University of Illinois at Chicago Office of Public Affairs (MC 288)
601 S. Morgan St., Chicago, IL 60607-7113, (312) 996-3456, www.uic.edu/depts/paff

March 9, 2001

Contact: Jeffron Boynés (312) 413-8702; jboynes@uic.edu

UIC RANKED NO. 3 IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The entrepreneurial studies program at the University of Illinois at Chicago has been named among the nation's elite by Success magazine.

The February/March issue ranks the top 50 programs by considering faculty, curriculum, "hands-on" support services for students and other factors in making the ranking. In UIC's College of Business Administration, undergraduates can earn a certificate and candidates for the master of business administration degree can choose entrepreneurial studies as an area of concentration. The Ph.D. program prepares students for teaching careers in entrepreneurship.

"It is a great honor for us to be the top-ranked entrepreneurship program in the Midwest, due in no small part to our entrepreneurial students and support from outstanding Chicago-area business owners," said Gerald Hills, who holds the Coleman/Denton Thorne Chair in Entrepreneurship at UIC.

Hills founded and directs UIC's Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, which in addition to offering courses on the topic, directs the selection of new members to the Chicago-Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame. The annual February induction, now in its 16th year, is cosponsored by Grant Thornton, LLP; LaSalle Bank; Levy Venture Management, Inc.; and Lord, Bissell & Brook.

The institute sponsors an annual research symposium on marketing and entrepreneurship and a certificate program for rapidly growing firms. Through its Center for Urban Business and Family Business Council, the institute provides programs for minority and smaller enterprises.

UIC also founded a national organization and annual fall conference for collegiate entrepreneurs that gathers some 800 students from about 125 institutions for a weekend of "how to" workshops and presentations by leading entrepreneurs.

UIC's entrepreneurship program was selected by Success magazine from more than 250 schools. The magazine relied on an independent media research firm for the final evaluations.

- UIC -