Alfred University Students Create and Run Their Own Businesses Through Experiential Learning Program

Strategic Insights -

Alfred University has launched a new initiative in its College of Business that focuses on the importance and benefits of experiential learning. Five students presented their summer projects, which included developing and marketing their own business ventures, with support from the College of Business's Institute for Experiential Entrepreneurship (IEE). The students worked in teams and spent part of the summer developing and marketing their own business ventures, with the goal of providing real-world business experience to complement classroom instruction.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Institute for Experiential Entrepreneurship (IEE) at Alfred University emphasizes providing students with real-world business experience to complement classroom instruction.
  • Five students presented their summer projects, which included developing and marketing their own business ventures, with support from the IEE.
  • The students worked in teams and spent part of the summer developing and marketing their own business ventures, which included creating websites, online English tutoring platforms, and artificial intelligence tools.
  • Albrin English, an online English tutoring platform, is a student-run business that offers instruction on English proficiency over four weeks with two classes each week.
  • Gradmate.ai, a website designed to ease the process of applying to graduate school, helps students find their best match for grad school, connect with faculty who share similar research interests, and navigate the process for finding paid graduate assistantships.
  • The students will continue developing their businesses throughout the 2025-26 academic year, with the goal of making their businesses self-sustaining and training Alfred University students to run the business after they have graduated.
  • The IEE has the potential to benefit all students at Alfred University, not just those enrolled in business programs, by helping them build strong business foundations for their future careers.
  • The students credited the mentorship and guidance of faculty members, including Jean Ellefson, Shelly Freyn, and Jason Morrison, for helping them during their projects.
  • Zach Harrington, a partner and financial advisor at Rise Advisors, LLC, praised the students for their work on their businesses and in being prepared for their presentations.
  • Dave Stirpe, a serial entrepreneur, advised students to not get too tied to a particular business plan or model and to find out what people want and adapt.

Statistics:

  • 5 students presented their summer projects
  • 2 students from Ukraine created an online English tutoring platform
  • 1 student from Bangladesh designed an artificial intelligence tool to help students find paid graduate assistantships
  • 4 weeks of English instruction are offered by Albrin English
  • 2 classes each week are conducted by Albrin English
  • 5 years of experience in teaching English in Ukraine were reported by Sabrina Hryhorieva and Anna Koreiba
  • $100,000 was gifted by Joseph F. Smith Jr. '66 and Alice Smith to fund experiential learning initiatives
  • 2 alumni, Zach Harrington '14 and Dave Stirpe '93, served on the College of Business Advisory Board

Sources:

  • Alfred University Press Release, September 19, 2025
  • "Alfred University Students Create and Run Their Own Businesses Through Experiential Learning Program" (press release), Alfred University, https://www.alfred.edu/about/news/pressreleases/2025/09/alfred-university-students-create-and-run-their-own-businesses-through-experiential-learning-program.cfm