Oxford Center Forms Consortium to Assess Entrepreneurship in Universities and Colleges

First-of-its-kind empirical ranking system to promote educational criteria that supports entrepreneurs, alumni and business communities. End Quote

Atlanta, GA (1888PressRelease) August 29, 2012 - The Oxford Center for Entrepreneurs is pleased to announce the formation of the University Ranking and Oversight Consortium (UROC) and the appointment of its inaugural chairperson, Retired General Russel Honore' (US Army). Comprising academic and entrepreneur leaders across the country, the Consortium is dedicated to building and promoting stronger, more effective and relevant business school programs and curricula for developing entrepreneurs of the future. The ranking will comprise over 300 college and university systems that include business schools, liberal arts and sciences as well as technical schools and design schools. The top 50 schools will be published in The New York Times.

The chief goal of UROC is to develop and publish an empirical, totally objective criteria that expands the entrepreneur class beyond the business school and into other academic disciplines. The ranking process will be audited by an independent third party.

W. Cliff Oxford, successful entrepreneur and academic innovator, founder of the Oxford Center for Entrepreneurship, said, "The rankings will put both academic and entrepreneurs front and center and working together to educate and develop a wider class of entrepreneurs that will succeed and get our economy moving again." Oxford added, "We are honored that General Honore', an evangelist of entrepreneurship in his own right, has agreed to serve as the consortia's chair and bring his national credibility to the ranking."

Honore', best known for his leadership as a General during the Hurricane Katrina crisis, is a huge supporter of entrepreneurship that helps veterans not only come home and find employment but also helps them create companies. "Entrepreneurship is America's competitive advantage and how we compete on a global scale. We need to keep it, nurture it, and build it."

The Consortium understands how critical a credible empirical process is to assessing academic programs and is excited to announce that an Atlanta-based independent national accounting firm will be the auditing partner for its program criteria and ranking data. The criteria will be weighted 40% on inputs, which focuses on curriculum and programs and 60% on outputs such as jobs created, new companies started and apprentices hired.

For more information about UROC or the Oxford Center for Entrepreneurship, please call 800-810-6879.

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