Membership Criteria

AACSB International institutions are eligible for membership in the Entrepreneurship Programs Affinity Group if their institution offers one of the following forms of Entrepreneurship education:  identified major, minor or concentration, dedicated Entrepreneurship Center, faculty endowed position in Entrepreneurship or sequence(s) of Entrepreneurship courses within programs.  Entrepreneurship Education is reflected by any institution offering one or more of the following including:  entrepreneurship, small business, small and medium enterprise, high-technology business, innovation and creativity, private enterprise education, free enterprise, minority business, ethnic business, women-owned business, home-based business, micro business, developmental economics, and family business, and franchising. 

Purposes/Objectives

• Enhance the quality and reputation of AACSB Entrepreneurship programs, centers, faculty and students. 
• Provide a forum that serves the specialized needs of Entrepreneurship programs to communicate with common-interest organizations.
• Initiate processes for data accumulation, bench marking, research and other services of common interest to Affinity Group members.
• Improve the effectiveness of Entrepreneurship, Private Enterprise, Family Business and/or Franchise programs by facilitating information exchange and program enhancement activities and resources.  
• Assist in the creation of a professional and personal support network for Entrepreneurship program academic and professional staff.
• Establish more effective channels of communication between AACSB International and academic and professional staff of member Entrepreneurship programs.  

Programs and Activities - Programs and activities to accomplish the objectives of the Entrepreneurship Affinity Group may include, but are not limited to:

• Sponsoring professional and career development workshops and seminars for affinity group members at the AACSB International Conference and Annual Meeting, and at selected AACSB International conferences throughout the year
• Establish and maintain a database of AACSB Entrepreneurship Affinity Group members (The listing information will be available to AACSB International members and used to establish and maintain an affinity group listserv)
• Identifying and assisting with preparation of specialized data, information, reports and resources on issues to support the affinity group and AACSB International goals and objectives
• Sharing information on professional and career development opportunities for Entrepreneurship academic and professional staff
• Establishing mechanisms, as appropriate, for mentoring of current and potential affinity group members in AACSB International
• Creating appropriate linkages between AACSB International and other related associations or groups providing entrepreneurship education support.