December 3, 2008

Purdue's Krannert School joins entrepreneurship effort for veterans

Created at Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management in 2007, the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities trains veterans disabled in Iraq and Afghanistan in entrepreneurship and small business management.

"The Krannert School is honored to be part of the EBV consortium," said Richard Cosier, Krannert dean and Leeds Professor of Management. "Helping the veterans with disabilities of this millennium understand how to start their own businesses and become entrepreneurs is a noble calling for any business school. The faculty and staff at the Krannert School eagerly look forward to our first EBV class."

Other schools participating in the program include the University of California, Los Angeles' Anderson School of Management, the Mays Business School at Texas A&M University and Florida State University's College of Business.

The curriculum is standardized at all five universities to ensure that all participants receive a consistent and high-quality experience. The bootcamp integrates faculty, entrepreneurs, disability experts and business professionals in an educational program focused on training veterans in small business ownership.

The program is conducted in three phases: a self-study session in which the veterans complete courses through online discussions moderated by university faculty; a nine-day residency where veterans learn to develop their own business concepts and understand the basic elements of small business management; and a 12-month mentorship with faculty experts at the participating universities.

"With the addition of Purdue, we will again increase the opportunities for small business ownership for the men and women who gave so much for our country," said Melvin T. Stith, dean of the Whitman School and a former U.S. Army captain. "We are thrilled that the EBV consortium is growing and able to reach out to more veterans. The need for this type of program is validated by the many successes of our EBV graduates, and by the many supporters who have rallied around the program since its inception. What started as a small program at one university is now a nationwide initiative, which is a wonderful outcome of what we started here at Whitman."

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Admissions are first-come, first-served. The program is free to the participating veteran. The bootcamp is offered in collaboration with the Burton Blatt Institute, which seeks to advance the civic, economic and social participation of people with disabilities.

To apply or for information, go to https://www.whitman.syr.edu/ebv. Interested veterans may also call (315) 443-6007 or e-mail EBVinfo@syr.edu.

Writer: Tanya Brown, (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu

Source: Richard Cosier, (765) 494-4366, rcosier@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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