FIU LEAP Graduate Impact

Context

The Florida International University Leadership Education Advancement Program (LEAP) is a professional development initiative designed to cultivate leadership, innovation, and cross-functional collaboration among faculty and staff. As part of LEAP 2020, our team developed a strategic proposal aligned with FIU’s Beyond Possible 2020 Strategic Plan, focused on sustainability, safety, and service excellence.

Problem

FIU campuses lacked accessible tire air pressure stations, resulting in:

• Limited awareness of tire maintenance and safety practices

• Increased risk of vehicle-related incidents due to improper tire pressure

• Missed opportunities to support sustainability through improved fuel efficiency

• Lack of a simple, high-impact service that benefits the entire FIU community

Survey data (229 responses) reinforced the need:

• 55.5% were unaware of any on-campus air pump availability

• 83.8% expressed strong interest in having accessible stations

Tire Inflation Station at the FIU Modesto Campus

Actions Taken

• Co-developed and presented a strategic proposal for Tire Air Pressure (T.A.P.) Stations across FIU campuses

• Conducted community needs assessment and survey analysis to validate demand

• Designed the T.A.P. FYI campaign to educate users on tire safety and maintenance

• Identified funding strategies, including sponsorships and departmental partnerships

• Collaborated with key stakeholders, including:

  • Parking & Transportation

  • FIU Police

  • Office of University Sustainability

• Developed a marketing and outreach strategy leveraging FIU social media and campus partnerships

• Incorporated COVID-19 safety and maintenance protocols into implementation planning

  
  

Framework

Applied a Strategic Innovation + Design Thinking Framework grounded in:

• User-Centered Design – Addressing real community needs through survey data

• Sustainability Integration – Aligning with environmental and efficiency goals

• Cross-Functional Collaboration – Engaging multiple university departments

• Data-Informed Decision Making – Using survey insights to guide planning

• Scalable Implementation Planning – Designing a solution adaptable across campuses

• Service Design Thinking – Enhancing everyday campus experience through practical solutions

  
  

Impact

• Proposal officially accepted and implemented by FIU

• Installation of air pump stations across multiple campus parking lots and garages

• Improved campus safety and vehicle maintenance awareness

• Supported sustainability efforts by promoting fuel efficiency and reduced emissions

• Enhanced student, faculty, and staff experience through accessible, free services

• Demonstrated LEAP’s ability to translate innovation into real institutional impact
  

Key Takeaway

This initiative reflects how strategic collaboration, data-driven design, and innovation can transform a simple idea into a scalable, high-impact campus solution—advancing safety, sustainability, and service excellence.

Progress! “Little by little, a little becomes a lot” -  Tanzanian Proverb