Grand Challenge Scholar Program Competencies

The five-competencies curriculum provides the GC Scholar with the engineering and non-engineering expertise necessary to address a Grand Challenge. The requirements and options of each of the GCSP competencies is identified below. Once a student selects one of the 14 Grand Challenges in their area of interest, they explore solutions to problems that face humanity. Participants continue to work in their selected Grand Challenge, or get program committee approval to modify their approved proposal to make changes and select a different Grand Challenge.

Evaluation of Student Written Reflective Paper

Upon completion of each of the five GC Scholar competencies, student written reflections are assessed by the program committee and faculty advisor to provide feedback to the GC Scholar.

Five GCSP Competencies

Research Competency

All GC Scholars must complete a research experience. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. One potential option for the students is participation in USU’s formal undergraduate research program. This is an opportunity to work one-on-one with a faculty research advisor on projects related to the student’s Grand Challenge. For some students, a formal undergraduate research program may not be the best option. For these students, other opportunities are available to satisfy this requirement. Senior design projects, independent study, internships, and other in-depth research experiences will all be considered for competency completion.


Select one (1) option:


Undergraduate Research:

  • Activity must be approved by GCSP committee prior to using the activity as a GCSP requirement.
  • Must write a 2-3 page paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) outlining the experience you hope to have as you approach your project.
  • Following the research experience, you must write 3-5 page reflective paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) on the experience and how you will apply your research to your Grand Challenge.

Internship:

  • Experience must be approved by GCSP program committee prior to using experience as a GCSP requirement.
  • Must write 2-3 page paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) outlining the experience you hope to have as you approach your internship.
  • Following internship experience, must write 3-5 page reflective paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) on experience and how you will apply your research to your Grand Challenge.

Other approved Research/Creative Project or activity:

  • Project or activity experience, as well as all completion requirements, must be approved by GCSP program committee prior to the project or activity experience.

Entrepreneurship Competency

Exposure to the field of entrepreneurship development is the focus of the entrepreneurship competencies of the GCSP. This is satisfied by the completion of entrepreneurial coursework or other in-depth experiences. These experiences may include, but are not limited to: approved coursework, capstone project(s), business plan or other approved external entrepreneurial activities.


Select one (1) option:


Complete an approved course in the field of Entrepreneurship

  • Course must be approved by engineering academic advisor and GCSP program committee prior to enrollment.
  • Grade of B or higher is required.
  • Prior to taking course, must write 2-3 page paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) outlining what you currently know about the course topic how you think you can apply it to your Grand Challenge.
  • Following course completion, must write 3-5 page reflective paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) on course and how you can apply it to your Grand Challenge.

Capstone/Senior Design project with paper on subject of entrepreneurship

  • Project must focus on innovative design or thought in the context of one of the grand challenges.
  • Some majors might not have a choice in the selection of the capstone project. In such cases, they are asked to work with the GCSP program committee to determine an alternative project.
  • Must earn B or higher in capstone course.
  • Prior to capstone experience, must write 2-3 page paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) outlining the experience you hope to gain from the capstone as it relates to your Grand Challenge.
  • Upon completion of capstone project, must write 3-5 page (12 point, calibri font, double-space) reflective paper on the capstone experience and how it can be applied to your Grand Challenge.

Business Plan

  • Must present a business concept (whether in plan or product form) focused on one of the Grand Challenges.
  • Must write 2-3 page paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) outlining your goals and forecasting the anticipated feedback that you will get from the reviewers.
  • Students will be required to write a 3-5 page reflective paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) on the experience, which will include a critical analysis of their product/plan, overall experience, and response to the reviewer feedback.

Other approved entrepreneurship activity

  • Project/activity, as well as all completion requirements, must be approved by GCSP program committee prior to the project/activity taking place.

Multidisciplinary Competency

GC Scholars may choose courses, seminars, and programs to decide how they approach this multidisciplinary competency. Other activities may be approved by the GCSP program committee (see approval form). This competency will be completed by the selection of non-engineering coursework and experiences throughout the student’s undergraduate program.


Required:


Approved Non-Engineering Course

  • Course must be approved by engineering academic advisor and GCSP program committee prior to enrollment.
  • Grade of B or higher is required.
  • Prior to taking course, must write 2-3 page paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) outlining what you currently know about the subject material and how you think you can apply it to your Grand Challenge.
  • Following course completion, must write 3-5 page reflective paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) on the course and how you can apply it to your grand challenge.

