SEP is dedicated to promoting the “idea” of social entrepreneurship as a mechanism to change the world and to level the playing field through the advancement of teaching, research and practice of social entrepreneurship.
Teaching
Social Entrepreneurship Course. A new course was developed to focus exclusively on social entrepreneurship. The course was developed after consultation with faculty members from several leading graduate programs in SE. In 2006, the course was offered as a “special topics” course. Following over-subscription of the course in both semesters, the course was officially approved as a full-time course and is offered each semester. To date, more than 100 students have taken the Social Entrepreneurship course. The course is included as an elective course within the Entrepreneurship minor and within the Farmer School of Business. The course utilizes a case-based approach and culminates in a practicum engagement with an actual social entrepreneurial venture.
Innovative Partnerships
The SEP has engaged in a number of innovative partnerships to facilitate our missions of teaching, research and practice of SE. These examples include:
Founders Club for Social Entrepreneurship
The Center for Social Entrepreneurship recently launched the Founders Club for Social Entrepreneurship with a goal of providing the initial start-up capital to advance the teaching, research and practice of social entrepreneurship at Miami University. Members include: Scot Billington, Jack and Kay Geiger, Frederic and Julie Holzberger, the Smith family, and the Vigran family. Founders Club members each contributed at least $50,000, which will be used for on-going operations of social entrepreneurship programs. To date, the Center has raised in excess of $300,000, with hopes of reaching $500,000 in starting capital. After closing the Founder Club, the Center will pursue a named endowment of the Center for Social Entrepreneurship. If interested in becoming a member of the Founders Club, contact Susan Armacost at 513-529-8374.
Edun LIVE on Campus Begins Expansion to other campuses
Edun LIVE on Campus, a socially conscious t-shirt company that seeks to provide sustainable employment in Africa by penetratating the college market, was developed through a partnership between Edun Apparel, Ltd. and the Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Miami University in 2006. The project is an example of how social entrepreneurship utilizes a business model to advance a social outcome while advancing hands-on experiential learning. After developing a successful pilot program, Edun LIVE on Campus is now rolling out to other campuses. The first expansion of the program was to Ohio State University. Two other campuses have committed to join the program. The goal is to expand to five campuses this spring and to 40 campuses in three years.
Former Student Proposes Corporate Social Venture
Rob Remlinger, recent Miami graduate from the Class of 2007, has proposed a new social venture for CareerBuilder. The social venture idea, CB Horizons, leverages the web-based platform of CareerBuilder to link volunteers with nonprofit organizations, providing them with an international recruiting presence.
Social Entrepreneurship Student to Speak At Clinton Global Initiative
Jacque Rupert, social entrepreneurship student and leader of Edun LIVE on Campus, will speak on March 15th at the Inaugural Meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative that will take place at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She will speak to college students on Edun LIVE’s initiatives to alleviate poverty. The Clinton Global Initiative is a youth-focused meeting that will bring together students, academics, and social, political, and cultural leaders with the goal of informing and motivating a new generation of young people to act on urgent challenges, including poverty alleviation.
