The Kauffman program builds on an emerging trend at colleges and universities — expanding entrepreneurship education and experiences beyond business schools to the institution's other schools and academic departments and to students of diverse disciplines.

WUSTL will use a $50,000 planning grant awarded by the Kauffman Foundation to help fund development of a proposal to be presented in December. The foundation will award five to seven challenge grants of up to $5 million at that time, based on demonstrated ability to:

• Make entrepreneurship a common and accessible experience for all students.

• Infuse entrepreneurship into campus culture.

• Adopt a unique, innovative and potentially breakaway approach.

• Provide support from top University leadership.

• Position Washington University to serve as a model for other colleges and universities.

"We believe deeply in the potential of entrepreneurship education across all disciplines and majors to open doors and change lives, and we welcome the opportunity to play a leadership role in making such learning accessible to all students at Washington University," Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton said.

"It is an honor to be chosen as a finalist by the Kauffman Foundation, a national leader in the advancement of entrepreneurial education. We regard this invitation as a testament to the high quality of our interdisciplinary programs and our innovative approaches to learning.

"The Kauffman Campuses Initiative provides us with an outstanding opportunity to build upon the strengths of our entrepreneurship initiatives, which were created through the generous investment of Robert and Julie Skandalaris," Wrighton added.

Several components of the Skandalaris Entrepreneurship Program have been funded through an endowed gift from the Skandalarises.