LAKELAND, Fla., March 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The Barney Barnett School of Business & Free Enterprise has earned a place on yet another prestigious list.
The American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA) has named the Center for Free Enterprise & Entrepreneurship at Florida Southern College a haven of excellence. Florida Southern joins 80 elite institutions from across the United States and is one of only three Florida schools to be included in the Oases of Excellence Network (OEN).
Florida Southern joins the American Council of Trustees and the Alumni Oases of Excellence Network.
Tweet this Center for Free Enterprise Director Justin Heacock
“At a time when higher education too often forces students to confine their efforts to narrow preparation for their first job, the Center for Free Enterprise & Entrepreneurship prepares students for a meaningful role in the dynamic economy of the 21st century. century ago,” said Michael Poliakoff, the President of ACTA. “The center equips students to put inspiration into action with the aim of serving their nation and local community with vision, aspiration and creativity. In recognition of their invaluable work, ACTA is proud of the work of the Center for Free Enterprise & Entrepreneurship as part of our Oases of Excellence network.”
Led by Justin Heacock, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Florida Southern, the Center for Free Enterprise & Entrepreneurship aims to instill an entrepreneurial mindset and strengthen the principles of free enterprise for Florida Southern College and the surrounding community . The center offers academic programs as well as experiential opportunities to enrich a student’s education. Students can receive seed money and mentoring to develop innovative ideas into viable businesses. The center strives to turn students into innovative leaders who can be effective in new or existing organizations.
“Affiliation with ACTA is important because it reinforces the story we are trying to tell here at CFEE about our exceptional students,” said Heacock. “We hope this partnership will result in more connections and resources to increase our experiential impact on students as an Oases of Excellence school.” Founded in 1995, ACTA is an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes academic excellence, freedom and accountability in America’s colleges and universities. The organization works with alumni, donors, trustees, and educational leaders across the United States to support liberal arts education, maintain high academic standards, ensure the free exchange of ideas on campus, and ensure that the next generation an intellectually rich, high-quality tertiary education at an affordable price.
“ACTA connects students, alumni and others who care deeply about educating the next generation of leaders while maintaining the highest academic standards on college campuses across the country,” said Tim Holcomb, Chair of ACTA’s Department of Entrepreneurship . “We are particularly pleased to receive this recognition of our efforts to prepare tomorrow’s entrepreneurial leaders and inspire them to innovate, create value and increase their impact on society.”
The Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise was recently named #1 in “Teaching Quality” by Poets&Quants and continues to be included in The Princeton Review’s list of the best business schools in the country. The school’s online MBA program was also recently recognized by US News & World Report as one of the top programs in the country. Florida Southern was recognized for the Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise’s focus on career-relevant courses with a wide range of multidisciplinary perspectives and student opportunities for hands-on experience through industry internships and other forms of professional engagement.
About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1883, Florida Southern College is the state’s oldest private college. The college continues its commitment to academic excellence through more than 70 undergraduate programs and distinctive graduate programs in business, education, nursing and physical therapy. Florida Southern has a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, is an award-winning national leader in engaged learning, and has 30 NCAA Division II national championships. Florida Southern is recognized by US News & World Report in its 2022 Best Colleges guide Ranked #8 among the “Best Regional Universities in the South” and is included in The Princeton Review’s Best 388 Colleges 2023 guide and the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2023.” The 2022-2023 Colleges of Distinction Guidebook commends the AACSB Florida Southern accredited the Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise alongside the college’s School of Education and its Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Poets&Quants, US News & World Report, Fortune and The Princeton Review also commend Barney Barnett School of Business and Free Enterprise and the Ann Blanton Edwards School of Nursing and Health Sciences as the nation’s leading P programs for business and nursing education. The FSC houses the world’s largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in a single location and has been included in The Princeton Review’s Top 20 Most Beautiful Campuses list for 13 consecutive years. Connect with Florida Southern College.
SOURCE Florida Southern College
