Smart Business Magazine, September 2017
FEATURE UNIQUELY COLUMBUS T he Point at Otterbein University is a new science technology engineering arts and math STEAM innovation center that combines academics with the business and manufacturing needs of the community Executive Director Erin Bender says the concept was born out of a discussion between the city of Westerville and Otterbein The city was looking at its economic development plan It wanted to leverage the connection to Otterbein to partner on something together At the same time Otterbeins president and provost wanted to begin an engineering major at the mostly liberal arts based university The university owned the building that The Point has now been rehabbed into for about 12 years Otterbein used it as swing space when other buildings were under construction and as storage The facility opened to students in August 2016 and to the public two months later but it wont be complete until July 2018 Bender has been with Otterbein for just over a year coming from The Ohio State Universitys Technology Commercialization Office Engineering and art are the only two departments that have permanent space in the facility MBA students are hosted in the evening and several integrated studies courses are also held at The Point This fall a community accessible makerspace will open to members Otterbein is looking for people with a lifelong learning approach who want to interact with students The model is still evolving but Bender says she hasnt come across anything quite like it While she has been exposed to all facets of commercialization shes excited about the potential to create something unique for the city of Westerville and Otterbein I grew up in 4 H which is very much about experiential and handson learning My husband and I run a farm up in Lexington so were entrepreneurial ourselves It seemed like the right fit because this facility is about engagement experiential learning and providing opportunity to students she says THE POINT AT OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY Hands on U N I Q U E LY C O LU M B U S 12 Smart Business Columbus September 2017 www otterbeinpoint com The Point is a one stop shop for learning creating and building The mission of this facility is experiential learning for the students ERIN BENDER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE POINT AT OTTERBEIN UNIVERSITY
You must have JavaScript enabled to view digital editions.
