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Business & Entrepreneurship Certificate

Program Overview
The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Business and Entrepreneurship Program offers current IAIA students and members of the community the unique opportunity to build the analytical and practical skills critical to launching and operating a successful business.

Entrepreneurship is a creative endeavor that lends itself well to individuals with original, innovative ideas who are willing to work hard and achieve their dreams. Some people are drawn into small business ownership by way of their skills and education, including artists, restaurant owners, filmmakers and other professionals to name just a few. The IAIA Business and Entrepreneurship Certificate is designed to provide a solid foundation of business fundamentals and prepare students with the skills and resources to start their own venture. 

Learning about business and entrepreneurship at a tribal college offers a unique opportunity to study the issues and prospects for Native American business owners operating both on and off tribal lands, and to become familiar with contemporary issues in Native American economic development. The addition of this unique layer of information, woven throughout the business and entrepreneurship curriculum, will prove useful for all students (Native, non-Native, on-reservation, off-reservation) in gaining a deeper understanding of the real-life complexities in today’s business world.

Upon satisfactory completion of 5 courses that make up the Certificate curriculum students will earn the Business and Entrepreneurship Certificate from IAIA, which will be awarded by the President during the graduation ceremony each spring.

Curriculum
The Certificate consists of 5 college-level business courses that will earn the student 15 units of college credits. The following five courses are required to complete the Certificate:

• BUSN101:  Money, Wealth and Personal Finance   (fall, spring - introduction)
• BUSN210:  Introduction to Financial Accounting      (fall)
• BUSN220:  Marketing                                           (spring)
• BUSN330:  Small Business Development               (fall)
• BUSN340:  Entrepreneurship                                 (spring – capstone)

The Certificate is designed to be completed in 10 months over 2 semesters.  However, students are encouraged to complete the program at their own pace and according to their own schedules.

It is recommended that students begin the program with the introductory course BUSN101: Money, Wealth and Personal Finance.  BUSN340:  Entrepreneurship is designed as a capstone course that pulls together everything learned in the first four courses and is recommended to be taken in the student’s final semester of the program.

BUSN101: Money, Wealth and Personal Finance, is offered every fall and spring semester, allowing students the flexibility to begin the program at two times during the year.  Each fall semester, BUSN210:  Introduction to Financial Accounting and BUSN330:  Small Business Development will be offered.  Each spring semester, BUSN220:  Marketing and BUSN340:  Entrepreneurship will be offered.  

Step 1:  Admissions
Students can attend IAIA for the sole purpose of earning the Certificate, or add the Certificate to any degree program.  Students coming to IAIA specifically for the Certificate program will need to state in their application they are seeking the Business and Entrepreneurship Certificate, and should contact Jennifer Coots as soon as possible.

Application for IAIA
All new students are required to apply for IAIA.  The application fee for new students is $5 and students can apply on-line at ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­http://www.iaia.edu/college/ad-howtoapply.php  Returning IAIA students must apply, however, the application fee will be waived.  The application deadlines are August 5th for the fall semester, and January 4th for the spring semester. 

• Students who have completed a college-level degree must send an unofficial copy of their transcripts with their application. (Waived for students who earned their degree at IAIA.)
• Students who have not completed a college-level degree must submit college test scores, or plan on taking the AccuPlacer test at IAIA as part of their application packet.  Students should contact Jennifer Coots to arrange for this test.
• Students should submit proof of tribal affiliation with their application, if applicable.

Application for the Business and Entrepreneurship Certificate Program
All students are required to apply for the Business and Entrepreneurship Certificate prior to taking the classes.  The application can be requested from Jim Rivera or Jennifer Coots.  The application process is free and should be hand delivered, mailed, faxed or emailed to Jim Rivera by the application deadline. 

Step 2:  Faculty Advisor
Students who have applied and been admitted to IAIA will be assigned a Faculty Advisor.  Questions at this stage of the process should be directed to Nena Anaya Martinez, IAIA Director of Admissions, Records, Enrollment at (505)424-2302, or nanaya@iaia.edu.

Step 3:  Registration
Next, students meet with their Faculty Advisor to register for classes.  Students who come to IAIA solely to earn the Certificate should contact their Faculty Advisor, Jennifer Coots, to register for Certificate courses. Your Faculty Advisor will register you for all of your classes.  Once you are registered for classes, you are enrolled in the program.

Prerequisites
Students can begin the program in their freshman year and should discuss the program with their Faculty Advisor.  Students can begin the program once they have passed or tested out of MATH098 and MATH099.  It is also recommended students have passed or tested out of ENGL098 and ENGL099, due to the written requirements of the Certificate program.

Deadlines
The application deadline for IAIA is Aug. 5th for the fall semester, and Jan. 4th for the spring.
The application deadline for the Certificate program is June 30 of each year.  The application deadline for beginning the Certificate program in the spring semester is Dec. 1.

Students are encouraged to contact Jennifer Coots after the application deadline has passed to find out if space is available in the Certificate program for additional students. 

Costs
There are 5, 3-credit courses needed to earn the Certificate, for a total of 15 college credits.  For the 2009-2010 academic year, one credit costs $100.00, making each 3-credit class cost $300.00, and the entire 15-credit Certificate $1,500.00.  Please see IAIA website to verify current tuition rates. 

In addition to tuition, each student can expect varying costs related to books and materials.  Students should budget anywhere from $75-$150 per class.  Although a personal computer is not required at IAIA students should expect to have access to a computer, the Internet, and email.  IAIA has a library with these services available at no charge to all current students.  All students will be given a College email address, which will be required in class.

Students should also expect to budget for transportation costs to and from IAIA campus in Santa Fe at a minimum of two days per week and possibly more days depending on course load and use of campus facilities.

Tuition for 2009-2010 academic year:       $1,500
Books and materials estimate:                $   600
Transportation estimate:                         $   400
                                                            $2,500
Financial Aid
The Institute of American Indian Arts has financial aid and private scholarships available for students enrolled in a minimum of 6 credits per semester.  Students should see the Financial Aid office and/or Jim Rivera for more information. 

IAIA offers The Johnson Foundation Scholarship to students pursuing the Business and Entrepreneurship Certificate who are enrolled members of a Federally recognized tribe.  All students will apply for the scholarship within the Certificate program application that is required for admittance to the program.  The scholarship award ranges from $500 per semester, to $2,500 per year and is awarded on a competitive basis, depending on eligibility and need.  Contact Jim Rivera for more information on The Johnson Foundation Scholarship.

FAFSA
Students should plan on filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid if they intend on applying for and/or receiving financial aid through IAIA, including The Johnson Foundation Scholarship.  The application is free at the following website: www.fasfa.ed.gov  The total application can take as little as 1-2 days if no verifications are required.  The IAIA code is 014152.