St. Edward’s University and the Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence (FEE) announced today that the Acton Master of Business Administration in Entrepreneurship (MBAE) will leave St. Edward’s to become an independent program. While the program will no longer be associated with St. Edward’s, FEE will offer the Acton program in Fall 2004 at a different location. St. Edward’s is developing its own daytime MBAE program and continues to offer entrepreneurship curriculum through existing, long-standing graduate and undergraduate programs.

“In the spirit of entrepreneurship, we are happy with our contribution to the very successful incubation of the Acton MBAE program,” said John Houghton, vice president of the College of Professional and Graduate Studies at St. Edward’s. “The experience extended our expertise in delivering innovative, high-quality entrepreneurial programs. It provided us some great lessons for constructing the next version of the St. Edward’s MBAE, which we plan to offer in Fall 2005.”

“The first year of the Acton MBAE was more successful than we ever had imagined and we deeply appreciate all of St. Edward’s help and support in launching the program,” said Jeff Sandefer, FEE board member. “This fall we’ll be offering an enhanced version of our award-winning curriculum taught by the same team of entrepreneur-teachers who developed the program. And in the coming weeks and months we’ll be making some even more exciting announcements. Our ultimate vision is to build the premier MBA program for entrepreneurs in the country. None of this would have been possible without St. Edward’s help.”

Founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross, St. Edward’s University has been named as one of America’s Best Colleges for 2004 by U.S. News & World Report. St. Edward’s is a private Catholic, liberal arts university of approximately 4,450 students located in Austin, Texas.

The Foundation for Entrepreneurial Excellence (FEE) was established in July 1997 to bring incentive and practice to emerging business leaders through the creation of a dynamic educational curriculum imparting the best of entrepreneurial knowledge; attracting and training talented entrepreneurs to be master teachers inside and outside academia; and giving smart, driven students the tools, judgment and wisdom to succeed. Using the case study method students learn how to learn, learn how to make money and learn how to live a life of meaning.