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.

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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.

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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.

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Innovation

Explore your ideas and build your skills.

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Study reveals varied sustainability awareness across academic disciplines

by Robert Wang

In a pioneering collaboration, scholars from Central Michigan University have embarked on an interdisciplinary research endeavor to investigate sustainability knowledge and attitudes among students, staff, and faculty, while also delving into the broader implications for sustainability education nationwide. Led by CMU Biology and Public & Nonprofit Administration graduate Eric Urbaniak, Rebecca Uzarski from the Department of Biology, and Salma Haidar from the School of Health Sciences, this comprehensive study sheds light on critical aspects of sustainability awareness within the academic community.

The research team collected anonymous responses from a diverse array of participants. The study aimed to evaluate sustainability knowledge and background across different academic disciplines, discern disparities within the CMU community, and gauge overall sustainability awareness to guide future initiatives.

Findings revealed intriguing insights. Students, staff and faculty in the College of Science and Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and the College of Health Professions exhibited notably higher pro-sustainability attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors compared to their counterparts in the three other colleges at CMU. Additionally, a significant gap emerged between the sustainability knowledge demonstrated by students versus that of staff and faculty members, with the latter consistently showcasing a more pronounced pro-sustainability stance.

Building upon a decade-long dedication to sustainability initiatives by CMU students, including the establishment of zero-waste kitchens and the formation of a student-led Sustainability Office, this research amplifies the university's commitment to environmental stewardship. Eric Urbaniak's project, initiated in 2021, aimed to direct sustainability planning and education at CMU and resulted in valuable insights. Participants expressed a desire for increased institutional support for sustainability, including investment in waste reduction infrastructure, cleaner energy sources, and enhanced engagement opportunities.

This research underscores the vital role of educational institutions in prioritizing sustainability education and engagement, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals set forth by the United Nations. By addressing disparities in sustainability awareness and behavior across academic domains, CMU and similar institutions can lead the way towards a more sustainable and equitable future, empowering stakeholders to drive positive change.