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 294 or AerE 494) 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 advisor 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 294 or AerE 494 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 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 second 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?
Freshmen and Sophomores will sign up for AerE 294. Junior and Seniors will sign up for AerE 494. For AerE 494, only team leads and sub-team leads may sign up for 3 credits, all other students must sign up for 2 credits. AerE 294 only allows for 1 credit to be taken.
Q. Will AerE 294 or AerE 494 count as a technical elective?
AerE 294 does not count as a technical elective. AerE 494 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 advisor if you have any questions if it will count as a technical elective.
Q. Does AerE 294 or AerE 494 count towards my GPA?
Yes, AerE 294 and AerE 494 count towards your semester and cumulative GPA like any other course you take at Iowa State University.
Q. Are there any prerequisites for AerE 294 or AerE 494?
Yes, AerE 294 requires that you are classified as a Freshman or Sophomore as determined by ISU. AerE 494 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 are 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.