The Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents approved plans today to build a university-wide, multi-disciplinary Entrepreneurship Center (E-Center) which will be housed in the UNLV College of Business and will offer an undergraduate major in entrepreneurship. The E-Center is expected to add to the university's ability to transform bright ideas into commercial success. Students and community members can be trained with the basic skills necessary to bring an idea into the world. The center will also assist UNLV in bringing together venture capital and innovation.
The center not only support existing and proposed academic programs at UNLV, but has the potential of being a large resource for the business community. "We are extremely gratified that the Board of Regents supports our vision for entrepreneurship education and research in the College of Business," said Richard Flaherty, dean of the College of Business. "The new center will allow us to better coordinate and facilitate existing and planned entrepreneurship initiatives within the college, across the campus and the higher education system, and with external constituencies. It will also produce a higher profile for entrepreneurship activities and will provide a focal point for funding."
Flaherty and other organizers believe the E-Center will appeal to the business leaders in the Las Vegas community. They hope the center becomes a catalyst for promoting economic diversification and growth in the Las Vegas valley and across the state. The goal is to be recognized as a strong resource by the business community and as a visible and respected facilitator of outstanding academic programs.
The E-Center will be organized within the College of Business, and will report to Flaherty. Janet Runge, assistant professor in the college, has been appointed as the interim director of the center. "This is a fabulous opportunity for students and community members who are interested in entrepreneurship prospects, and even for people who don't know they're interested yet," she said. With the Board of Regents approval today, the next step is to build partnership opportunities with businesses in the community and get the word out about what the center can offer.
