AUBURN — Cayuga Community College President Daniel Larson was one of 30 community college leaders from across the country to attend a series of meetings last week in Washington, D.C. on promoting entrepreneurship through higher education.
Larson visited the U.S. Department of Commerce and the White House on Oct. 1 in meetings organized by the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the federal Economic Development Administration. Community college presidents who attended shared information about the ways their institutions boost entrepreneurship and innovation.
They also heard panels speak on several topics: student and faculty innovation and entrepreneurship; university technology transfer and industry collaboration; and universities and regional economic development.
Presidents who attended are members of the Presidents for Entrepreneurship Forum, a group formed late in 2011 by the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship. The forum has led 180 community college presidents to pledge to focus more heavily on entrepreneurship and economic impacts at their educational institutions.
“The meetings at the Commerce Department and the White House were excellent opportunities for community colleges to be well represented in the national conversation about entrepreneurship and with what is occurring across America to restart and rebuild our economy,” Larson said in a news release. “We know that it is our local people who help to create new jobs through startups and expanding current businesses. The Presidents for Entrepreneurship Forum members who were present networked with their college and university colleagues and with government leaders while hearing updates about programs and activities.
“Governmental resources are ready to assist people in our communities with their entrepreneurial activities. As presidents, we understand clearly the need to connect our colleges with those local efforts and with the resources of the government.”
Contact Seltzer at rseltzer@cnybj.com