Important Updates: BUild Lab & Innovate@BU Programs through the spring semester
*Updated on Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Innovate@BU & BUild Lab Friends,
First and foremost, how are you?
As you know, due to the spread of COVID-19, BU is moving classes online through the remainder of the spring semester.
For the entire BU community, this brings new challenges, and of course, worries and stress. As we all adjust to new systems and schedules, we want you to know that we’re in this together and that your health and safety is our first priority.
As innovators and entrepreneurs, solving problems is in our nature. The Innovate@BU team is diving into the problem at hand and developing solutions to 1) make this transition as easy and safe as possible and 2) continue to support your innovative, entrepreneurial, and creative endeavors.
Innovate@BU and the BUild Lab have made the following changes to our programs and physical space:
- Beginning Monday, March 16, the BUild Lab will be closed to all students.
- Innovate@BU programs (workshops, events, competitions) will either be held remotely or canceled. Please see the program status list below. Program Directors will reach out to all program participants to communicate more specific details and action steps.
- Programs that will be offered virtually:
- New Venture Competition semi-finals and finals
- Summer Accelerator Interviews
- Hub Cocurriculars/Terriers Tell Workshops
- Innovation Pathway Investment & Project Panels
- Innovation Pathway Orientation
- First-Year Innovation Fellowship Meetings
- Student Leadership Council Meetings
- Staff and Expert Office Hours
- Unlocking the Black Box of Business Workshop Series
- Programs that will be offered virtually:
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- Programs that are canceled
- Idea Cup (students in spring courses will be allowed to participate in the Fall 2020 Idea Cup)
- Innovation Week (April 10-19); if we return to campus on April 13, we will determine if any new events will be offered.
- Innovation & Entrepreneurship Workshop Series on the Medical Campus
- Idea Open-mic Nights
- Innovator’s Night (Friday, April 17)
- Programs that are canceled
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- Non-academic gatherings, meetings, and activities that were planned to be hosted at the BUild Lab through Monday, April 13 are canceled. This includes club meetings, class visits, tours, external event hosts, etc.
- For inquiries about the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Minor, please reach out to Ian Mashiter at ianmash@bu.edu.
Our staff is committed to sharing accurate and timely information about our programs. Our communication methods will include:
- Website and calendar changes including directions about remote access to certain programs
- Emails to Innovate@BU newsletter subscribers
- Innovate@BU Community Slack channel
- Emails directly from Innovate@BU Program Directors regarding specific changes and adjustments to continuing programs (ex: cocurricular classes, workshops, New Venture Competition, Summer Accelerator interviews, etc.)
- Social media channels including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Innovate@BU staff may be reached by email or through the Innovate@BU Community Slack channel. If you are unsure which staff member to reach out to, please email Ahlea Isabella (aisabel@bu.edu) and she will direct your question to the appropriate person.
Over the next few days and weeks, we will all be getting creative and overcoming new challenges. While keeping your health, safety, and academic requirements at the forefront, let us also use this time to observe the local and global challenges that our communities face. Let us think about how we can use our innovation skills and entrepreneurial mindset to develop new solutions for the present time and the future.
We look forward to continuing to support you and your innovative efforts. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our team.
Sincerely,
Innovate@BU Team
