AS A LEADING public institution of higher education in New York City, Baruch College has a major responsibility to contribute to the quality of life, economic development and overall vitality of the New York metropolitan area. Baruch College is proud to have been recognized as the most ethnically diverse campus in the nation by both U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review more times than any other college in the United States. The Baruch community is a true reflection of the college’s location in the heart of New York City – 160 countries are represented in a student body of 15,700. Many of Baruch's faculty and staff are drawn firstly to the college because of its multiculturalism.
the Field Center has assumed a leadership role by encouraging entrepreneurship among these communities resulting in substantial economic impactAs the largest and one of the most prestigious business schools in the United States, located in the heart of the global business community in Manhattan and long the flagship of Baruch, the Zicklin School of Business continues to develop outstanding programming in many areas including entrepreneurship.
As part of the entrepreneurship program, the Lawrence N. Field Center for Entrepreneurship at Baruch College has stayed close to the vision of its founders. The vision reflected – and continues to reflect – the college’s overarching principles of research, teaching, and service. Accomplishing these goals requires that we serve several constituencies including:
- Faculty – through research opportunities, interfacing and learning from real-world entrepreneurs, and course instruction
- Students – through courses, internship opportunities and exposure to networks
- Entrepreneurs – through training, counseling, access to capital, and exposure to networks
The Field Center is an “Integrating Institution” which marshals college, government and private resources to serve these constituents. Within this context, the Field Center conducts research, provides educational programs, a networking environment, and counseling to budding and existing entrepreneurs with a specific focus on minority and women entrepreneurs.
Baruch recognizes its role as a stakeholder in its surrounding community’s health in which small minority- and women-owned businesses play a large part, and the Field Center has assumed a leadership role by encouraging entrepreneurship among these communities resulting in substantial economic impact.
The Field Center utilizes business advisors from the Small Business Development Center, Baruch entrepreneurship professors and students, and experienced volunteer and paid professionals to provide high quality counseling and education to minority and women entrepreneurs with a focus on developing long term client relationships. Counseling and workshops are free and conducted in English, Spanish, Hindi, Mandarin and Turkish.
the Field Center was able to assist thousands of minority and women clients with obtaining millions of financing dollars while saving and creating hundreds of jobs in their communitiesSince its inception 15 years ago, the Field Center has had a substantial economic impact with respect to minority and women entrepreneurs. During that time the Field Center was able to assist thousands of minority and women clients with obtaining millions of financing dollars while saving and creating hundreds of jobs in their communities.
To meet the challenge of reaching minority and women entrepreneurs the center establishes relationships with prominent minority and women’s groups. For example, the Field Center produced 60 business development workshops for the Interracial Council for Business Opportunities which attracted 1,763 minority attendees and 1,780 women over a five year period. There is a business advisor on staff dedicated to supporting Hispanic entrepreneurs, and the center provides educational programming for the New York Women’s Social Entrepreneurs Incubator.
Field Center Faculty recently developed a new graduate and undergraduate course on “Women as Entrepreneurs”. Plans for a course on minority entrepreneurship are also underway with hope that these courses will spur Baruch students to become more interested in entrepreneurship and, in turn, utilize the Field Center’s services.
