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Alabama State University, founded 1867, is a historically black university located in Montgomery, Alabama. Under the leadership of President William H. Harris, the university continues its role as a purveyor of innovative scholarship, especially in the African American community. Alabama State University considers the NACIE commitment letter as an affirmation of the school’s historical role, and current initiatives to make entrepreneurship a core part of its future strategy.
In the spirit of the NACIE commitment letter, ASU’s membership in the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association (AAMA) facilitates a collaborative relationship with local industry. The university organizes faculty and student study-tours, seminars, and workshops with local manufacturers. These include Hyundai, Mercedes Benz, Honda assembly plants, and ThyssenKrupp.
Through a curriculum that combines theoretical and practical interdisciplinary learning, ASU offers an Entrepreneurship Minor for both Business and non-Business Major students. Additionally, '''''the Center of Excellence for Entrepreneurship''''' in the '''''College of Business Administration''''' (COBA), in close cooperation with accomplished and successful entrepreneurs, inspires and teaches the entrepreneurial spirit to students through several programs that will contribute to the economic development of the state of Alabama and the broader southern region. These programs include:
*'''Development of Communities''', targets communities within 2 miles of the ASU campus to address blighted conditions, and infuse ASU’s entrepreneurial spirit to improve various sectors including residential and commercial housing
'''The Center of Excellence for International Business[[#_edn1|'''[i]''']]''' will internationalize ASU’s innovation and entrepreneurship by providing opportunities for faculty, students, and the business community to develop and broaden their international business expertise and cross-cultural understanding.
*'''Foreign Study Tours''': Implement overseas week-long study-tours to South Korea and China with assistance from ASU’s global university partners–the ChungAng University in Seoul, Korea; and the Fudan University in Shanghai, China.
'''''<u>University Technology Transfer Functions</u>'''''
ASU does not have a tech transfer office in the conventional sense. However, '''The Small Business Development Center''' (SBDC)[[#_edn2|[ii]]] at ASU provides technical and management assistance to small businesses and prospective business owners. As an institutional member of the Alabama Small Business Development NETWORK the SBDC is one of twelve University-based business assistance sources located throughout the state of Alabama.
The SBDC is committed to providing quality technology transfer services, in addition to other functions to businesses in an eight-county catchment area including—Autauga, Bullock, Chambers, Coosa, Elmore, Lowndes, Montgomery, and Tallapoosa counties—in Central Alabama.
'''''<u>Regional and Local Economic Development</u>'''''
'''The Disadvantaged Businesses Enterprise''' (DBE) department within ASU’s College of Business Administration is leading a major effort to increase job creation in the state of Alabama[[#_edn3|[iii]]]. This initiative includes a summit held January 20, 2012 to introduce the '''''Alabama Works, Alabama Wins''''' project which aims to boost competiveness among Alabama’s contractors, and therefore their ability to create jobs in the state.
As part of ASU’s commitment to '''''Alabama Works, Alabama Wins''''' program, the university will establish the '''''Emerging Contractors program'''''. This program will among other services, provide classes for subcontractors to help them develop increased business skills for the construction industry. Subcontractors who complete the program will be placed on the bidders list for construction jobs in the state.
*How does your institution leverage (or intend to leverage) geographic endowment?
*Are your innovation, entrepreneurship, and tech transfer programs integrated?
<ul style="list-style-type:circle;">
<li>Why, or why not?</li>
</ul>
Comments by Ms. Janel Bell Haynes and her colleagues have been instructive in better understanding Alabama State University’s various innovative entrepreneurship programs. As well as the impact of the NACIE commitment letter on the school’s strategic plan and institutional culture.
The Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship welcomes Alabama State University’s assistance with this case study, and looks forward to a continued close and collaborative relationship in building America’s innovation infrastructure.<div><br/>
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Ms. Janel Bell Haynes, Chair, Business Administration Department, Alabama State University;
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