Cultivating Innovation Capacities Among Undergraduate Seniors: An Empirical Approach

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 74
  In Roundtable Session: Post-College and Outcomes Assessment

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of college environments and experiences on helping undergraduates develop their innovation capacities. To this end, we investigated a sample of 1,419 undergraduate seniors attending seven North American institutions. After controlling for demographic (e.g., personality traits) and academic characteristics (e.g., major), results indicated two collegiate experiences were positively associated with innovation capacities: opportunities to connect in-class learning to out-of-class experiences and support for career development. The scholarly and social significance of these findings and this study is discussed.

Authors

• Benjamin S. Selznick, James Madison University

• Matthew J. Mayhew, The Ohio State University