Description
In this such a description pertaining to report on current activities related to entrepreneurship.
BOARD OF REGENTS AGENDA ITEM 1e
STATE OF IOWA FEBRUARY 1-2, 2006
Contact: Anthony Girardi
REPORT ON CURRENT ACTIVITIES RELATED TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Action Requested: Receive the report.
Executive Summary: The universities have provided reports on activities in support of
entrepreneurship. All three universities describe activities in the areas of academic
programming, co-curricular and other initiatives for students and campus communities, and
support for entrepreneurship among the general public. The universities’ reports identify the
J ohn Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (J PEC) and Small Business Development Center
(SBDC) at each campus as key drivers of efforts related to entrepreneurial education and
support.
Complete institutional reports are included in the Regents Exhibit Book and are posted on the
Board of Regents web site with the electronic version of this memo.
Background:
At its November 2005 meeting, the Board’s Economic Development Committee agreed to
discuss how the universities can assist Iowans to successfully enter commercial enterprise
through entrepreneurship.
Summary of University Reports:
Academic Programming
All three Regent universities provide academic instruction in entrepreneurship. UNI offers
certificates in entrepreneurship for both business- and non-business majors. The university also
offers an elective course on planning and growing a business venture. The J PEC also provides
guest speakers on entrepreneurship to UNI classes.
SUI offers several certificate programs in entrepreneurship, targeting students with different
academic backgrounds. For example, students in business, health sciences, and liberal arts
and sciences may earn the certificate in addition to their undergraduate degrees. Other
certificates are tailored for students studying engineering or the performing arts. Graduates of
Iowa community college technical programs can earn a certificate in entrepreneurship through
distance education as part of SUI’s Bachelor of Applied Studies (B.A.S.) degree program. The
university’s M.B.A. program also offers a concentration in Entrepreneurship.
ISU offers a minor in entrepreneurial studies, designed to complement studies in any major and
available to all undergraduate students. ISU is one of two universities nationally which served
as models for the Kauffman Foundation’s efforts to promote entrepreneurship in higher
education. Iowa State received a $600,000 Kauffman Foundation grant to review and enhance
its academic programming in entrepreneurship. With this support, ISU has engaged faculty in
several ways to build a culture of awareness and acceptance of entrepreneurship. In its work
with students, for example, the university largely relies on the knowledge gained by faculty who
have gained personal experience at entrepreneurship through research commercialization
Co-curricular and Other Initiatives for Students
The Regent universities offer numerous co-curricular and other initiatives in support of
entrepreneurship among students, faculty, and staff. These efforts also often include service to
high school and college students throughout Iowa. The J ohn Pappajohn Entrepreneurial
Centers at each campus are instrumental in these efforts. For example, the Pappajohn Centers
in Iowa collaborated to offer the Iowa Venture Capital Conference, Pappajohn New Venture
Business Plan Competition for students, and the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Iowa Conference.
Other examples from the universities’ complete reports include the following:
BOARD OF REGENTS AGENDA ITEM 1e
STATE OF IOWA PAGE 2
UNI
• UNI Entrepreneurship Symposium. In the past, the symposium has hosted more than 400
participants.
• The UNI Student Business Incubator allows students to explore starting and operating a
business while attending UNI.
• CIPCO Business Enhancement Scholarships provide small companies with summer interns.
• J PEC’s Selected Topics Workshops provide basic information on entrepreneurship.
• The J PEC Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award is presented annually to a UNI College
of Business Administration major who owns and operates a small business.
SUI
• The Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory (BELL) provides business incubation
resources, mentoring, business plan development, and other support.
• J PEC faculty and staff direct student teams in field study projects for area companies and
mentor student entrepreneurs.
• The campus residential learning community in business and entrepreneurship provides
educational and social opportunities in connection with entrepreneurship as a field of study.
• The University sponsors the Volding Business Plan Competition and the Storer Engineering
Start-up Award.
• The Entrepreneur-in-Residence program partners successful entrepreneurs with business-
minded students.
• Consider Iowa Internships—Students gain work experience in emerging Iowa businesses.
ISU
• ISU’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation residential learning community is planning the
launch of the first community-managed business.
• The university places students in internships in early-stage companies, primarily at the ISU
Research Park.
