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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!
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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.
CMU launches new biotechnology program to meet growing industry demands
by
Robert Wang
The College of Science and Engineering at Central Michigan University is proud to announce the launch of a new and innovative Biotechnology program, set to commence in Fall 2024. This innovative program is designed to equip students with the technical skills and professional development needed to thrive in the rapidly expanding biotechnology sector.
Revolutionizing education and career readiness
Biotechnology leverages biological systems and organisms to develop new products and methods that enhance human health and society. This interdisciplinary field is transforming medicine, agriculture, food production, and environmental management. CMU's new program aims to harness this potential by preparing students for immediate entry into the workforce with a strong emphasis on laboratory-intensive, hands-on technical skills.
Meeting industry needs
The decision to introduce this program comes in response to significant industry demand. According to MichBio, the bioscience industry in Michigan alone provides over 39,000 jobs and has a total economic impact exceeding $28 billion. Nationally, biotech firms employ over 1.66 million people, generating approximately $140 billion in revenue.
“The new Biotechnology major is an exciting opportunity for our students,” said Dr. Steven Gorsich, chair of the Department of Biology at Central Michigan University. “Our students are motivated to learn these hands-on skills, and employers are eager to hire biology graduates from CMU.”
Curriculum highlights
Our new Biotechnology program will offer students a comprehensive education, blending advanced technical laboratory skills with professional development. Key courses include:
- BIO 115 Exploring Biotechnology: An overview course providing insights into the diverse applications of biotechnology.
- BIO 215 Career Pathways in Biotechnology: A course focused on developing professional skills, including resume building, interview preparation, and understanding bioethics.
The curriculum also mandates an internship or research experience, ensuring that students gain real-world, experiential learning that is highly valued by employers.
Diverse career opportunities
Graduates of the Biotechnology program will find opportunities across various sectors, including:
- Medical and Laboratory Sciences: Clinical or laboratory technician, DNA analytics, medical equipment development, basic and applied research.
- Agriculture and Food Production: Food, plant, and animal research and development, greenhouse, and field specialist roles.
- Environmental Science: Environmental remediation and quality control.
- Sales and Marketing: Technical service and sales representative roles.
- Hands-on learning and industry support
This new program stands out for its hands-on, experiential learning approach. All elective courses include laboratory components that emphasize problem-solving and troubleshooting, preparing students for real-world challenges. This approach is expected to attract students interested in a focused major that offers explicit career preparation.
The program also benefits from robust support and feedback from the Biotechnology Industry Advisory Board, staffing firms, and survey data from current students and alumni. This feedback has been instrumental in shaping a program that meets both educational and industry needs.
Program launch
We’re set to offer BIO 115 in Fall 2024, followed by BIO 215 in Spring 2025. The full program will be available starting in Fall 2024, providing students with an unparalleled opportunity to dive into the dynamic field of biotechnology.
For more information about the Biotechnology program at CMU, prospective students and interested parties are encouraged to contact the Department of Biology at 989-774-3227.
Signature Programs
Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship
Explore special opportunities to learn new skills and travel the world.
Compete & Win
New Venture Challenge 2025
Present your venture and win BIG at the New Venture Challenge.
Build your skills
Workshops and events
Boost your entrepreneurial skills through our workshops, mentor meetups and pitch competitions.
Develop your ideas
IDEA Den
Learn about the entrepreneurship makerspace on campus in Grawn Hall.
Ready, Set, Pitch!
Make-A-Pitch 2024
Present a 2-minute pitch at the Make-A-Pitch Competition and you could win prizes and bragging rights!
Meet Mentors
Mentorship and support
Connect with mentors and faculty who are here to support the next generation of CMU entrepreneurs.
Support students
Make an impact
Are you a CMU alum looking to support CMU student entrepreneurs? Learn how you can support or donate to the Entrepreneurship Institute.
View our programming newsletter
Alumni give back to students through mentorship, real-world experiences
The Wakeling Gendron Entrepreneurial Scholars program wrapped its first cohort this academic year.
Students compete to win cash prizes at the New Venture Challenge
Pitched 40 ventures at NMV Challenge, Friday, April 19, CMU. Judges awarded $100,000 in cash prizes.
Wakeling Gendron Scholars make a life-changing trip to Texas
Wakeling and Gendron Scholars attended SXSW in Texas, meeting industry leaders and gaining entrepreneurial insights.
Business barriers lead CMU students to a new venture
Justin Ashman and Philip Mundt won Central Michigan University's New Venture Competition with their 3-D printing operation, Form Further.
