Make to Innovate FAQ
Q. What is Make to Innovate (M:2:I)?
Make to Innovate is a program in the Aerospace Engineering department that engages students in hands-on projects to augment their understanding of engineering fundamentals. It is a course that students sign up for (AerE 294X or AerE 494X) and students will learn the fundamentals of working in a team and on a real world project.
Q. How do I get involved in Make to Innovate?
The first step is to speak with your adviser and make sure that Make to Innovate fits in your schedule and your course plan. The next step is to sign up for the AerE 294X or AerE 494X course. After you will need to find a project that you can join and work with during the semester. The best time to do this is during the kick-off meeting held during the first week of class. You will need to talk to the project leader to make sure they have room. If you are having problems with this step, please visit with the Program Coordinator. Finally you will need to get involved and work with your team during the semester.
Q. Can I still sign up for Make to Innovate after classes have started?
Maybe. The cutoff for students to add the course on AccessPlus with no additional fee is Friday at 5:00 p.m. of the first week of classes. After that the course must be added using an add/drop slip. The policy for Make to Innovate is that students must be signed up for the team they will work on by Friday at 5:00 p.m. on the third week of classes. After that students are not permitted to join unless they have permission from the Make to Innovate Program Coordinator.
Q. Which course do I sign up for?
Freshman and Sophomores will sign up for AerE 294X. Junior and Seniors will sign up for AerE 494X. For AerE 494X, only team leads and sub-team leads may sign up for 3 credits, all other students must sign up for 2 credits. AerE 294X only allows for 1 credit to be taken.
Q. Will AerE 294X or AerE 494X count as a technical elective?
AerE 294X does not count as a technical elective. AerE 494X does count as a technical elective for students in Aerospace Engineering. In general, most engineering departments will accept other engineering courses that are 400 level as a technical elective. However, this decision is determined by your home department and their respective curriculum committee. Please see your adviser if you have any questions if it will count as a technical elective.
Q. Does AerE 294X or AerE 494X count towards my GPA?
Yes, AerE 294X and AerE 494X count towards your semester and cumulative GPA like any other course you take at Iowa State University.
Q. Are there any prerequisites for AerE 294X or AerE 494X?
Yes, AerE 294X requires that you are classified as a Freshman or Sophomore as determined by ISU. AerE 494X requires that you are classified as a Junior or Senior as determined by ISU. Both classes require instructor approval.
Q. I am a student at Iowa State University but I am not in the College of Engineering. Can I still take the courses and be a part of Make to Innovate?
Yes! The course is open to any student that is in good standing at Iowa State University. Students from any other college is welcome to join M:2:I.
Q. I am not a student at Iowa State University, can I still be part of Make to Innovate?
Unfortunately no, you must be enrolled in the course to be part of Make to Innovate which requires you to be a student at Iowa State University.
Q. I am currently on Co-Op with a company and/or taking classes through distance education. Can I be involved in Make to Innovate?
No, Make to Innovate is not designed to be a distance education course and requires that students must be on campus in order to work with their teams.