EPIC-N has lots of experience helping programs get started. Over the years, EPIC-N has found the following tasks help programs ‘Just Start’. Follow these suggested tasks in any order you see fit, but finding someone to be your EPIC-N champion is the best place to start.
Find a champion
The EPIC Model relies on many moving parts to succeed. It is best to try and find one stakeholder with enough institutional power and resources to champion the program. In the beginning, this individual may be more involved in the day-to-day operations until a “program manager” is identified. Once identified have the champion:
- Identify what they can provide to support the start of the program
- Visit the EPIC-N website to learn more about other EPIC-N programs
- Complete this form connecting them to:
- EPIC-N’s newsletter mailing list
- A listserv for those trying to start EPIC programs in other communities
- EPIC-N support staff
Find someone to run the program
In some cases, this can be the same person as the champion. In most cases, this is someone with either current priorities and/or availability to manage the day-to-day operations of the program as they increase. Once identified have this person:
- Visit the EPIC-N website to learn more about other EPIC-N programs
- Complete this form connecting them to:
- EPIC-N’s newsletter mailing list
- A listserv for those trying to start EPIC programs in other communities
- EPIC-N support staff
Find faculty
The EPIC Model relies on faculty buy-in to succeed. Having a faculty member willing to advocate for the adoption of the model can help win over other faculty. Follow these suggestions to help generate a list of interested faculty.
- Make a list of faculty already interested in supporting the program
- Add to the list faculty already engaging community partners in their course work
- Ask the program champion to send an email to all faculty on campus
- Use the template language found in the resource library for composition
- In the email, link the a survey to gauge interest
- Add names of interested faculty to the list
- Use the newly generated list of faculty to schedule one-on-one or small group meetings to learn about their priorities and interest in having a future course participate in the future program
Find your first community partner
The EPIC Model relies on community buy-in to succeed. Choosing the first partner can set up the program for future success.
- Make a list of potential community partners for the first year of the program
- Ask the program champion to send an email to nearby community members
- Use the template language found in the resource library for composition
- In the email, link the a survey to gauge interest
- Add names of interested faculty to the list
- Use the newly generated list of faculty to schedule one-on-one or small group meetings to learn about their priorities and interest in having a future course participate in the future program
- Choose a community partner willing to be a positive supporter and advocate for the program even in the trial year.
Find seed money for the program
EPIC-N programs are funded in many different ways. Successful programs usually receive university seed funding leading to a successful trial year. After the trial year programs are usually able to use their positive outcomes to win over community funding from future partners to replace their seed funding. However, all EPIC programs have different funding models.
Become an EPIC-N member
EPIC-N staff build and collect valuable resources to save programs countless time and help programs find money as they build out their programs. Purchasing an EPIC-N membership gives new programs access to resources, promotional materials, the new online learning commons, TA support (in years past this support has led to investment from other sources), and the EPIC-N listserv. Visit this resource to learn more about becoming a member.
Request a site visit from an EPIC-N trainer
Sometimes those interested in starting a program hit roadblocks. Sometimes these barriers to ‘Just Start’ are social, political, and/or financial in nature. Hosting an EPIC-N trainer for a two-day site visit to your university and/or the surrounding community can build university support from the President to the student level. Trainers come prepared to speak to any level, (deans, faculty, and future program coordinators to win support for your program). Site visits can also include meetings with potential community partners to help explain the model and work through how to be effective partners. Site visits frequently lead to significant program revenue in the first year (e.g. $150,000 by the University of California, Irvine).
Email info@epicn.org about your interest in a site visit to receive more information.
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