The Senate adopts the Enterprise Minor as described below.
Introduction
This proposal recommends establishing a formal 'Enterprise Minor,' which will formally recognize
student completion of a unique and innovative educational experience and at the same time provide an
incentive for non-engineering majors to participate in the Enterprise Program. The Enterprise Program
was developed in parallel with curricular revisions associated with the academic calendar change from
quarters to semesters. The program was fully implemented with the change to semesters in the fall of
2000. Although the success of the program will not be completely determined for several years, the
initial response from students and industry has been very enthusiastic. Eleven enterprises were started
for the 2000-01 AY. Over 200 students were involved from 19 disciplines and representing two
colleges and two schools at MTU. In the second year of the program (AY2001-02) there are 15
established enterprises with ~310 students from 15 disciplines. It is expected that the program will
eventually grow to approximately 20 enterprises involving over 450 students representing all majors
on campus. This will be more easily realized if all majors on campus can more readily participate in the
program.
Although the Enterprise Program by its very nature is multidisciplinary, the curricular structure was originally developed within the framework of the engineering degree programs. Consequently, participation by students in non-engineering programs has been less than optimal. The low participation by non-engineering majors in this unique experience is likely due to the fact that curricular requirements in the Enterprise Program have not been clearly articulated for majors outside engineering. One way to remedy this confusion would be to establish a generic 'Minor' that builds of the original Enterprise curricular framework. Furthermore, after completing the first year of the program it appears that an efficient way to administer the participation of engineering students in the Enterprise Program is also through the use of the 'Minor' framework. This proposal describes the 'Enterprise Minor.'
I. Title of Minor
Enterprise Minor
II. Catalog Description
The Enterprise Program, and the Enterprise Minor described herein, is multi-year, multidisciplinary
experience within which students run their own company and work on real-world problems in the
context of an entrepreneurial venture. The enterprises, for the most part, operate much like a real
company in the private sector. The employees (students) work on real problems identified by industry
or on products/ideas generated by the students themselves. A major part of the experience includes
a strong business and communication component in addition to the application of science, engineering
and technology to the solution of a design and/or business problem. Within the projects, the employees
solve problems, perform testing and analyses, build prototypes, manufacture parts (where appropriate),
stay within budgets, make recommendations, and manage multiple timelines and projects. The
Enterprises are standing organizations within the university made up of students in their 2nd through
4th year.
III. Rationale
An Enterprise Minor will allow students to develop better business sense while at the same time
providing an opportunity to apply their science, engineering, technology, communications and/or
business knowledge and skills directly toward student defined projects. In addition, the program will
promote a heightened awareness of the importance of teamwork and communication associated with
working on a diverse, cross-functional team. Furthermore, the program provides students with the
opportunity to address simultaneously multiple objectives, accomplish multiple goals, and communicate
effectively with diverse constituents.
IV. List of Courses
One of the following courses must be taken:
ENG2961 Teaming in the Enterprise 2 credits*
BA2700 Business Problem Solving 4 credits
A minimum of 7 Project Credits from the following list:
(ENG1960
or ENG2950) Enterprise Orientation 1 credit
ENG2960 Enterprise Project Work I 1 credit
ENG3950 Enterprise Project Work II 1 credit
ENG3960 Enterprise Project Work III 1 credit
ENG4950 Enterprise Project Work IV 2 credits
ENG4960 Enterprise Project Work V 2 credits
A minimum** of 2 Communication Credits from the following list:
ENG2962 Communication Contexts 1 credit*
ENG3962 Communication Strategies 1 credit*
ENG4952 Complex Communication Strategies 1 credit*
ENG4953 Writing about Engineering in a Societal Context 1 credit*
CM3410 Technical Communications for Chem. Engr. 3 credits*
HU3120 Scientific and Technical Communications 3 credits*** Students completing BA2700 are not required to complete any additional communication credits in fulfilling the Enterprise Minor requirements.
A minimum of 5 business credits from the following list:
EC3400 Economic Decision Analysis
(or EC/ENG3401, 3402 or 3403) 1-3 credits*EC3001 Principles of Economics 3 credits*
(ENG3954 Enterprise Market Principles 1 credit
or BA3800) Principles of Marketing 3 credits(ENG3961 Enterprise Strategic Leadership 1 credit*
or BA4760 Strategic Leadership 3 credits*
or AF3001) Leadership Studies 3 credits(ENG3963 Enterprise Entrepreneurship 1 credit
or BA3780) Entrepreneurship 3 credits(ENG3964 Project Management 1 credit
or BA4610) Project Management 3 creditsENG3971 Seven Habits of Effective People 1 credit
ENG4951 Budgeting - Intrapreneurial Engineering 1 credit
ENG4954 Global Competition 1 credit*
Remaining credits to fulfill the minor requirements may be taken from any of the courses listed above as well as the following list:
ENG2963 Electronic Circuit Design and Fabrication 1 credit
ENG3955 Conceptual Design/Problem Solving 1 credit(ENG3956 Industrial Health and Safety 1 credit
Or CM4310) Chemical Process Safety/Environment 3 creditsENG3957 Product and Process Development I 1 credit
(ENG3958 Engineering Ethics in Design and Implementation
Or CE3331) Professional Practice 1-2 creditsENG3965 Material Flow in an Industrial Society 1 credit
ENG3966 Design for Manufacturing 1 credit
ENG3967 Product and Process Development II 1 credit
ENG3968 Manufacturing Processes and Simulation 1 credit
ENG3969 Design Implementation Project Phases 1 credit
ENG4955 Concurrent Engineering and Project
Data Management 1 credit
* May be used to satisfy General Education Distribution Course Requirements if not required by major.
NOTE - Fulfillment of the minor requires a minimum of 6 credits at the 3000 level or higher which are not specifically required for a student's major, except as free electives.
Total Requirements 20 credits
V. Estimated Costs
The Enterprise Program is presently supported through generous gifts from industrial partners interested
in supporting the enterprise concepts. The majority of these funds directly support the specific projects
within each enterprise. However, some of the monies are used to support faculty in the delivery of the
instructional modules listed in the required and elective course requirements for the Enterprise Minor.
No additional university resources are required to deliver this minor.
Draft of 27 November 2001