and innovation into different careers or vocations.

  
These classes aren’t just for business majors either. In fact, Falkiner’s Entrepreneurial Skills class this semester only has a small percentage of business major students. Students range from Physical Education majors to Religion majors. “Students can benefit from being innovative in any career,” Falknier said.

  
Since these classes can benefit all students, Falkiner is trying to accommodate all, or at least most of the majors. For next year, he is communicating with professors from most of the majors on campus, to locate guest speakers who are innovators in their respective fields. He already has lined up speakers that are art, political science and biology entrepreneurs.  

  
Most of the first class is spent learning the psychological, behavioral, artistic, philosophical and theological perspectives of innovation. There is also an “Innovation Coffeehouse” every other Wednesday, which hosts a guest speaker, andis held in the Oaks. Anyone is invited to attend. Speakers vary in profession and topic, and have ranged from a pastor who compares mega churches to Wal-Mart, to the mayor of Fort Wayne.

  
The second class begins to implement all of these innovative ideas into business or career ideas. Students learn about the nine-step business action plan that systematically shows students how to become innovators. One of the students’ most anticipated projects is the $20 Challenge.

  
It starts the first week of class when Falkiner gives each group of students twenty dollars. The students are then challenged to double their money every week by any legal means. The hope is that the students will use the entrepreneurial skills that they learned to start a service or make a product that can be sold. At the end of the semester the money that is earned by the class will be donated to a club on campus.

  
The second class also offers many interesting, innovating speakers. Speakers range from Sweet corn Charley, an entrepreneurial farmer who spent time studying Israeli agriculture before moving back to America and incorporating their methods, to Dr. Greg Garner, an entrepreneur optometrist.

  
As of right now there are only two entrepreneurship classes offered at Manchester, but that will most likely change. “It’ll always change,” Falknier said. “I’m a change maker.” As of right now though, Falkiner is content with the two classes and the certificate that is offered. “I looked around at what all the other big colleges are doing,” he said. “As far I as I know, we’re the only college that does this. We required only two classes so it doesn’t burn up your major.”

  
So if you’re looking to expand you innovation skills, spice up your resume or just take a few fun elective classes, then the two entrepreneurship classes might be just the thing you are looking for.

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