NOT TEXTBOOK entrepreneurship from the ground up BY KATHLEEN SINGLETON
F or the students of Central Washington University’s entre- preneurship major, the program is more than just a college degree; it’s a window into the world of business. Part of the College of Business, the entrepreneurship pro - gram was expanded from the existing minor to a full major in 2021, helping the program reach more students. The program focuses on teaching students to create their own businesses, guiding them through the process, from thinking of an idea to starting the business. “The environment is super inclusive,” said Jordyn Fassett, a double major in business administration and entrepreneur- ship. “It’s really fun, really hands on.” “We go over legalities and mistakes you can make,” continued Fassett. “We also spend a lot of time knocking out a lot of the misconceptions about our business plans, making sure we’re set up for success.” After graduation, Fassett intends to pursue the business she’s developed at CWU, organizing vacation rentals along the Pa - cific Northwest coast. Dr. Bill Provaznik, management professor, explained that the program is focused on skills students will be able to use after college. “What we did is we made an entrepreneurship program from the ground up instead of a textbook one,” Provaznik said. The foundation of the program is based on mentorship from senior students, faculty, and individuals outside of the univer - sity. The emphasis on community and mentorship starts when students are just entering the program, with a class called MGT 200: Tactical Skills for Professionals. Students are men - tored by other students, fostering a community of support. This support lasts through their classes and beyond. “I think I’m going to have friends for life from this,” said Shane Fitzpatrick, student mentor in MGT 200 and student direc - tor of the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I4IE). Fitzpatrick now majors in accounting and finance, but his time in the program taught him invaluable skills.
“The biggest takeaway for me was all the people that I’ve met,” Fitzpatrick said. “The class helps make you feel like an inte - gral part of the College of Business because of our shared challenges.” The entrepreneurship major is what’s known as a “small plan” major, meaning that students are required to take it with an additional major or minor. That additional program can be from either inside or outside of the College of Business. This design helps students merge their existing passions and ideas with their hopes of starting a business. Provaznik explained it as a chance for students to bring their knowledge from other fields to the program. “We have music entrepreneurs, we have engineering entre - preneurs, we have beer entrepreneurs,” Provaznik said. “The whole idea is you are creating value because you have exper- tise in what you’re doing.” Jaelen Williams—a double major in exercise science and en - trepreneurship, as well as a director of mentor development in MGT 200—emphasized the sense of community they’ve formed across disciplines. “I have made so many connections in the classes I’ve tak - en with people I never thought I would come across, people that are in the arts program or fashion,” Williams said. “Every single person that’s in the program wants to help the person next to them.” Moving through the program, students learn skills such as management and product design before completing a cap- stone project with a mentor. That project can be anything the student is interested in and is designed to lead to post-col- lege opportunities. The program emphasizes building practical, transferrable skills. If students choose not to pursue their business idea after college, those skills are appealing to many companies who are looking for individuals who are both knowledgeable and know how to take risks.
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