What is LEAPP at the University of Wisconsin Stout?
The University of Wisconsin Stout (UW-Stout), Wisconsin’s Polytechnic University, is a university within the Universities of Wisconsin located in western Wisconsin. The Leading Educational Advancement through Polytechnic Pathways (LEAPP) program is a systematic approach to innovation that focuses on collection, analysis, and implementation of creative, innovative ideas for organizational transformation.
Why is Innovation Important to UW-Stout?
UW-Stout is focused on the future. As a recipient of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality award in 2001, UW-Stout has a long history of systematically integrating continuous improvement into our operations, but we still have an opportunity to improve how we innovate. Both continuous improvement and innovation are needed for organizations to be successful. Our programs reflect cutting-edge ideas and principles ensuring that students receive the best, most current academic experience and employers have employees ready to “do more on day one.”
Why did UW-Stout select Ideawake to power its innovation program?
Ideawake provides the applications we need to accurately collect, analyze, and implement innovative ideas from the University community.
- Ideawake has provided the customization necessary to meet the needs of the LEAPP program. We developed our own workflow and then connected with the Ideawake team to automate processes and integrate Ideawake into the workflow.
- Ideawake allows collaboration across the University in commenting on ideas and providing input.
- The Ideawake staff have been responsive in providing support in the development and implementation of the software by acting as a partner in our innovation program development.
What do you want to achieve using Ideawake?
Ideawake software will support UW-Stout’s LEAPP program in collecting innovative ideas that will sustain Stout’s high level of quality performance and culture of creativity as well as move the institution forward to attain new heights. It will also support the analysis of innovative ideas to determine those that will move forward to implementation. A key aspect of LEAPP is that it integrates opportunities for Re-Innovation, in other words, a mechanism to turn prospective ideas into opportunities for institutional transformation.
Why is engaging and giving employees and students a voice important to UW-Stout and the LEAPP program?
One value in UW-Stout’s strategic planning process is that all members of the university community can contribute ideas and provide feedback. We believe that people support what they help create. UW Stout’s faculty, staff, students, and stakeholders comprise the University community. Their engagement is key in providing the current and future direction of the University and the sustainability and growth of its polytechnic educational opportunities. The synergy provided, through coming together and using Ideawake as a platform to explore new innovative ideas, creates outstanding ideas and opportunities in attaining the university vision.