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Excellence and Expertise

Department of Entrepreneurship wins 2024 Model Program Award from United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship

The John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship has won a top honor.

L-R Dennis Barber III, USASBE Awards Committee Chair, Julienne Shields, President and CEO of USASBE, FSB professor Brett R. Smith, Altman Institute director Tim R. Holcomb, and Thomas Pittz, USASBE Board Chair
(L-R) Dennis Barber III, USASBE Awards Committee Chair, Julienne Shields, President and CEO of USASBE, FSB professor Brett R. Smith, Altman Institute director Tim R. Holcomb, and Thomas Pittz, USASBE Board Chair
Excellence and Expertise

Department of Entrepreneurship wins 2024 Model Program Award from United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship

(L-R) Dennis Barber III, USASBE Awards Committee Chair, Julienne Shields, President and CEO of USASBE, FSB professor Brett R. Smith, Altman Institute director Tim R. Holcomb, and Thomas Pittz, USASBE Board Chair

The John W. Altman Institute for Entrepreneurship and the Department of Entrepreneurship has won the 2024 Model Program Award from .

The  is awarded annually to the top entrepreneurship program (graduate and/or undergraduate) in the world and recognizes a university entrepreneurship program that provides "comprehensive, bold, high quality educational programs that train future generations of entrepreneurs." 

"I think a lot can be learned by other entrepreneurship programs from ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú's commitment to both cross-disciplinary programming and pervasive, impactful project-based delivery," USASBE president and CEO Julienne Shields said.

"Key differentiators of our program noted by judges that evaluated the two finalists include our success at connecting the entrepreneurship program in the Farmer School with Divisions across campus while implementing curricular and co-curricular programs that engage students from every undergraduate major across campus," director Tim Holcomb said. "Also, the emphasis our faculty and staff place on practice-based, immersive learning and the measurable impact entrepreneurship faculty and staff have had in our efforts to prepare tomorrow’s entrepreneurial leaders to be “job ready, day one.”

"Congratulations to Tim, Brett and the entire entrepreneurship team who have worked tirelessly to not only put ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú on the map with respect to entrepreneurship but also excel such that the program is now considered THE model program in the world," Farmer School of Business dean Jenny Darroch said.

"I am thrilled to learn the fantastic news that our Altman Institute and department have been honored with the USASBE Model Program Award, another prestigious accolade for entrepreneurship. This annual award recognizes the top entrepreneurship program worldwide, celebrating excellence in both graduate and undergraduate programs," ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University president Greg Crawford said. "It acknowledges a university entrepreneurship program that delivers comprehensive, bold, and high-quality educational programs, with the aim of training future generations of entrepreneurs. This achievement truly belongs with all of you at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University."

The entrepreneurship program was ranked No. 7 in the world by the Princeton Review and Entrepreneurship Magazine last year. It's been among the top 10 public entrepreneurship programs 16 years in a row in the Princeton Review rankings.

"I am delighted with all the success and achievements on the national and international scale. The program's reputation, consistently strong for decades, always achieving excellence at the highest level, adds another wonderful recognition to its long list of awards and accomplishments," Crawford said. "I am grateful for all that you and your faculty and staff do to make entrepreneurship such an amazing program at ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú University. I share your passion and energy for entrepreneurship education, practice, and scholarship."