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News Release

Last modified: Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Social Entrepreneurship certificate offered through IU SPEA and Kelley School

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 22, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS and BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University announced a new graduate certificate program in Social Entrepreneurship, combining classes in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs and the Kelley School of Business to form a curriculum focused on applying entrepreneurial practices to public needs in the nonprofit, for-profit and governmental sectors. Students will begin classes for the certificate next week.

"To link business innovation and profit with social improvement is a critical strategy for the 21st century -- for businesses as well as for social and public organizations," said Astrid Merget, dean of SPEA. "A unique feature of the IU certificate program is that it formally links Kelley and SPEA -- not only their resources, faculty and students, but also their values and perceptions. Similar programs at other universities are located either under the business school or under public affairs. With this jointly directed program, IU is working to develop new collaborative practices to meet both business and social challenges."

The certificate program is open to students pursuing a master's degree with SPEA or Kelley on the Bloomington or Indianapolis campuses. Seven students are expected to obtain the certificate this year.

In addition to classes, students will participate in paid summer internships, a speaker series, research and publishing activities, and a year-round clinic to connect with Indiana organizations, businesses and communities.

"Graduate students are beginning to explore the unique aspects of entrepreneurship in the social sector," said Donald F. Kuratko, co-director of the program and executive director of the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at IU. "Having the Kelley School combine with SPEA allows students the opportunity to tap into the very best of Indiana University. This certificate in Social Entrepreneurship is another successful effort in developing the entrepreneurial mindset throughout the IU campus."

SPEA Professor Leslie Lenkowsky is also co-director of the program. Initial funding for the program was provided through a Lilly Endowment Grant administered through the Johnson Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. The Center on Philanthropy at IU also provides resources for the program.

The IU School of Public and Environmental Affairs, located on eight campuses, focuses on curriculum and research that are distinguished by a vigorous interdisciplinary approach to education and problem-solving in areas such as public and nonprofit management, public policy, environmental science, criminal justice, arts administration and health administration. The Kelley School of Business has been a leader in American business education for nearly 85 years. U.S. News & World Report ranked the Kelley School's MBA in Entrepreneurship Program No. 4 among public universities and the undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program No. 1 among public universities for 2007.

For further information, visit https://www.spea.indiana.edu/socialentrepreneurship/index.html or contact Al Lyons, associate director for the Social Entrepreneurship Certificate Program, at allyons@iupui.edu or 812-824-7082.

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