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Foundations of Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities Announced at Syracuse University

Explore How to Launch a New Business | Test Your Ideas | Get Feedback from Experts | Connect with Start-up Networks

Are you interested in learning about entrepreneurship from a disability perspective? If so, the College of Professional Studies invites you to join Syracuse University’s free online program starting September 5, 2023. This 12-week course is designed specifically for people with disabilities who want to learn how to start a business.

Hosted by two disabled activists, John Robinson, CEO of “Our Ability” a cutting-edge non-profit that links disabled applicants with the employment sector, and Professor Stephen Kuusisto of the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI) on Disability at Syracuse University, this groundbreaking virtual program will introduce participants to the principles of entrepreneurship through online-only instruction that will be free of charge. The course is instructed by John Liddy, an experienced entrepreneurship workshop leader.

Thanks to a New York Empire State Development grant through the Burton Blatt Institute (BBI), Syracuse University can offer the free program “Foundations of Entrepreneurship for People with Disabilities.” The program will consist of weekly online materials, readings, and assignments that participants can do at their own pace to work through their ideas, step by step. At specified intervals, participants will complete an evaluated assessment of their readiness for entrepreneurship to:

• Determine readiness for the process of venture development
• Determine suitability of the key idea for implementation as a business venture

During each of these assessments, a given participant may agree with the instructor to not move further to become an entrepreneur. That decision automatically gives the participant the opportunity to begin a different free, online-only course entitled, “Foundations for Employment for People with Disabilities” to help them be more competitive in the job market instead of developing their own business.

Weekly live online group sessions will be an opportunity for the instructor, guest speakers and participants to engage in discussions on the topics of entrepreneurship, specifically tuned to people with disabilities. At the completion of the course, participants will be introduced to a variety of options, such as the pursuit of funding as well as a mentor network to assist them in the development of their ideas into a sustainable business venture.

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About the Instructor

john liddyJohn Liddy is the interim Vice President for Innovation and Entrepreneurship of CenterState CEO in Syracuse, New York. He is also an Entrepreneur in Residence for the Syracuse Technology Garden, and the Director of the Griffiss Institute Business Incubator. John works directly with companies (new ventures and established firms) as well as consults with organizations (colleges, economic development, and government) seeking to assist these populations. He has participated in multiple startups as well as holding corporate executive positions. John has led numerous workshops for entrepreneurs, including several for veterans with disabilities through the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) at Syracuse University. 

Fulbright Pre-Academic Program Sparks New Ideas with Open Access Research

Fulbright graduate students flexed their storytelling abilities Friday, Aug. 11 at the Fulbright Poster Session, an annual event that allows the international students the opportunity to present scholarly research topics to the public.

This year, 37 masters and Ph.D. students from 23 countries attended a pre-academic program at Syracuse University’s English Language Institute before matriculating into their degree programs at institutions across the United States. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as part of its Fulbright Program and administered by the Institute of International Education, the scholars spent this time participating in a variety of workshops, field trips, and textual and oral communication courses. The students incorporated the resources and skills they acquired during their time at Syracuse into their poster presentations, allowing them to practice their presentation skills through repetition as attendees walk by.

“The event marks the culmination of a program that provides them with the confidence they need to embark on the next leg of their academic journey at different host institutions across the country,” says David Lind, director of International Programs. “International graduate students must master academic English and also learn to present their research in a manner that’s understandable to those not specialized in their domain.”

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Foundations of Product Management Microcredential Program Announced at Syracuse University

The Office of Professional Acceleration and Microcredentials at the College of Professional Studies announces the microcredential program Foundations of Product Management: Idea to Launch.

Product Management is a rapidly expanding field that emphasizes strategic management of processes, systems and operations that support an organization’s products and services. Foundations of Product Management: Idea to Launch is an 8-week, fully online course will provide a broad foundation in the nature of product management, including the role, steps in the process, analysis of markets, business models and product strategy.

Starting the week of September 25, and targeted for those who want to explore this field, the course will provide knowledge and skills in product road mapping, design, development and execution, launch and marketing, metrics and management tools, growth and leadership, and product ethics and best practices. An expert practitioner, instructor Charu Kothari will bring numerous examples, frameworks and practical experience that will provide participants highly valuable tools to become effective in this field.

Weekly online sessions will focus on discussion, examples, guest speakers and participant questions. Assignments will provide participants an opportunity to apply skills and knowledge in their own areas of specialty, and the feedback from Kothari will help to shape these approaches effectively. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will learn:

  • About the role of a Product Manager
  • Product road mapping
  • Product design, development, execution and launch
  • Product marketing, metrics and management tools
  • Ethics, leadership and best practices

Dates/Times

Program opens September 25; Weekly live online sessions are Thursdays from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. from September 28 through November 16. Online materials provided will allow participants to proceed at their own pace each week between live sessions. Optional office hours will also be available.

Program Fee

Limited time only introductory price of $995.00 – a savings of $500 off the regular price of $1495.00.

Verified Syracuse University alumni are eligible for a 15% discount.

Instructor Bio

Charu Kothari has most recently worked as the Senior Product Manager – Tech for Amazon in their San Francisco, California office, where her responsibilities included artificial intelligence and machine learning products. She is a highly accomplished product manager with over 11 years of experience in leading product development and product management teams to drive successful launches of innovative products; developing strategies to maximize product performance, customer satisfaction, and market penetration; and leveraging machine learning technologies to develop and deploy products. Prior to her work with Amazon, Charu served as a product manager for both EY and PWC, an Assistant Vice President for Bank of America, and some additional years as a Software Engineer with Accenture in India. She earned a M.S. in Information Management from Syracuse University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Science from Pune University in India. She holds a Product Manager Certification from Product School, as well as SAFe Agile Product Manager, SAFe 4 Agilist and Safe 4 DevOps Practitioner certifications. Charu also has a patent pending in virtual try-on technology for outfits.

To learn more about Foundations of Product Management: Idea to Launch, visit supereg.syr.edu. 

CREDENTIAL

At the successful conclusion of this microcredential program, participants will receive a digital badge from Syracuse University, College of Professional Studies, which can be shared on LinkedIn or any digital media, and which will provide complete detail on information learned and competencies gained throughout the program. Participants can also request a paper and/or a digital certificate.

SPONSORING DEPARTMENT CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have any questions regarding this course, please contact the College of Professional Studies Office of Professional Acceleration and Microcredentials at microcredential@syr.edu or 315.443.2588.

 

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School’s Out, but Syracuse University is In For High Schoolers Seeking Unique Summer—And Year-Round—Experiences

Story by Cheryl Abrams

Back in April 1972, the legendary American rock band Alice Cooper struck a chord with young people eagerly awaiting several months of recess. “School’s Out” became an instant hit and anthem for students dreaming of a warm-weather break from teachers, books, exams and grades.

Yet for more than 60 years, school’s been decidedly “in” at Syracuse University through its Summer College program for motivated high school learners from across the globe.

“Access to college is an important part of the mission of the College of Professional Studies,” says Dean Michael Frasciello. “While we are well known for assisting non-traditional students with their higher education goals, the College remains committed to providing a transformational introductory experience to university life, including academics and on-campus living.”

Now that summer is over and the regular school year rhythm has begun, Christopher Cofer, executive director of Pre-College Programs, reflects on 2023 and prepares for the coming months.

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