SIS Impact Scholars
Are you interested in leveraging the power of business as a force for good? Would you like to learn how to sustainably solve social, environmental, and economic problems? Do you want to be a changemaker?
Check out short videos of UF Students sharing about earning their Impact Scholar Awards.
Interested?
The first step is to submit the UF SIS Impact Scholars Intent to Complete Form.
Undergraduate & Graduate students who complete the core course and engage in experiential learning consulting projects in the greater-Gainesville community are recognized as “SIS Impact Scholars,” to formalize and recognize their education and experience in social impact and sustainability, as leaders and changemakers. Students who study impact, practice impact, create impact, and share their impact stories will be awarded as UF SIS Impact Scholars. We aim to have 100 UF SIS Impact Scholars in the next three years.
Tracks are available for both undergraduate and graduate students to become UF SIS Impact Scholars and have the opportunity to:
- Study Impact: by earning a passing grade in Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship, ENT3503/ENT6506 (additional options to fulfill the Study Impact requirement are below)
- Practice Impact: by working as a consultant on an experiential learning project for a for-profit or nonprofit venture in the greater-Gainesville community
- Create Impact: by engaging on campus & in the community and developing a venture.
- Tell Your Impact Story: by submitting an Impact Scholar Report by the deadline prior to graduation.
UF SIS Impact Scholars will receive a certificate for their achievement as well as graduation cords; they will also be recognized at the annual Celebration of Entrepreneurship Awards event.
Students who complete the 4 items below will be awarded as Social Impact & Sustainability (SIS) Impact Scholars:
Study Impact
Earn a passing grade in Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship (ENT3503/ENT6506).
- We also offer an alternative option to fulfill the Study Impact requirement. For more information, review the Study Impact: Alternative Assignment Option and email Impact Scholars so we can help you to move forward and ensure your successful completion of the Study Impact requirement.
Practice Impact
Work as a consultant on experiential learning project for a for-profit or nonprofit venture in the greater-Gainesville community, by participating in at least one of the following:
- complete a module-long consulting project while earning a grade of B or above in the Launch Florida: Strategic Impact Consulting course (ENT6930/ENT4934- 2 credits)
- complete a module-long consulting project while earning a grade of B or above in the Business for Good Lab: Sustainable Business Consulting course (ENT6930/ENT4934- 2 credits)
- complete a module-long consulting project while earning a grade of B or above in the Emerging Enterprise Consulting course (ENT6930/ENT4934- 2 credits)
- complete a semester-long consulting project with Gatornest (GEB4940/ENT6946 – 2-4 credits)
- complete a semester-long consulting project with Enactus
- complete a Fall semester consulting project through the IA Internship Program (IDS4941—4 credits)
- complete another substantive consulting project– be sure to receive approval from Dr. Joys prior to beginning (examples include: continue an Experiential Learning Consulting Project from a prior ENT class, assist one of the UF Entrepreneurship Faculty Scholars with their innovation projects, serve as a consultant to one of the participants in the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program, complete a MDP program Field Practicum, or complete a 40+ hour internship working as a consultant with a local venture on a special project focused on their social & sustainable impact). Again, please email Impact Scholars regarding then options above (including non-credit options) so we can help you to move forward and ensure your successful completion of the Practice Impact requirement.
Create Impact
Engage on campus & in the community through at least one of the following activities:
- Participate in the Impact Scholar Internship Program
- Participate in the Social Impact & Sustainability award category of the Big Idea Business Plan Competition
- Represent UF at a business pitch or plan competition with a venture that aims to address social/environmental/economic problems (like TCU Values & Ventures, GNV Startup weekend, Startup Games, etc.)
- Start a venture that aims to address a social/environmental/economic problem and join one of our local incubators/accelerators (Hatchery, Innovation Hub, Venture for Good/LaunchPad/StarterSpace/Co.Accelerator, etc.)
- Participate in Assembly for Action and receive a grant to fund your project proposal
- Win a Projects for Peace grant
- Participate in the UF Brown Center for Leadership & Service’s Path to Purpose Advanced Leadership Program
- Serve on the leadership team of one of EIC’s student organizations, including, but not limited to: the Entrepreneurship Collective, TEDxUF, NetImpact/Change the World UF, Enactus, or LEAD by IA, helping to create more opportunities for students to be involved in learning about leveraging the power of business to make a positive impact in our community and around the world
Tell Your Impact Story
Submit your Impact Scholar Report:
Apply to certify your status as an Impact Scholar by submitting an online form with evidence that you completed the requirements & sharing about your impacts by November 15 (for Fall), March 15 (for Spring), or July 1 (for Summer) of your graduating semester.