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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

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      Every journey is unique. Explore the opportunities that interest you.

      Trustees to consider a budget proposal to advance strategic priorities

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      The Central Michigan University Board of Trustees will hold committee meetings on Monday, June 24, and meet in formal session Tuesday, June 25, on the Mount Pleasant campus.

      On Monday, Trustees will visit the College of Science and Engineering to explore its programs and facilities. Dean David Ford will guide Trustees through an overview of the college’s accomplishments and its commitment to STEM and other programs. The tour will be followed by Trustee committee meetings.

      On Tuesday during formal session, the Board of Trustees will discuss and vote on proposals for CMU’s fiscal year 2024-2025 operating budget, undergraduate and graduate tuition rates, and housing and food rates.

      Also at Tuesday’s formal session, CMU President Bob Davies will present a report on the accomplishments of students, faculty and staff since the last meeting of the board. Trustees also will provide an update on the search for CMU’s next president.

      In other board business, Trustees will consider a proposal from the SGA to establish a student sustainability fee. They also will vote on a resolution requesting an upgrade to network infrastructure from the Office of Information Technology.

      Other items on the meeting agenda include:

      • Emeritus rank for three retiring faculty and staff members.
      • Updating traffic control orders.
      • Updating CMU’s naming opportunities policy.
      • Accepting the Office of Research and Graduate Studies quarterly report.

      Highlights for Monday’s committee meetings include:

      • Policy and Bylaws Committee, 1:45-2:15 p.m. — Discussion of action items including traffic control orders and amendments and naming opportunity policy changes.
      • Academic and Student Affairs Committee, 2:30-3:30 p.m. — Update from Provost and Executive Vice President Nancy Mathews on the creation of CMU’s new academic vision. Vice President of Student Recruitment and Retention Jennifer DeHaemers will provide an update on enrollment and Interim Vice President Stan Shingles will share a Student Affairs update including presentations on the student food pantry and student well-being.
      • Finance and Facilities Committee, 3:45-4:15 p.m. — Discussion of action items including establishment of a student sustainability fee, proposed OIT network upgrades, endowments and a naming opportunity.

      Agendas for the June meetings, including Monday’s public committee meetings and the formal session Tuesday, are available on the Board of Trustees Agendas and Minutes webpage.

      Board of Trustees meetings are open to the university community and members of the public. All meetings will be held in the President’s Conference Room in the Bovee University Center, with seating for up to 25 individuals in the adjoining Lake Superior Room. All meetings are also available via live stream:

      Per theBoard of Trustees Bylaws, individuals wishing to address the Board of Trustees during the public comment period must submit a request in advance of the formal session in one of two ways:

      Questions?