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March 4, 2008
WILLIAM PATERSON UNIVERSITY RECEIVES $1 MILLION TO LAUNCH PROGRAM IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
—Gift from alumnus to advance entrepreneurship education and practice through academic programs with practical focus
A $1 million gift from an alumnus will launch a comprehensive program in entrepreneurship, including an M.B.A. and other graduate programs, at William Paterson University in Wayne, N.J.
The Shier Entrepreneurship Program will focus on developing an M.B.A. program with a concentration in entrepreneurship, followed by other complementary programs. In addition, the program will act as a catalyst for developing a culture of entrepreneurship by sponsoring an annual week in residence during which the program’s donor will lecture, mentor and tutor students.
The donor does not wish to receive public recognition.
The Shier Entrepreneurship Program will lead the advancement of entrepreneurship education and practice through the development of strong academic programs with an applied focus. The program will be housed in the University’s Cotsakos College of Business, which has established a leadership position in business education with programs such as the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales, the E*TRADE Financial Learning Center, Center for Closely Held Business, and Small Business Development Center.
“This transformational gift will help William Paterson University achieve status as a national leader in entrepreneurial education,” says President Arnold Speert. “The Shier Entrepreneurship Program is a great fit for the University in terms of our current business curriculum and the overall direction of the University. It will provide an opportunity for our students to develop the skills necessary for a sustained competitive advantage in business.”
Plans include the recruitment of an executive-in-residence/executive director who will have entrepreneurial business experience. In addition to leading the development of the program, the executive director will act as a liaison between the business community and the College.
“There is a strong need for a comprehensive entrepreneurship program that will lead to the development of future generations of entrepreneurs in our region,” says Sam Basu, dean of the Cotsakos College of Business. “Our educational goal is to provide pragmatic, relevant, and rigorous education to our students, and the addition of the study of entrepreneurship creates synergy with other innovative programs at the Cotsakos College of Business.”
“We are grateful to our donor for creating this groundbreaking opportunity for our students,” says Sandra S. Deller, vice president for institutional advancement. “This will enhance the reputation of the Cotsakos College of Business and of William Paterson University.”
The Cotsakos College of Business at William Paterson University received AACSB accreditation in 2005, signaling its arrival into the elite group of AACSB-accredited collegiate schools of business. Housed in the University’s technologically advanced facility at 1600 Valley Road, the College offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that help students develop the skills, knowledge and values necessary to succeed in today’s highly competitive and complex business world.
William Paterson University, one of the nine state colleges and universities in New Jersey, offers 35 undergraduate and 19 graduate programs through five colleges: Arts and Communication, the Cotsakos College of Business, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Science and Health. Located on 370 hilltop acres in Wayne, the University enrolls nearly 11,000 students and provides housing for nearly 2,700 students. The institution’s 373 full-time faculty are highly distinguished and diverse scholars and teachers, many of whom are recipients of prestigious awards and grants from the Fulbright Program, the Guggenheim Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation and the American Philosophical Society.
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www.wpunj.edu
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