Why Do We Need a Center?
Half of all new college graduates believe that self-employment is more secure than a full-time job.
80% of the colleges and universities in the U.S. now offer courses in entrepreneurship.
60% of Gen Y business owners consider themselves to be serial entrepreneurs.
18 to 24-year-olds are starting companies at a faster rate than 35 to 44-year olds.
70% of today's high schoolers intend to start their own companies, according to a Gallup poll.
Source: Malone, M.S. (2008, May 19). The next American frontier. The Wall Street Journal, p A -15.
Vision, Mission and Goals of the NCEC
Vision
To be the premier university-wide, cross-disciplinary, collaborative entrepreneurship center in the State of North Carolina by 2014. We will build collaborations with multiple agencies and organizations, including other entrepreneurship centers, organizations, and economic development agencies.
Mission
Our mission is to help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, and to serve as a catalyst for the creation of sustainable and globally competitive enterprises in the Piedmont Triad, North Carolina, and beyond. We will accomplish this by promoting entrepreneurship across the campus and in the community through public service and community engagement, education, and research.
Goals
The goals of the Center will be (1) to develop new kinds of learning, and (2) to build capacity of local institutions and engage the community with a particular emphasis in seven targeted cross-disciplinary areas: creative industries, family business, franchising, health care entrepreneurship, international entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, and technology entrepreneurship.
Develop new kinds of learning
Build a cross-disciplinary incubator to start and develop businesses that will create opportunities for our campus and impact economic development through job creation and growth in the seven targeted areas. We would tie this to the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship where the business would graduate to or to another location.
Organize internal events that infuse the entrepreneurial spirit and accomplishments into the curriculum, as well as promote strategic economic and entrepreneurship initiatives on campus as outlined in the UNC Tomorrow reports.
Continue the development and expansion of entrepreneurship student groups, such as CEO (Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization) to include students in the seven targeted areas.
Encourage student participation in competitions and programs, including business plan competitions that promote our cross-disciplinary character.
Develop selected non-credit entrepreneurship certificate programs to meet the needs not currently provided by other organizations, such as entrepreneurship in the arts and distance learning courses.
Build Capacity of Local Institutions and Engage the Community
Develop entrepreneurship internship programs that fulfill the capstone course requirement in the seven targeted areas.
Develop entrepreneurship mentoring programs in each of the seven targeted areas.
Develop successful external outreach activities, such as a Speaker’s Bureau, for the seven targeted areas.
Develop fully supportive and functioning advisory boards and committees to support the Center.
Develop services, such as fee-based consultancy to businesses, organizations, and joint marketing opportunities.
Develop alliances with internal centers and entities, such as the Gateway University Research Park, the Joint School of Nanoscience and Nanoengineering, and the Center for New North Carolinians, among others.
Enhance and expand existing relationships with community organizations, such as the Nussbaum Center for Entrepreneurship, the Greensboro Partnership, Piedmont Triad Partnership (PTP), the Entrepreneurial Action Team (EAT), and the United Arts Council. Develop new alliances with other community organizations, such as the Center of Innovation in the Nanobiosciences (COIN).
Develop alliances with domestic and international entrepreneurship centers and organizations, such as the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Center Directors’ Association (GCEC), National Consortium of Inventors and Innovators Alliance (NCIIA), and the European Family Business Center at the European Business School in Oestrich-Winkel, Germany.
