Troy, N.Y. — Entrepreneur magazine has named the technological entrepreneurship program at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lally School of Management and Technology one of the top 13 schools in the nation. The rankings are posted on the magazine’s Web site, and will be published in the May ’04 issue.

The Lally School was among 13 business schools that represent “the top tier of the very best programs in the country,” according to Entrepreneur magazine.

Rankings are based on more than 30 criteria including course offerings, teaching and research faculty, business-community outreach, research centers and institutes, advisory boards, off-campus programs, other entrepreneurial initiatives, degrees and certificates offered, and faculty and alumni evaluations.

“The Entrepreneur ranking is an affirmation of the Lally School’s excellent faculty, seven of whom are recognized scholars in entrepreneurship. Their ability to provide the experiential learning required to develop the next generation of technological entrepreneurs has been proven time and time again,” said Denis Fred Simon, Lally School dean. “We are thrilled to be recognized for our success in helping students realize their goals to develop new, innovative products and services, and in so doing, create the jobs of the future that will enable their companies to compete in an ever-changing global economy.”

Through the Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship, the Lally School offers startup companies access to support mechanisms at every level - from advice and assistance to the facility infrastructure needed to help fund and grow a startup business. Rensselaer has a strong track record of student teams developing their business concepts in class, moving on to create new companies and products at Rensselaer’s business incubator, and as they gain traction in the marketplace, moving to facilities at the Rensselaer Technology Park. More than 400 Lally alumni are active participants in the Rensselaer Entrepreneurs Network (REN), a global network of entrepreneurs who started successful ventures.

Technological entrepreneurship - the ability to manage risk and translate new knowledge into commercial opportunity - has long been a strategic focus at Rensselaer. President Shirley Ann Jackson has established the position of vice provost of entrepreneurship to oversee the infusion of entrepreneurship across all of the Institute curricula. Guided by the goals of The Rensselaer Plan, the university is enhancing scientific and technological entrepreneurship across the spectrum of its programs in education, research, technology commercialization, new venture creation, and regional economic development.

Entrepreneur magazine researched more than 700 entrepreneurship programs for the list released today. Colleges have been ranked by tiers and listed alphabetically within each tier.

About Rensselaer’s Lally School
The Lally School of Management and Technology was founded in 1963 as an integral part of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Building on a heritage of over 175 years of leadership in science and engineering, Rensselaer's Lally School is dedicated to advancing business through innovation. The curriculum is designed to produce leaders who combine creative passion with the ability to integrate technology across business functions. Faculty emphasizes the value of hands-on experience available through campus resources such as the Severino Center for Technological Entrepreneurship and a world-class business incubator center. Rensselaer's Lally School offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs in management, doctoral programs in management and technology, an executive MBA program, and a joint Sino-U.S. MBA for companies operating in China. Visit www.lallyschool.rpi.edu for more information.

Contact: Theresa Bourgeois
Phone: (518) 276-2840
E-mail: bourgt@rpi.edu