August 13, 2015
SIU jumps 10 spots in Forbes’ entrepreneurial list
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Forbes magazine has ranked Southern Illinois University Carbondale at No. 27 -- a climb of 10 spots compared to a year ago -- on its list of “America’s Most Entrepreneurial Universities 2015.”
The new ranking moves the university higher than Northwestern University, the only other Illinois institution included on the list. Forbes ranks institutions across the United States on the basis of alumni and students who identify themselves with a specific university and also list themselves as founders or business owners on the professional networking site LinkedIn. In order to adjust for the differing sizes of the universities, the numbers are adjusted according to enrollment ratio.
“I think this ranking is acknowledgement of SIU’ s commitment to entrepreneurship across campus – from our Office of Economic and Regional Development to the various colleges, faculty, staff and students,” Kyle Harfst, executive director of economic development and of the SIU Research Park, said.
“We support entrepreneurship through the Small Business Development Center, the Small Business Incubator Program and many other programs. SIU also fosters student entrepreneurship through Saluki Ventures, our student-focused incubation program, the Saluki Innovation Lab and the Saluki Entrepreneurship Corps registered student organization,” Harfst added. “In many ways, SIU encourages innovation and entrepreneurship among the campus community and in the region as well.”