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ESCALATE Program Information

Engineers, mathematicians and scientists with an entrepreneurial flair are ideally suited to identify technical opportunities in the marketplace and then develop products and businesses to address them. The entrepreneurial mindset is valuable whether your goal is starting a new business or developing new solutions in an existing business. ESCALATE introduces students to the essential principles of entrepreneurial and business success including identifying market opportunities, developing creative and innovative solutions, and developing approaches to capture value in the marketplace. The core approach of the program integrates technical disciplines with the application of entrepreneurship principles across both academic study and campus life.
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What is ESCALATE?

The cornerstone of the program is a living-learning community focused on entrepreneurship.  And you kick off your academics with two courses: (i) EMGT175 - Personal Finance in the Fall quarter, and (ii) EMGT100 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship in the Spring quarter.  From this academic footing, the program ensures that you will:

  • Enjoy a unique educational and residential environment focused on entrepreneurship.
  • Work with faculty from engineering, sciences and humanities with expertise in entrepreneurship in addition to their core disciplines.
  • Build the foundation to become an entrepreneur. Learn current best practices in courses, engage in related co-curricular activities and network with classmates and mentors. All of this develops the entrepreneurial mindset that is of value in any business setting.
  • Explore and develop your own entrepreneurial interests on the Rose-Hulman campus.

What makes ESCALATE unique?

It’s an entrepreneurial living-learning community for approximately 50 freshmen that live together in a common residence hall.
  • Automatic enrollment in the on-campus peer mentoring program, where students are paired up with an ESCALATE upperclassmen for one-on-one mentoring.
  • Access to external peer mentors, which are typically Rose-Hulman alumni that have founded a company.
  • You can apply ESCALATE coursework towards completing a Minor in Entrepreneurial Studies.
  • Automatic enrollment in the RISE student entrepreneurship club, which includes the opportunity to pitch your business ideas, attend workshops and compete in startup business competitions.
  • Access to the Launch Terre Haute co-working space so you have a business address to register your company and an off-campus meeting place to interact with local entrepreneurs.
  • Internship opportunities at startup companies in Indiana or at Rose-Hulman Ventures.
  • Personal attention from faculty/staff to inspire you to pursue your entrepreneurial interests and to guide you through the steps to start your own venture or join an entrepreneurial firm.

 

APPLICATION PROCESS

The ESCALATE application process for 2024-2025 is closed.

If you have questions about the ESCALATE program, please contact Professor Thomas James james3@rose-hulman.edu.

FAQ

ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL FEES ASSOCIATED WITH THE ESCALATE PROGRAM?

No. There are no additional fees if you are accepted into the ESCALATE program.

DO I STILL NEED TO DO THE HOUSING SURVEY?

Yes. It is very important, even if you apply to become a member of ESCALATE, that you log in to Banner Web and complete the Housing Survey. Not all students who apply to ESCALATE are guaranteed to be selected as participants, so it is important that your housing preferences be noted as requested in the Housing Survey.

WHAT IF I’VE ALREADY DONE THE HOUSING SURVEY AND DIDN’T LIST A SPECIFIC RESIDENCE HALL FOR ESCALATE? DO I NEED TO REDO MY HOUSING SURVEY?

No. There is no need to adjust your Housing Survey on the basis of your intention to apply to be part of ESCALATE. Students who are granted a spot in ESCALATE will automatically be placed into the living-learning community.

WHAT IF I AM ACCEPTED INTO ESCALATE, BUT MY ROOMMATE IS NOT ACCEPTED, CAN WE STILL LIVE TOGETHER?

No. You will be part of a living-learning community so all roommates will also be in ESCALATE.

WHAT IF I AM NOT MAJORING IN ENGINEERING?

ESCALATE is designed to accommodate students pursuing any major at Rose-Hulman. All interested students are encouraged to apply, and your intended major will not be considered as a factor in determining your admission to the program.

Course Description

EMGT 175 – PERSONAL FINANCE

  • Credit Hours: 4R-0L-4C
  • Term Available –
  • Prerequisites: None
  • Corequisites: None

This course provides knowledge of personal finance so that students can learn how to make quality financial decisions that enable them to manage their money and to build wealth over a lifetime.  Topical areas include saving, spending, paying taxes, and investing, with consideration of insurance to mitigate risk.  This course explores conventional and online banking to establish credit and to use debt to achieve goals.  Considerable attention is paid to budgeting, with an emphasis on saving for short term needs and longer-term retirement goals through investments in stocks and bonds.  

 

Two required courses (total of 8 credits):

EMGT 330 - Introduction to Engineering Management
EMGT 432 or EMGT 532 - Technical Entrepreneurship

Three elective courses (total of 12 credits) from the following:

EMGT 100 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship
EMGT 175 - Personal Finance
EMGT 520 - Accounting for Technical Managers
EMGT 521 - Financial Management in a Technical Environment
EMGT 523 - Marketing in New Product Development
EMGT 526 - Innovation Management & Forecasting
EMGT 527 - Project Management
ECON S151 - Introduction to Microeconomics
ECON S152 - Introduction to Macroeconomics
ECON S352 - Corporate Finance
ECON S350 - International Trade & Globalization
ECON S355 - International Finance
PHIL H202 - Business and Engineering Ethics

Contact

Dr. Thomas James
Dr. Thomas James, Professor of Entrepreneurship

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