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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.

      President Davies announces organizational changes

      by Sanjna Jassi
      Central Michigan University President Bob Davies announces organizational changes coming in the 2019-2020 academic year.

      Central Michigan University President Bob Davies has announced upcoming organizational changes to address strategic objectives of enrollment, marketing and branding.

      "We are adjusting our organizational structure to help the university better meet the changing needs of our global society and the students we serve," Davies said.

      The president announced the following changes to key leadership positions:

      • The former position of vice president of enrollment and student services will become two new positions: a vice president of student recruitment and retention and a vice president of student affairs.
      • The position of associate vice president of university communications will become vice president of university communications and chief marketing officer.
      • As the university searches for a new vice president of advancement, CMU will eliminate the currently vacant position of associate vice president of advancement.
      • The position of executive director of the Office of Civil Rights and Institutional Equity will change to an assistant vice president position reporting directly to the president.

      These changes will not increase the number of senior level positions, Davies said.

      As is the case at many colleges and universities nationwide, declining enrollment continues to be a chief concern for CMU. As the university addresses enrollment, it also must adopt practices to better serve current and incoming freshman, transfer, nontraditional and international students, Davies said.

      Earlier this year, CMU also announced several new leaders including:

      • Executive Vice President and Provost Mary C. Schutten.
      • Christopher Moberg, dean of the College of Business Administration.
      • Betty Kirby, dean of the College of Education and Human Services.
      • Larry Klaus, CMU Police chief.
      • Greg Zimmerman, health professions associate dean.

      A search also is underway for an associate dean in the College of the Arts and Media.

      Questions?