SAGINAW – The Kalamazoo Promise provides Kalamazoo Public School graduates with up to 100 percent tuition scholarship for post-secondary education. Its mission is to transform the community and stimulate the economy through a new generation of learners. With this letter, I’d like to respectfully challenge area business organizations to launch a new Entrepreneurship Promise (E Promise) whose mission is to transform and stimulate the Michigan community and economy through a new generation of entrepreneurial learners. Here’s why.
First, there is not one of us that can not trace our livelihood back to successful small business entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship and/or social entre/intrapreneurship. Future community and economic recovery, diversification and development will only come from successful entrepreneurship where innovation is combined with intent and capacity for growth. Entrepreneurial Education provides those with entrepreneurial “intent” with the “capacity” (i.e., skills and tools) to be successful. Second, the Kauffman Foundation has published an important work titled, “Entrepreneurship in American Education.” Much to our credit, Michigan has a number of accredited entrepreneurship degree programs in the state, making it one of our greatest competitive advantages and assets.
Lastly, a report from the Michigan Entrepreneurship Education Network showed that over the past several years, many public colleges and universities were starting to follow our leadership in Entrepreneurial Education. This trend is stalling, however. According to Entrepreneurship Magazine, Michigan ranks 23rd in the nation with regard to Entrepreneurial Education programs and curriculum. Moreover, an Illinois State University “Grapevine Project” report showed that State funding for Higher Education in Michigan is declining dramatically in relation to other states. According to this report, Michigan is last in increases in higher education appropriations for the last five years combined. State budget data, Bureau of Labor Standards also show a reduction in per student spending in the state since 2001. Entrepreneurial Education is subject to declining financial support for higher education across the board.
Many colleges in the state have halted or slowed their efforts to launch accredited entrepreneurship degree programs. Moreover, progress on 2+2 Articulation Agreements between community colleges and universities with accredited entrepreneur degrees is at risk. Schools with accredited degree programs in place are faring much better and, to their credit, continue to demonstrate their outstanding leadership and support for economic recovery by maintaining their strong support for their programs.
It is within this context that I am respectfully challenging business organizations in the region to demonstrate their leadership by backing up their support of entrepreneurship with support for it. I’m respectfully asking for 1,000 Full Ride Scholarships for Michigan high school graduates that enroll in an accredited entrepreneurship-degree program at Michigan universities. I’m respectfully asking that students who graduate and launch new innovative entrepreneurial ventures in their host communities receive a robust set of business economic incentives. I’m respectfully asking our universities to embark on a robust collaborative effort to make Michigan the undisputed number one place in the world for comprehensive Entrepreneurship Education. I’m respectfully asking that all Community Colleges support this effort by forming related 2+2 Agreements with those universities that have accredited entrepreneurial degree program. Oh yes, and I’m respectfully asking for this yesterday.
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