• The J PEC Center has partnered with the ISU Community Vitality Center to launch 12 new
Youth Marketplace entrepreneurship programs throughout the state for elementary and
middle school aged students.
• Graduate students are also eligible for J PEC internship, scholarship, and business plan
competition programs.
Entrepreneurship Support for the General Public
The universities engage in numerous initiatives and activities which support and promote
entrepreneurship among the general public. In collaboration with the J PECs, the Small
Business Development Centers (SBDCs) at each campus offer assistance to current and
prospective small business owners. Assistance includes research, counseling, and training in
management, financing, and small business operations. A small number of additional
examples from the universities’ complete reports include the following:
UNI
The UNI Regional Business Center (RBC) is the hub for NE Iowa’s entrepreneurial development
system, MyEntreNet. MyEntreNet provides customized services to entrepreneurs and
communities to foster entrepreneurial development. MyEntreNet services to entrepreneurs
include a service/technology incubator, individualized technical assistance, customized
workshops and training programs, web resources, and a mentoring program.
BOARD OF REGENTS AGENDA ITEM 1e
STATE OF IOWA PAGE 3
SUI
The J PEC at SUI provides entrepreneurial education, consulting services, and lectures to the
community at large. The center provides consultation, and seminars and workshops on
entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, and new venture financing. In addition, in
partnership with the Iowa Community College system and the University of Northern Iowa, the
J PEC delivers FastTrac entrepreneurial training programs statewide. Other activities include
youth outreach, K-12 teacher training, and summer camps for elementary and middle school
students.
ISU
The business development practice at ISU serves a broad range of clients including the
community base of manufacturing, service and retail businesses from a five county area as well
as a significant practice assisting startup technology businesses from a broader Iowa
geography. The ISU Pappajohn Center is working in collaboration with the Des Moines
Partnership, the Ames Area Economic Development Commission and DMACC to establish a
central Iowa business Accelerator.
F:\AA Economic Development Committee\0602 February 2006\0206_ITEM01e.doc
doc_861050850.pdf
In this such a description pertaining to report on current activities related to entrepreneurship.
BOARD OF REGENTS AGENDA ITEM 1e
STATE OF IOWA FEBRUARY 1-2, 2006
Contact: Anthony Girardi
REPORT ON CURRENT ACTIVITIES RELATED TO ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Action Requested: Receive the report.
Executive Summary: The universities have provided reports on activities in support of
entrepreneurship. All three universities describe activities in the areas of academic
programming, co-curricular and other initiatives for students and campus communities, and
support for entrepreneurship among the general public. The universities’ reports identify the
J ohn Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center (J PEC) and Small Business Development Center
(SBDC) at each campus as key drivers of efforts related to entrepreneurial education and
support.
Complete institutional reports are included in the Regents Exhibit Book and are posted on the
Board of Regents web site with the electronic version of this memo.
Background:
At its November 2005 meeting, the Board’s Economic Development Committee agreed to
discuss how the universities can assist Iowans to successfully enter commercial enterprise
through entrepreneurship.
Summary of University Reports:
Academic Programming
All three Regent universities provide academic instruction in entrepreneurship. UNI offers
certificates in entrepreneurship for both business- and non-business majors. The university also
offers an elective course on planning and growing a business venture. The J PEC also provides
guest speakers on entrepreneurship to UNI classes.
SUI offers several certificate programs in entrepreneurship, targeting students with different
academic backgrounds. For example, students in business, health sciences, and liberal arts
and sciences may earn the certificate in addition to their undergraduate degrees. Other
certificates are tailored for students studying engineering or the performing arts. Graduates of
Iowa community college technical programs can earn a certificate in entrepreneurship through
distance education as part of SUI’s Bachelor of Applied Studies (B.A.S.) degree program. The
university’s M.B.A. program also offers a concentration in Entrepreneurship.
