Elmhurst University Launches Innovation and Entrepreneurship Graduate Certificate Program

lmhurst University has launched a new graduate certificate program in innovation and entrepreneurship that can help students jump-start a startup, bring new ventures to existing organizations, and better leverage ideas in today’s dynamic economy.

The Graduate Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship program is designed for students interested in entrepreneurship or intrapreneurship (innovation within an existing organization). Currently accepting students for the fall of 2021, the part-time certificate program can be completed on campus or online in one year.

More information about the new program will be available at Elmhurst University’s Virtual Graduate Programs Open House on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, at 5:30 p.m. The Open House will provide an overview of all of Elmhurst’s part-time graduate programs, and opportunities to connect with faculty and current graduate students. For more information and to register, visit elmhurst.edu/ChooseElmhurst.

A highlight of the innovation and entrepreneurship graduate certificate program is Elmhurst’s academic partnership with Innovation DuPage, a business incubator serving the DuPage County region that unites startup founders and small-business owners with the people and resources to help them grow. As an academic partner, Innovation DuPage will provide Elmhurst students with access to Innovation DuPage facilities, services and mentors.

"We are excited to partner with Elmhurst University to help mold the next generation of entrepreneurs. Whether these students decide to launch new companies or drive internal transformation, they will contribute meaningfully to growth in their communities. The resources available at Innovation DuPage can amplify that growth and further drive the region’s economic prosperity. Innovation cannot be successful in a vacuum – our communities thrive through collaboration. Innovation DuPage is honored to be a part of the ecosystem of this elite University and we look forward to the opportunities that this unique partnership will create.” said Travis Linderman, managing director of Innovation DuPage.

“Innovation cannot be successful in a vacuum—our communities thrive through collaboration,” Linderman said. “Innovation DuPage is honored to be a part of the ecosystem of this elite university and we look forward to the opportunities that this unique partnership will create.”

Elmhurst University also offers students an array of support services through the E-celerator, the University’s entrepreneurship resource center, including coaching and mentoring from an entrepreneur in residence; the “Bluejay Tank” pitch competition; and networking and ideating with other entrepreneurs.

Elmhurst University has become widely recognized for nurturing a climate of innovation. The University ranks No. 3 among the Most Innovative Schools in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges rankings for 2021. In recent years, Elmhurst has launched academic programs in environmental studies, digital media, cybersecurity and public health; developed maker spaces in the departments of physics and art; and created innovative partnerships and scholarship programs to support the changing needs of Elmhurst University students.

“Innovation and entrepreneurship are what make the U.S. a global leader in commerce, and we can’t afford to lose that edge,” said Bruce Fischer, professor of business and economics and director of Elmhurst’s graduate certificate program in innovation and entrepreneurship. “Programs like ours will help us sustain that edge by equipping our students to transform ideas into reality.”

To learn more about Elmhurst University’s new Graduate Certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship, visit elmhurst.edu/cie.

Elmhurst University is a leading four-year institution of higher education that seamlessly blends liberal learning and professional preparation to help students reach their full potential. Founded in 1871, Elmhurst now offers more than 70 undergraduate programs of study, more than 20 graduate and certificate programs in flexible formats, and the Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy for young adults with differing abilities. Elmhurst University, formerly Elmhurst College, is among the top-ranked colleges and universities in the Midwest, according to U.S. News & World Report.

This press release was originally published by the Daily Herald.