Hub of Digital Transformation and Innovation

CULTURE OF INNOVATION

WE ARE DXI

Established in Jan 2019, the Hub of Digital Transformation and Innovation (DXIHub) at Technology Services has become one of the largest interdisciplinary internship programs in Technology for Fresno State students. DXIHub has established strategic partnerships with industry and local communities to support and enrich experiential learning for students with technology innovation. Aligning with Fresno State’s core mission to boldly educate and empower students for success, DXIHub provides innovative tools and technologies that support opportunities for students to lead projects and work collaboratively.

Partners in Student Success

Fresno State's Associated Student Inc. and The Hub of Digital Transformation and Innovation have partnered to provide a more accessible and personalized campus experience. With solutions designed and developed by students for students, ASI and DXI are paving the way for student-led technology advancement.

Project Ignite was developed through collaboration between the Technology Services – Hub of Digital Transformation and the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to promote interdisciplinary student involvement that drives ideation, creative exploration and business model development.

(07/2021) Cloud/Communication

Email is the only channel of communication that is both provided and required for Fresno State for students, staff, and faculty. With the shift to virtual learning and the decline of opportunities for in-person communication, we saw an increased reliance on other channels to deliver important messages to our campus community. Email has always been the primary channel of communication, but with so many different methodologies and tools being used, there are often inconsistencies and oversaturation. It is conservatively estimated that Fresno State sends more than half a million group emails to students per month, this does not include academic communications, personal emails, or notifications from Canvas. This results in a growing need among students for personalized, impactful, and consistent communication.

This joint effort between Associated Student Inc. and The Hub of Digital Transformation and Innovation seeks to streamline business processes and allow for more effective communication between students and the University. The MVP Communicator Platform enables control, visibility, and planning for internal group email communications while also giving students the ability to personalize their communication experience. So, what does this look like?

University: The MVP Communicator Platform will act as a single point of contact for distribution and analytics. University Communicators will be able to organize channels and send emails, while also viewing insights such as subscriber count and email views. Platform Administrators will also be able to manage channel communicators, create new email channels, and view channel analytics all from the MVP platform.

Students: With the MVP Communicator Platform students can personalize their communication experience to better fit their preferences using a tiered opt-in/opt-out system, giving them more control over the volume of emails they receive.

Tier 1: Required by University / automatically subscribed
Tier 2: Recommended by University / automatically subscribed (can opt-out)
Tier 3: Student preference (opt-in/opt-out)

Streamlining the communication process and giving students the ability to customize their email preferences, opens the door for University Communicators to create more targeted and impactful communications and gain valuable insights into the audience their most important audience. This partnership between Fresno State’s Associated Student Inc. and The Hub of Digital Transformation and Innovation highlights the power of student-driven innovation on campus and involves students directly in establishing technology experience and a communication hierarchy.

(07/2021) AI / Mobile / Student Success

In Spring 2020 universities across the nation pivoted to virtual learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost 2 years later, we begin the transition back to in-person learning, understanding that our students will continue to face many unknowns. With students who started in Fall 2020 and freshmen who started in Fall 2021 having never experienced life on campus, normalcies such as locating classrooms, navigating campus resources, and participating in campus life are completely new territory. Our students will require additional support when it comes to navigating both academic and campus life, and universities will need innovative solutions to accommodate this increased amount of first-time on-campus experiences. How do we ensure students feel supported, welcome, and confident as they begin life on campus?

bulldog genie icon

photograph of a mobile phone with the bulldog genie app open on the landing page

The Hub of Digital Transformation and Innovation has partnered with Fresno State’s Associated Student Inc. to present our campus community with the Bulldog Genie. What is the Bulldog Genie? The Genie is an artificial intelligence-powered and personalized digital experience designed to engage and guide students through study and campus life at Fresno State. This untethered mobile experience will give new students 24/7 access to interactive campus navigation, a virtual digital companion, event notifications, and campus engagement resources, all to help support students’ success while attending college.

The Bulldog Genie’s main goal is to provide students with a resource that will not only make the transition back to on-campus learning smoother but also offer support for the rest of their time here. Providing that important and relevant information that students need anytime, anywhere to not only succeed on the first day or the first week, but to carry that success throughout their time here at Fresno State, in a way that is comfortable, convenient, and customizable. Designed and developed by students for students who understand those areas of student need and interest, the Genie will continue to grow and evolve to fit our diverse student population. This campus-wide collaborative initiative brings together different organizations and departments on campus to create a tool that provides a meaningful digital campus experience for ALL students.

group photo of dxihub member infront of the bulldog genie banner

In technology innovation digital skills are a crucial part of preparing students for the workplace, but as technology advances skills such as collaboration, communication, and creativity are becoming just as critical. It is important for students to develop and identify these skills in solution development frameworks to better adapt to changing workplace expectations. A platform such as Project Ignite provides students the opportunity to connect their ideas, interact with diverse perspectives, and gain experience in all areas of solution development.

Project Ignite is a campus-wide technology innovation program developed through a collaboration between the Technology Services — Hub of Digital Transformation and Innovation and the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Students from all across campus collaborate in teams to develop innovative solutions to campus dilemmas. Project Ignite promotes interdisciplinary student involvement to drive ideation, creative exploration, and business model development.

Project Ignite (Flash) is a virtual edition of the Project Ignite Program developed to continue promoting interdisciplinary innovation and collaboration despite the physical barriers presented by the pandemic. In Project Ignite (Flash) students learned about Virtual Immersive Technology and Design Thinking and how pairing these two powerful components can lead to powerful solutions. Mentored in the art of product design, development, and pitching students developed innovative applications that supported student life, academic success, and campus infrastructure.

Why do we need a program like Project Ignite? Hands-on learning experiences give students the opportunity to apply and expand on the experiences and skills they learn in the classroom. Programs like Project Ignite elevate learning experiences by creating an open environment where students can freely explore innovation and entrepreneurship. By marrying the creativity of the young mind with the academic foundation of untethered intellectual curiosity, Project Ignite creates a platform that encourages students to explore, evaluate, potentially fail, and hopefully succeed.

Empowering the Next Generation of Community Leaders

Fresno State graduates over 6,000 students each year, with more than 80% of graduates choosing to stay within the Central Valley. Through continued investments into advancing student success and the adoption of emerging technologies, The Hub of Digital Transformation and Innovation strives to accelerate digital transformation and foster a culture of innovation effectively bridging the learning gaps that affect students in the Central Valley.

Accelerating innovation with programs and collaborative projects
Fostering a Culture of Innovation through community activities
Exploring emerging technology areas

“New ideas for innovation grow out of the minds of each new generation.”
-Jay Samit

Enhanced Learning Experiences

Hear from Associate Professor of Animation/Intermedia and DXIHub Faculty Partner, Paula Durette as she discusses the importance of hands-on learning experiences extending outside the classroom and the role DXIHub plays in preparing her students for life after graduation.

Innovation Internship Program

DXIHub fosters student success through internships for students interesting in exploring new and emerging technology. The Innovation Internship Program is centered around experiential learning, design thinking, and collaboration. DXIHub Interns come from a variety of majors such as Computer Science, MCJ, Business, Accounting, Art, and Graphic Design, just to name a few. Bringing together all these diverse perspectives and learning experiences has allowed Innovation Interns to create real-world solutions.

Staff Mentors

DXIHub provides professional development and real-world, experiential learning for students through rotational Innovation Consultant opportunities. Technology Services staff and faculty work collaboratively with students as professional mentors, focusing on the creation of sustainable and innovative solutions to real challenges faced by the campus and community.

head shot of Esuri