ISU offers a minor in entrepreneurial studies, designed to complement studies in any major and
available to all undergraduate students. ISU is one of two universities nationally which served
as models for the Kauffman Foundation’s efforts to promote entrepreneurship in higher
education. Iowa State received a $600,000 Kauffman Foundation grant to review and enhance
its academic programming in entrepreneurship. With this support, ISU has engaged faculty in
several ways to build a culture of awareness and acceptance of entrepreneurship. In its work
with students, for example, the university largely relies on the knowledge gained by faculty who
have gained personal experience at entrepreneurship through research commercialization
Co-curricular and Other Initiatives for Students
The Regent universities offer numerous co-curricular and other initiatives in support of
entrepreneurship among students, faculty, and staff. These efforts also often include service to
high school and college students throughout Iowa. The J ohn Pappajohn Entrepreneurial
Centers at each campus are instrumental in these efforts. For example, the Pappajohn Centers
in Iowa collaborated to offer the Iowa Venture Capital Conference, Pappajohn New Venture
Business Plan Competition for students, and the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Iowa Conference.
Other examples from the universities’ complete reports include the following:
BOARD OF REGENTS AGENDA ITEM 1e
STATE OF IOWA PAGE 2
UNI
• UNI Entrepreneurship Symposium. In the past, the symposium has hosted more than 400
participants.
• The UNI Student Business Incubator allows students to explore starting and operating a
business while attending UNI.
• CIPCO Business Enhancement Scholarships provide small companies with summer interns.
• J PEC’s Selected Topics Workshops provide basic information on entrepreneurship.
• The J PEC Student Entrepreneur of the Year Award is presented annually to a UNI College
of Business Administration major who owns and operates a small business.
SUI
• The Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory (BELL) provides business incubation
resources, mentoring, business plan development, and other support.
• J PEC faculty and staff direct student teams in field study projects for area companies and
mentor student entrepreneurs.
• The campus residential learning community in business and entrepreneurship provides
educational and social opportunities in connection with entrepreneurship as a field of study.
• The University sponsors the Volding Business Plan Competition and the Storer Engineering
Start-up Award.
• The Entrepreneur-in-Residence program partners successful entrepreneurs with business-
minded students.
• Consider Iowa Internships—Students gain work experience in emerging Iowa businesses.
ISU
• ISU’s Entrepreneurship and Innovation residential learning community is planning the
launch of the first community-managed business.
• The university places students in internships in early-stage companies, primarily at the ISU
Research Park.
• The J PEC Center has partnered with the ISU Community Vitality Center to launch 12 new
Youth Marketplace entrepreneurship programs throughout the state for elementary and
middle school aged students.
• Graduate students are also eligible for J PEC internship, scholarship, and business plan
competition programs.
Entrepreneurship Support for the General Public
The universities engage in numerous initiatives and activities which support and promote
entrepreneurship among the general public. In collaboration with the J PECs, the Small
Business Development Centers (SBDCs) at each campus offer assistance to current and
prospective small business owners. Assistance includes research, counseling, and training in
management, financing, and small business operations. A small number of additional
examples from the universities’ complete reports include the following:
UNI
The UNI Regional Business Center (RBC) is the hub for NE Iowa’s entrepreneurial development
system, MyEntreNet. MyEntreNet provides customized services to entrepreneurs and
communities to foster entrepreneurial development. MyEntreNet services to entrepreneurs
include a service/technology incubator, individualized technical assistance, customized
workshops and training programs, web resources, and a mentoring program.
BOARD OF REGENTS AGENDA ITEM 1e
STATE OF IOWA PAGE 3
SUI
The J PEC at SUI provides entrepreneurial education, consulting services, and lectures to the
community at large. The center provides consultation, and seminars and workshops on
entrepreneurship, technology commercialization, and new venture financing. In addition, in
partnership with the Iowa Community College system and the University of Northern Iowa, the
J PEC delivers FastTrac entrepreneurial training programs statewide. Other activities include
youth outreach, K-12 teacher training, and summer camps for elementary and middle school
students.
ISU
The business development practice at ISU serves a broad range of clients including the
community base of manufacturing, service and retail businesses from a five county area as well
as a significant practice assisting startup technology businesses from a broader Iowa
geography. The ISU Pappajohn Center is working in collaboration with the Des Moines
Partnership, the Ames Area Economic Development Commission and DMACC to establish a
central Iowa business Accelerator.
F:\AA Economic Development Committee\0602 February 2006\0206_ITEM01e.doc
doc_861050850.pdf