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.

2025 NVC Competition Live Stream

2025 NVC Awards Live Stream

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.

A student standing with a faculty member holding big winning checks from the New Venture Challenge 2024.

Start up

Build up your venture idea.

Learn more

A student smiling and standing in front of his venture display at the 2024 New Venture Challenge.

Family business

Explore the Alternative Entrepreneurial Pathways category at NVC.

Learn more

A close-up of the Prusa i3 MK3 printer in the entrepreneurship makerspace, the IDEA Den in Grawn Hall 166.

Product and prototype design

Create and patent your ideas.

Learn more

Innovation

Explore your ideas and build your skills.

Learn more

Master of Public Administration (MPA) program earns reaccreditation

by Sarah Buckley

Central Michigan University’s Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program is a leader in the field of public service education. In recognition, the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA) has reaccredited the program for another 7 years.

“NASPAA reaccreditation demonstrates our program’s commitment to the field of public service education,” said MPA Director Sharon Kukla-Acevedo, a professor in the School of Politics, Society, Justice and Public Service. “This achievement is an expression of voluntarily applying principles of continuous improvement, focusing on student success and support, and following best practices in public service education.”

The MPA program at CMU has an accessible online format that allows students to complete the 37-hour program in roughly 2-3 years, even if working full-time. Classes are led by CMU faculty and contain self-paced coursework and hands-on learning.

MPAs are versatile degrees that help students advance their career and prepare them for leadership roles in the public and nonprofit sectors. Central’s MPA students are part of the global community of public service practitioners from more than 200 accredited graduate programs in public service.

Faculty member Sharon Kukla-Acevedo stands next to a digital display board featuring text about social safety net spending and high school graduation rates.

The NASPAA Standards and accreditation process serve to maintain and enhance the recognition and reputation of graduate public service degrees globally.

“Having a NASPAA accredited program in our School is quite an accomplishment,” said Thomas Greitens, Chair and Professor in the School of Politics, Society, Justice and Public Service. “It showcases the excellence of our students, staff, and faculty and also reflects the commitment of Central and the College of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences to programs that focus on student success.”

Established in 1978 at CMU, the MPA program has continually demonstrated a substantial commitment to quality public service education for over 45 years.