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Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

We are a dedicated institute for student entrepreneurs across campus and beyond. We aim to maximize your success by fostering your entrepreneurial mindset, promote inter-disciplinary collaboration and provide support for the creation and development of your new ventures. Jumpstart your ideas and get involved today!

Tune in for excitement!

Passion. Potential. Pitches. Don't miss any of the 2025 New Venture Challenge excitement.

Tune in Friday, April 11 at 1 p.m. for great ideas and fierce competition. Then, join the judges, mentors, spectators and teams as they see who is going home with thousands of dollars in venture financing. The awards broadcast begins at 6:30 p.m. and one team will walk away as the overall best venture. 

Start your entrepreneurial journey

Central Michigan University’s College of Business Administration is the home of the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship and the first Department of Entrepreneurship in the state of Michigan. We are a student-centric hub where experiential, curricular, and external entrepreneurial opportunities intersect.

Our mission is to maximize student success by fostering a campus-wide entrepreneurial mindset that promotes inter-disciplinary collaboration and the creation of new ventures.

We aim to create innovative programming, boost cross-campus and ecosystem collaboration and provide a comprehensive mentoring program.

Our institute provides extracurricular opportunities and is open to all undergraduate and graduate CMU students.

Student opportunities

  • Meet experienced alumni, faculty, entrepreneurs, investors, and other business and political leaders.
  • Learn practical skills, innovative thinking, and connect with mentors and entrepreneurial resources.
  • Attend skill-building workshops and compete in pitch competitions and Hackathons.
  • Take part in special scholarship programs and travel experiences.
  • Pitch your venture at our signature New Venture Challenge event and compete for up to $20,000 in cash awards.

      Find your path

      Are you interested in becoming an entrepreneur?

      Every journey is unique. Explore the opportunities that interest you.

      April 2023 CMU Board of Trustees Agenda Preview

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      During this week's formal session of the Central Michigan University Board of Trustees meetings, CMU President Bob Davies will give an update on the university's strategic planning and budgeting initiatives. 

      Trustees also will receive updates on a variety of university initiatives, including facilities enhancements, new scholarships and endowments, and the achievements of students, faculty and staff.

      Meetings of the Board of Trustees are held in the President’s Conference Room in the Bovee University Center and are open to the public. In-person seating for up to 25 individuals is available in the Lake Superior Room; meetings also are available via livestream.

      • Watch Wednesday’s committee meetings beginning at 1:10 p.m.
      • Watch the formal session Thursday beginning at 1:00 p.m.

      Wednesday’s committee meetings will include the following highlights:

      • Policy and Bylaws Committee: Trustees will consider a new traffic control order related to the use and storage of electric scooters on campus.
      • Academic and Student Affairs Committee: James Span, executive director of Student Inclusion and Diversity, will give a presentation on the collaborative efforts underway in the office of Multicultural Academic Student Services. Ben Swarts, faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, will showcase his department’s model for required capstone research projects, accompanied by current student Izzy Gaidhane and alumna Amanda Clark. Jennifer DeHaemers, vice president of student recruitment and retention, will provide an enrollment update. 
      • Finance and Facilities Committee: Trustees will receive a budget model update from Joe Garrison, executive director of financial planning and budgets, and Mary Hill, vice president of finance and administrative services. Renee’ Watson, vice president of student affairs, will discuss findings from a student survey regarding housing preferences on campus and next steps for residence hall enhancements.
      • Trustees-Faculty Liaison Committee: Trustees will hear a presentation on the interdisciplinary Disability Studies and Community Inclusion Minor from JoDell Heroux, Shay Dawson, Tanya Domina and Ian Mull, all faculty members from the College of Education and Human Services. 
      • Trustees-Student Liaison Committee: Trustees will hear reports from outgoing Student Government Association and Residence Housing Association leaders, as well as welcome the incoming leadership teams. Trustees will also receive an update from the CMU Program Board student leaders.  
      Trustees also will discuss and take action on several items, including approval of spring graduates, granting of emeritus status for faculty and staff, appointments to public charter school boards, and more. 

      Individuals wishing to address the board during the formal session Thursday must submit a request to speak in advance of the meeting in one of two ways:

      • Visit the Office of the President in Warriner Hall to complete a request card.
      • Complete the online “Request to Address the Board” form.

      Information about Board of Trustees meetings, including a schedule of meetings and agendas, is available on the CMU Board of Trustees meetings webpage.

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      Questions?

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