Instead of working under some lofty CEO or spending most of their twenties and thirties fighting for promotions, some students dream of starting their own businesses and being their own boss.
The University is taking steps to help these people by offering classes and clubs and fostering an overall inclination towards entrepreneurship. The idea to focus on entrepreneurship as a university was first made public when Chancellor James Oblinger delivered his address, “The State of N.C. State,” on Sept. 27, 2007.
“By expanding minds and igniting imaginations, N.C. State will develop an educated and entrepreneurial work force and the leaders of tomorrow,” Oblinger said in a statement about the entrepreneurship focus.
What developed was the Entrepreneurship Initiative, which was launched on Nov. 3, 2008 with a program at the McKimmon Center. CEO of Cleartricity Joe Forbes was the featured keynote speaker.
“There are several existing entrepreneurship programs in various colleges, and we want entrepreneurship to be multi-disciplinary and campus-wide,” Autumn Mauney, associate director for external relations for the Entrepreneurship Program, said.
The program began in July 2008.
Lecturer Erin Powell Smith represented the College of Textiles, along with Tim Clapp, in the development of the EI.
“The EI is designed to create multi-disciplinary interaction among students from all colleges on campus to foster the culture of entrepreneurship,” Smith said. “We serve on several planning committees ranging from undergraduate curriculum development to graduate level research to K-12 interaction to extracurricular and industry relationships.”
Smith works with most colleges from the University, including the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Physical and Mathematical Sciences and the College of Natural Resources, in an effort to make sure that COT students are integrated across campus.
“By developing these relationships and building upon strengths of varied disciplines, the students are exposed to an outstanding set of resources and opportunities,” Smith said.
Smith is specifically involved in the areas of graduate level research, K-12 interaction and integration of the academic curriculum into the planned physical infrastructure.
K-12 outreach programs, research and graduate programs, and the Entrepreneurship Institute are long-term plans for the EI. Mauney said that the Entrepreneurship Institute should be implemented by summer 2009.
Mauney said that the EI will have something for everybody in the curriculum, for each level of involvement. Students will have the opportunity to take introductory courses, thematic tracks to go along with their chosen course of study and a certificate program. The uppermost level of involvement will eventually culminate in a building on Centennial Campus called “The Garage.”
“The Garage will be a living and learning community for entrepreneurship students, with lab spaces where students will be able to meet and work on projects of interest,” Mauney said.
The program currently has trips and tours available to students interested in entrepreneurship. It started with a trip to Silicon Valley and expanded from there. Students now have the opportunity to visit local entrepreneurs on guided tours on two specific days a semester. The next trip is one to China, planned for August. Students will travel to Beijing and Shanghai to observe the local culture of entrepreneurship, both through University programs and throughout the greater community.
Mauney said the goal is that the University eventually wants students to attend for the entrepreneurship program.
Students who are interested in entrepreneurship and would like to meet other like-minded individuals have different options on campus.
The main campus entrepreneurship club is the University Entrepreneurship Network, formerly known as Entrepreneurs’ Club, which meets every other Thursday at 7:00 pm in room 325 in Riddick Hall.
Megan McCarthy, senior in animal science and co-president of the University Entrepreneurship Network, said, “The purpose of the University Entrepreneurship Network is to promote entrepreneurial thinking while developing leadership, networking and risk management skills.” McCarthy said that all majors are welcome to join.
According to McCarthy, “we provide the students of N.C. State an opportunity to meet others interested in entrepreneurial endeavors and even develop businesses.” The club routinely brings in outside speakers and local entrepreneurs, and presents educational workshops on various aspects of business. Many of the members also regularly attend networking events.
In the College of Textiles, James Spratley, senior in textile and apparel management, is president of the Textile Entrepreneurs Club. The TEC is geared towards students who are interested in entrepreneurship as well as textiles, and was started in fall 2007 by Madison Owen, senior in textile and apparel management.
“As a part of the National Entrepreneurship Week, the Textile Entrepreneurship Club hosted the Textile Entrepreneurship Forum to bring together local textile entrepreneurs, students and faculty members,” Spratley said.
The event was structured as a forum where the entrepreneurs shared about their experiences and then took questions from the moderator and the audience. Panelists included Charles Stewart, owner of dyeing company Tumbling Colors, and Christina Wight of Rainyday Bridalwear. Stewart and Wight are alumni of the College of Textiles.
According to Spratley, the event was a great success with over 70 students in attendance.
