The Impact of the Small Business Institute® (SBI) on Students, Faculty, Clients, and Other Stakeholders: Personal Reflections From Metropolitan State University of Denver

Abstract

Higher education is increasingly criticized for its expense, decline in student performance, lack of accountability and transparency, and declines in student performance and learning. The Small Business Institute’s ® (SBI) Programs can meet some of these criticisms with its conferences, journals, and experiential learning. Research has found that SBI students build much needed interpersonal skills (soft skills) and retain information longer than other traditional teaching techniques such as lectures. The benefits of experiential learning include team skills, interpersonal relationships, economic development, and evidence of an institution’s social impact. This article explains Metropolitan State University of Denver’s SBI program and how it led to a Center for Entrepreneurship, a Major in Entrepreneurship, and a Minor in Entrepreneurship. In addition, it has provided several MSU Denver faculty and students with many of their career needs including research, service, and teaching.