Grants foster entrepreneur spirit

ASU took a large step in becoming the most entrepreneurial university in the nation when it granted six proposals in the Student Pathways Awards money to implement new programs to increase university-wide student engagement in entrepreneurship opportunities.

Nineteen proposals were submitted to the Office of University Initiatives from university faculty and staff. The proposals then were judged by a panel of reviewers from throughout the university and the community. The six winners were chosen based on their program's potential for increased student participation and success, attainment of further funding, and movement of innovations to the marketplace.

Recipients of the grants were notified April 16 and told they would receive funding to implement their programs beginning May 1 and continuing through April 30, 2008. Funding for the programs ranged from $2,000 to $25,000.

Funds for the awards were made possible through the Kauffman Foundation, which designated ASU as a Kauffman Campus and a recipient of a $5 million grant to promote cross-campus entrepreneurship. The Kauffman Foundation launched its Kauffman Campuses Initiative to revolutionize the way colleges and universities prepare students for success after graduation in the American economy.

“There is a cost-sharing or matching funds requirement with the Student Pathways Award,” says Margaret Burch, director of evaluation and budget for the University as Entrepreneur Initiative. “These additional funds, beyond what was awarded from the Kauffman Campuses Initiative, are for implementing and continuing the programs beyond the one-year SPA term.”

Objectives for the award recipients include:

• Funding student pathways by increasing linkages through ASU entrepreneurship opportunities in interdisciplinary ways.

• Helping entrepreneurial students across the university (regardless of major) graduate, and stimulating faculty entrepreneurship.

• Developing entrepreneurship opportunities to ASU students.

For information about these programs, a list of the award recipients and the faculty involved, visit the Web site www.asu.edu/ui/entrepreneurship.