Monday, September 17, 2007
Entrepreneurship expert on campus
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The director of Millikin University’s nationally recognized entrepreneurship program will be at USI for a two-day visit. Sharon Alpi will speak to students on “Entrepreneurship Across the Disciplines” at 10 a.m. on Monday, September 24 in Carter Hall D of the University Center. One of three faculty members who developed an entrepreneurship-in-the-arts program for Millikin, Alpi teaches the senior seminar for the program. She has an extensive background in entrepreneurship. In 2004, she was named the Coleman Foundation Professor in Entrepreneurship at Millikin. She also works with the Council for Entrepreneurship Awareness for the Coleman Foundation, a Chicago-based organization that supports entrepreneurship education. Alpi directed a program called Accelerating Entrepreneurship in Central Illinois, a collaborative process launched by Millikin to foster a more supportive environment for entrepreneurship-based economic development in the region. In 2001, she organized a team of investors in the creation of a venture fund, InDecatur Ventures, LLC. The Center for Entrepreneurship serves as a learning laboratory for students and is a resource to the Decatur community and the State of Illinois. Alpi and Dr. James G. Dahl, dean of the Tabor School of Business at Millikin, will meet with USI College of Business faculty and community leaders to discuss teaching entrepreneurship, entrepreneur programs in the community, funding entrepreneur academic programs and endeavors, and related issues. The USI College of Business plans to offer a minor in entrepreneurship that is designed to have wide appeal for students across campus. Dr. Mohammed Khayum, dean of the College of Business, said students in many disciplines are likely to benefit from exposure to information about starting and managing a business. The proposed curriculum will be submitted to appropriate University committees during this semester. If approved, the program could be implemented in fall 2008. In the entrepreneurship minor, students will learn how to apply creative thinking to their business ideas, assess the feasibility of business ideas, develop a business plan, and explore effective business practices. They also will have hands-on opportunities to work with entrepreneurs. |
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