ASU and the Kauffman Campuses Initiative
We are pleased to announce that the Kauffman Foundation has designated ASU as a Kauffman Campus and a recipient of a $5 million grant to promote cross-campus entrepreneurship. We look forward to working with the Kauffman Foundation and with the other Kauffman Campuses as we pursue our common visions for integrating entrepreneurship within the life of universities across the nation.

The Kauffman Foundation launched its Kauffman Campuses Initiative to transform the way colleges and universities prepare students for success in the American economy. In December 2003, eight universities were awarded up to $5 million each to make entrepreneurship education available across their campuses, enabling any student, regardless of field of study, to access entrepreneurial training. To continue the progress of the first round of the Kauffman Campuses Initiative, the Kauffman Foundation is now implementing a second round to create a lasting and respected place for cross-campus entrepreneurship in higher education.

Our Transformation Process
On April 12, 2006, President Michael Crow convened an informational session to present the beginnings of our vision for entrepreneurship at ASU and to solicit ideas from faculty and administrators. Our final proposal to the Kauffman Foundation (PDF document / 1.4 MB) was developed through the combined efforts of five different working groups, dealing with academic opportunities, experiential learning & community engagement, research, university-wide implementation, and signature focus areas.

These five groups morphed into the five goals of entrepreneurship at ASU. We seek to:
1. Graduate entrepreneurial students
2. Stimulate faculty entrepreneurship
3. Strengthen Phoenix's economic infrastructure
4. Unleash entrepreneurship energy
5. Become a leader for entrepreneurship

The model from the beginning has been to position entrepreneurship at ASU in such a way that it is wholly owned and integrated throughout the university, rather than through one particular unit or office. Sixteen principal investigators are named on the grant, each of whom is responsible for a particular area of implementation. These areas range from marketing to research to curriculum development to community engagement and more.

Over the five years of the Kauffman grant, and beyond, we envision entrepreneurship as becoming more and more embedded until it becomes a seamless part of the life and culture of ASU. We welcome your input and engagement as we move forward in this transformation. Please continue to check this site for new ways to get involved.