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Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship
We empower entrepreneurial thinkers—whether you’re launching a venture, building a family business, creating social impact, or driving innovation inside an organization. Turn ideas into action.
Start your entrepreneurial journey
At Central Michigan University, the Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship is more than a program—it’s where students from every major turn ideas into real impact. As Michigan’s first Department of Entrepreneurship, we’re a hub for hands-on learning, innovation, and mentorship.
Here, you’ll:
- Build an entrepreneurial mindset that sets you apart in any career path—launching ventures, shaping social missions, advancing family businesses, or driving innovation inside established companies.
- Collaborate across disciplines to create projects that matter.
- Learn from alumni, faculty, and industry leaders who’ve built their own paths.
- Gain real-world experience through workshops, hackathons, and pitch competitions.
- Compete in the New Venture Challenge, where students win up to $10,000 in cash and grants to grow their ideas.
Whether you want to start something new or transform what already exists, the Institute is your launchpad.
Take the next step!
When you’re ready to get started, stop by Grawn 164 to join the team or visit the Idea Den in Grawn 166—your space to brainstorm, build, and take the next step.
Questions?
Central Michigan University will continue to be vigilant against the spread of COVID-19 as it remains committed to on-campus learning for the spring 2021 semester.
"COVID-19 will still be with us next year," said Mary C. Schutten, executive vice president and provost. "CMU needs to continue being proactive to maintain our success in slowing its spread."
Here are details for the semester, which begins in January:
- The first week of classes, Jan. 11-15, will be fully online.
- Courses shift to meet in person, online or in a hybrid-flexible — or HyFlex — format beginning the week of Jan. 18.
- Instead of a weeklong spring break, five "wellness days" of no classes will be added to the calendar over the course of the semester. The traditional Gentle Thursday and Friday also will be rescheduled within the semester. The intent is to provide time away from normal class day experiences as well as to reduce widespread travel and the accompanying risk of exposure and spread of COVID-19.
- The spring semester ends with exams May 3-7.
- Study Abroad experiences are canceled for the semester.
Schutten said decisions about the spring calendar were collaborative and determined based on input from student groups, faculty leadership, the university's Emergency Management Team, President Bob Davies and the president's cabinet. CMU also will continue to follow guidance from its own medical authorities, regional and state public health agencies, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"Our plans for spring align with our top goals during this pandemic: Keep CMU safe and healthy, open and operational, and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus," she said.
Current students may register at any time through CentralLink for spring 2021 as part of multi-semester course search and registration. Information available before Nov. 9 on spring courses is subject to changes to update the modalities and other course information.
Further information about the semester and beyond will be shared as it becomes available.