Resources for Faculty

The Dyer Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is excited to announce an open call for course development proposals. We invite faculty from all disciplines to help foster a culture of entrepreneurial thinking, creativity, and innovation at Lafayette College. This grant program supports faculty in developing new or revised courses that integrate themes of entrepreneurship and innovation within a liberal arts framework. 

We especially encourage proposals that offer students opportunities to develop creative problem-solving, interdisciplinary collaboration, and an entrepreneurial mindset in ways that transcend single methodologies or areas of study. Every department and program is welcome to apply.. We look forward to hearing your ideas about how we might foster the next generation of thinkers, leaders, and changemakers who will create ethical and forward-thinking solutions for a complex world.

Examples of Potential Thematics for Courses:

• Ethics and Technology: Explore the ethical implications of technological advancements, social enterprises, and innovation in global markets.
• Social Innovation and Civic Engagement: Guide students in examining how social ventures and community-oriented innovation can address pressing issues like inequality, food security, and public health. 
• Creativity and Disruption in the Arts: Examine how the arts challenge conventional thinking and inspire new ways of seeing the world. This course could explore how artistic processes—such as experimentation, iteration, and reimagining norms—are integral to innovation. 
• Literatures of Change: Study literature that deals with change, transformation, and disruption, including narratives around personal and societal change and storytelling.
• Environmental Innovation: Introduce students to environmental entrepreneurship by examining sustainable innovations and eco-friendly practices in various industries. Case studies of green businesses and discussions on policy could also be included to show how entrepreneurial thinking can lead to impactful environmental solutions.
• Cultural Perspectives on Innovation: Highlight how cultural context affects entrepreneurial strategies and innovation across the globe. This course might explore the diversity of approaches to entrepreneurship, emphasizing cultural sensitivity and global awareness as key components of entrepreneurial success.
• History of Innovation: Voices of Change: Examine innovation through a historical lens, focusing on the contributions and experiences of marginalized communities in the realm of entrepreneurial empowerment. Providing students with a nuanced understanding of how historical contexts shape the trajectory of innovation, revealing both its empowering potential and its limitations for underrepresented voices. 
• Understanding Value and Impact: Invites students from any field to explore how financial awareness can deepen their understanding of value and impact in various contexts—whether in social causes, creative endeavors, or scientific projects. 

While these examples provide inspiration, we encourage faculty to bring their unique expertise and creativity to the table. We are excited to see how you might explore entrepreneurship and innovation within your discipline, designing courses that open up new perspectives and possibilities for students across the liberal arts. Whether it’s challenging conventional ideas, fostering creative problem-solving, or exploring ethical considerations, we welcome your innovative approaches to preparing students for a world that values curiosity and impact-driven thinking.

The course development grant will include:

• $2,500 in Financial support for course development and materials.
• Opportunities to consult with the Dyer Center team on entrepreneurial curriculum.
• Networking with colleagues interested in the intersection of liberal arts and entrepreneurship.

We’re excited to see how you bring entrepreneurship and innovation to life in ways that will resonate with students from all academic backgrounds.  We welcome individual or team-taught courses.