- The new downtown Buffalo campus for the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship, located in the former Buffalo News building, is set to welcome its inaugural cohort of students on Sept. 9.
- The $30 million renovation includes an artificial intelligence hub, classrooms, a local business coffee shop, and a free closet for students to access business professional clothing, offering a unique educational opportunity for all ages.
- The institute’s curriculum focuses on connectivity, collaboration, and real-world experience, with a weekly guest speaker series, internship opportunities, and a goal to create ethical AI leaders in business, with tuition at $8,900 per year.
The new downtown Buffalo campus for the Golisano Institute for Business and Entrepreneurship is in its last few weeks of construction before the inaugural cohort of students starts school on Sept. 9.
The 30 million-dollar acquisition and renovation of the former Buffalo News building on Washington St. follows the purchase of the building by billionaire philanthropist Tom Golisano. The renovation includes an artificial intelligence hub, classrooms, a local business coffee shop, and a closet for students to find business professional clothing for free.
“In my 30 years in education, I can tell you this is a once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity,” said associate vice president of academics at Buffalo’s Golisano Institute, Dr. Sandra Kelleher.
The institute, open to all ages, offers a two-year certificate in business and entrepreneurship as well as a new one-year advanced certificate in AI and business. The alternative post-secondary business school first launched in Rochester two years ago.
“The big part of what we’re doing is connectivity and collaboration, collaboration within our students themselves and collaboration with our businesses and partners,” said executive vice president and Buffalo regional director of the Golisano Institute, Jim Detinger.
Detinger adds that the curriculum extends far beyond what can be taught in a classroom, with a weekly guest speaker.
“Every Wednesday we do not have class. We have an entrepreneur, a business owner, a boutique owner of a fitness center, a franchisee come in and literally tell their story, the good, the bad, and the ugly. And it’s a way for our students to connect with that pathway; potentially, they can see themselves in their shoes,” said Detinger.
Officials say they want to use the internship and work offered to students as a way to also give back to Buffalo while providing students real-world experience.
“When we think about our students, our students are ready to work as early as three months in, right?” said Kelleher. “It’s that next gear that the city of Buffalo has been looking for to generate that impact in the industries, but also in our economy. Our students are a sign of hope really for the area.”
“The goal is: how do we connect them with a local business so they take what they’ve learned and apply it and create value for local companies,” added Detinger.
Officials say they have already exceeded the number of students in the inaugural class, with nearly 75 students enrolled.
Another component of the curriculum is integrating artificial intelligence in class to drive the future of ethical AI leaders in business.
“AI specifically is a way for us to really think about everything we’re doing, think about what this is going to look and feel like in the world of work, but also positioning our students to be leaders in AI, helping their industry, helping their colleagues once they’re in those positions understand this isn’t something to be afraid of,” said Kelleher.
Students will take two 105-minute classes in-person each day besides Wednesday, with class wrapping up at 1 p.m. each day. Kelleher adds that a lot of students may opt for this program over a four-year university or college because the tuition allows people to possibly be able to avoid student debt. Tuition is $8,900 per year and goes towards books and a new laptop.
Enrollment periods will open every September and March. Enrollment is currently open until Aug. 28, with open house opportunities in September and October. The enrollment process includes an application, interview, and initial math exam. Construction is expected to be finished between orientation (Sept. 1) and the first day of school (Sept. 9).
