Office of Public Scholarship
The Office of Public Scholarship helps WashU faculty, graduate students and postdoctoral researchers share their research and creative work with audiences beyond academia. Through consultations, workshops, funding opportunities, publishing support and media collaborations, the office helps scholars translate complex ideas for broader audiences, build public visibility and extend the reach and impact of their work. It also organizes free public events for the St. Louis community to enjoy on and off of campus.
Confluence Collaborative for Community Engagement
The Confluence Collaborative for Community Engagement connects WashU scholars and St. Louis community partners to advance community-engaged research, education and practice.
It centers community-identified needs and supports reciprocal, long-term partnerships through research development, community-engaged teaching and learning, partner capacity building, networking, funding resources and recognition of collaborative work. Its goal is to strengthen existing efforts, connect people across disciplines and help ensure university-community partnerships produce meaningful benefits for the region.
Frick Initiatives
The Frick Initiatives invest in ambitious ideas and the people working to put them into practice. They support projects centered on four core pillars: civil discourse, free speech, free and open markets, and personal responsibility. They seek promising projects that move ideas beyond discussion and into practice, whether through education, applied research, public engagement, community partnerships or new approaches not yet imagined.
Venture Fellows Program for Postdocs
The Washington University in St. Louis Office of Technology Management (OTM) and BioGenerator are proud to sponsor the Venture Fellows Program for Postdocs. The Venture Fellows Program is currently available to Washington University postdoctoral researchers and offers an intensive 6-month curriculum that provides experiential learning in venture capital investing and company creation, as participating Fellows work alongside entrepreneurs, investors, and faculty in the St. Louis ecosystem. In addition, the program offers exposure to biotech startups, with hands-on training to develop capabilities across the spectrum from deal flow generation to exit opportunity evaluation.
Small Business Practicum
The Small Business Practicum from the Center for Experiential Learning in Olin Business School works to positively impact the St. Louis economy. Undergraduate students work on consulting and recommending best practices aimed at the success of St. Louis businesses. Past initiatives include LifeBridge Partnership, the Salvation Army, and Sew St. Louis. Businesses are able to apply to be included.
Taylor Non-Profit Practicum
The Taylor Non-Profit Practicum from the Olin Business School works to impact the local nonprofit sector. Students, across all disciplines, work in team-based learning projects with the hope of creating positive change in the St. Louis community. Projects include financial/operational assessments, marketing, strategic planning, and many others.
Olin/United Way Board Fellows Program
Serving as local nonprofit board members, WashU students provide service for United Way through engagement with community leaders. Students are able to develop valuable skills in board governance, interpersonal communication, and leadership while providing pro bono work to this corporation. Even as the yearlong program concludes, typically over half of the board fellows continue to serve.
Finance Metrics Clinic
The Finance Metrics Clinic connects St. Louis startups with WashU students to provide data-driven financial consulting. Students lead and work on these projects for 6-8 weeks.
Growth Marketing Practicum
The Growth Marketing Practicum connects students with innovative and emerging brands to address real growth challenges related to customer acquisition, retention, positioning, and performance. Students learn to decide what to measure, interpret results, and connect marketing activity to business outcomes under real constraints.
Olin Family Business Program
The Olin Family Business Program engages both the off-campus business community and WashU by delving into topics that impact family businesses. The program combines a mix of special events, symposiums, and seminars, for larger audiences and smaller communities.