Additional Option: Select one (1)


Approved Professional Conferences or Meetings

  • Conferences or meetings must be approved by GCSP program committee prior to attending.
  • Prior to attending, must write 2-3 page paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) outlining what you currently know about the seminar/conference topic and how you think you can apply it to your Grand Challenge.
  • Following conferences or meetings, must write 3-5 page reflective paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) on the experience and how you can apply it to your Grand Challenge.

Other approved Multidisciplinary activity

  • Project/activity/course, as well as all completion requirements, must be approved by GCSP program committee prior to the project/activity/course taking place.

Multicultural Competency

Leadership and diversity are important components of the GCSP and, in order to satisfy the multicultural competency, the student must successfully complete some form of diversity/awareness activity such as attending a conference, workshop, or event that extensively cover the topic of global diversity and leadership. Other activities that would satisfy this competency would include some form of study abroad program with a significant global competency attached to it, active participation in a multicultural or global service student organization, or other approved activities by the GCSP program committee.


Required:


Approved Courses


  • Course must be approved by academic advisor and GCSP program committee prior to enrollment.
  • Grade of B or higher is required.
  • Prior to taking the course, you must write 2-3 page paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) outlining what you currently know about the course topic and how you think you can apply it to your Grand Challenge.
  • Following course completion, you must write 3-5 page (12 point, calibri font, double-space) reflective essay on course and how you can apply it to your Grand Challenge.

Additional Option: Select one (1)


Study Abroad Experience:

  • Experience must be registered through university study abroad office.
  • Experience must be approved by GCSP program committee prior to attending.
  • If courses are to be taken, all courses must be approved by academic advisor to ensure they will transfer back to the college.
  • Prior to experience, student must write 2-3 page paper outlining their goals for the experience, as well as anticipate what it is like living and learning in another culture.
  • Upon completion of experience, student must write 3-5 page reflective paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) on experience and how it can be applied to your pursuit of the Grand Challenges.

Participate as an active member in a Multicultural or Global Service Student Organization:

  • Students need to be verified by student organization advisor(s) as an active member for a minimum of two years to meet this requirement.
  • Following requirement, must write 3-5 page paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) outlining experience in the organization and the role multiculturalism will play in the solution(s) to your grand challenge.

Approved Professional Conferences or Meetings regarding global diversity:

  • Conferences or meetings must be approved by GCSP program committee prior to attending.
  • Prior to attending, must write 2-3 page paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) outlining what you currently know about the featured topic and how you think you can apply it to your Grand Challenge.
  • Following conferences or meetings, must write 3-5 page reflective paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) on experience and how you can apply it to your Grand Challenge.

Other approved multicultural activity:

  • Project/activity/course, as well as all completion requirements, must be approved by GCSP program committee prior to the project/activity/course taking place.

Social Consciousness Competency

Each GC Scholar must participate in a service-learning project, experience, or course. Similar to other competencies, this can be satisfied from a variety of different activities. Students may participate in a variety of service learning activities both on and off campus. This may include being actively involved with the Engineering Ambassadors Program, joining a University-sponsored service-learning trip, volunteering in some type of service activity documented by an established organization, participating in a service-related research experience, or becoming a mentor/tutor for other engineering students.


Required Option: Select one (1)


Participate as an active member in Engineering Ambassadors Program:


  • Will need to be verified by advisor(s) as an active member for a minimum of 2 years to meet this requirement.
  • Following requirement, must write 3-5 page paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) outlining experience in the organization and the role service will play in the solution(s) to your Grand Challenge.

Volunteer / Service Experience:

  • Experience must be approved by GCSP program committee prior to volunteering.
  • Letter of reference from sponsoring organization’s supervisor required following completion.
  • Prior to volunteering, must write 2-3 page paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) outlining what you hope to gain from the experience and how you think you can apply it to your Grand Challenge.
  • Following volunteer completion, must write 3-5 page reflective paper (12 point, calibri font, double-space) on experience and how you can apply that experience to your Grand Challenge.

Other approved social consciousness activity:

  • Project/activity/course, as well as all completion requirements, must be approved by GCSP program committee prior to the project/activity taking place.