Experiences of Successful Center Directors - Baylor University

THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT CHICAGO
Gerry Hills is Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies at the University
of Illinois at Chicago. Gerry has created a unique research niche in the entrepreneurship
education and research area through his annual conferences on the
“Marketing/Entrepreneurship Interface.”
■ UIC has differentiated itself in a growing sea of programs by concentrating
on one particular aspect of entrepreneurship: the entrepreneurship/marketing
interface.
■ The largest university in the Chicago area, UIC has about 25,000 students,
of which 3,500 attend the business school. UIC is ranked fiftyeighth
in the nation (Research I) by the Carnegie Foundation.
■ Chicago has a population of about seven million and is the third largest
city in the U.S. The Institute is connected to more than 100 entrepreneurs.
■ The Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies was started in 1982. The first
coursework was in 1972.
■ UIC had one of the first MBA Concentrations in Entrepreneurship, and
now all MBAs take a core entrepreneurship course. Now UIC is offering
one of the few PLD seminars in entrepreneurship, in addition to its undergraduate
Certificate in Entrepreneurship Program.
■ There are 27 people associated with the Institute, of which 14 are full-time
and part-time faculty.
■ The Center itself is not endowed but funded by the Coleman Foundation,
the College and outreach programs such as the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship
Hall of Fame. The Coleman Foundation endowed Dr. Hills’ Chair.
■ Outreach of the program includes: (1) Entrepreneurship Certificate in
Business Administration; (2) Chicago-area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame;
(3) Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization (a national student organization);
(4) Minority and Women Business Owners Programs; and (5) a
Family Business Council.
■ The Institute has differentiated itself from other centers by focusing on entrepreneurship
and markets and marketing. The Institute has hosted the UIC Research
Symposium at the Marketing Entrepreneurship Interface since 1986.
■ Key success factors include: (1) finding staff and faculty who have a heartfelt
commitment to the entrepreneurship field and will put in the hours to
make a difference; (2) people who can attract resources and creatively
visualize programs; and (3) affiliate with outstanding entrepreneurs.
■ Advice to start a program includes: (1) have a champion; (2) develop
loose, flexible advisory board; and (3) develop an endowment campaign.
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