The Allegheny Lab for Innovation & Creativity Co-op gives Allegheny Gators the skills required to be emerging leaders capable of making transformational contributions to their organizations. From building technical skills informed by the best creative and critical thinking abilities that the Liberal Arts have to offer, to connecting with employers, alumni, and unexpected mentors, our co-op sets Allegheny students up for personal and professional success. Students enter the workforce with a world-class Allegheny education backed by the technical skills to make an immediate impact the moment they arrive.
We partner with industry leaders in identifying technologies and tools that they deem vital to their operations, and train Allegheny students in their use through low-stakes pass/fail, 2-credit, half-semester courses taught by our industry partners. These courses are pathways for our partners to hire interns and employees that are already up to speed on in-demand tools and technologies. Each course is co-taught by an Allegheny professor.
Contact Prof. Byron Rich for info.
Fall 2023 Module A and B Courses
Creative Technology in Advertising – EXL 100 A1
Instructor: Matthew Pegula – Sizzle AI
Time: M/W 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: ALIC – Doane Hall of Art A104/106
Explores the ways engineers, designers, and artists come together to use technology as creative marketing tools. Students investigate emerging technologies and how they are integrated into contemporary marketing practices through a series of hands-on projects. No prior experience required
Small Businesses and Entrepreneurship as Community-building Tools – EXL 100 A2
Instructor: Josh Sherretts – Crawford County Historical Society
Time: M/W 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Location: Doane Hall of Art A103
An exploration of the ways that small business owners and entrepreneurs play a role in developing vibrant communities. Students will learn how communities like Meadville can be revitalized through the emergence of thriving small businesses, and the ways in which entrepreneurs can play a role in building community through a series of site visits and guest lectures. No prior experience required.
Non-profit Grant Writing – EXL 100 A3
Instructor: Amanda Chapel – Crawford County Heritage Foundation
Time: T/Th 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: Doane Hall of Art A103
An introduction to the craft of writing grant applications for non-profit organizations. Students will learn how to identify grants applicable to their non-profit, and how to craft successful applications through a series of workshops and hands-on experiences with non-profit leaders from our region. No prior experience required.
Industry-standard 3D Design – EXL 100 B1
Instructor: Tom Swanberg – Acutec Precision Aerospace
Time: T/Th 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Location: ALIC – Doane Hall of Art A104/106
An exploration of the fundamentals of designing products and components. Students learn the fundamentals of using industry-standard design software for aerospace and industrial design applications through a series of critical and creative projects. No prior experience required.
Student Feedback:
Acutec Precision – Solidworks
The Acutec internship provided me with a unique opportunity of using industry-standard software, and developing a basis of motor skills in terms of understanding a project and being able to replicate it using tools while under the guidance of a professional engineer who is active and involved in making you better. From an interdisciplinary perspective, this internship not only provided me confidence that I am able to research machinery in order to fix/solve problems actively, but it also drew my interest into finding more projects to learn about and craft on my own. For instance, over break, I designed and crafted models for various furniture I designed, built and understood the components of my own personal computer, and now I am looking into modifying my car. Design and engineering are core components to how we view the world and going along with the social awareness I develop in other Allegheny classes and readings, I am able to bring this perspective into crafted designs. I make this point not to achieve some moral high ground of what I do, but to emphasize that this class is beneficial professionally and caters to the critical thinking Allegheny student.
– Finn Dugan, 2022