Turner Business

According to today's report for the Ledger-Enquirer by Jordyn Paul-Slater, Startup Columbus is turning its annual pitch competition into an economic development tool. Starting this year, the LaunchCon pitch competition will offer a relocation incentive for entrepreneurs outside the Columbus area, pairing cash with mentorship, investor connections and local business resources in hopes of convincing founders to build their companies and create jobs in Columbus. Applications for the competition opened this month and will close August 7. As in prior years, finalists will compete in a “Shark Tank”-style competition on November 13 at the Cunningham Center for a share of $40,000 in prize money. This year, however, if an entrepreneur from outside the Columbus region reaches the finals, Startup Columbus will offer a relocation package that includes $5,000 to relocate, introductions to investors, guaranteed one-on-one mentoring sessions, access to local service providers, and support durin...

Turner College economist Frank Mixon has been invited to guest edit a special issue of Economies titled "Labor Market Institutions." Labor market institutions are the formal and informal rules, organizations and policies that regulate employment, wage-setting and working conditions. Prominent examples in this topic include labor unions, minimum wage legislation, unemployment insurance and employment protection laws that dictate hiring and firing processes.  Economies is an international, peer-reviewed, journal that publishes mainly in the fields of development economics and macroeconomics. It also supports research in health economics, labor economics and regional economics. Stay connected to Turner Business for future posts on this assignment.

The Turner College is n ow hiring Peer Academic Leaders. Students seeking a  rewarding graduate assistantship may apply to join the Turner College in this capacity and help students succeed while earning a $6,000 stipend per semester, tuition assistance (fees not included), and a flexible schedule. Interested students may a pply today through the CSU Employment Portal.

CSU has partnered with Follett Higher Education to launch Cougar Outfitters, the university’s newly transformed on-campus retail and course materials destination. Operated by Follett, North America’s largest campus retailer, Cougar Outfitters represents a significant upgrade to both the in-person and online campus bookstore experience.  Most notably, the name “Cougar Outfitters”—chosen with input from student leaders—signals a shift from the traditional bookstore concept to a one-stop shop for every Cougar. Although its Main Campus location in the Davidson Student Center remains the same, the reimagined bookstore will elevate student success by offering affordable course materials and updated technology services, while also promoting campus spirit through a broader range of products and events.  “We are excited to launch this new chapter at Columbus State University,” said Kim Scranage, the university’s chief student officer. "Cougar Outfitters, through our partnership with Fo...

According to a new report by the Ledger-Enquirer 's Jordyn-Paul Slater, StartUP Columbus is now accepting applications for its LaunchCon Pitch Competition happening on November 13, 2026. The competition is a live business pitch event designed to give emerging entrepreneurs access to capital, exposure, and support as they work to grow their businesses. In conjunction with report, Executive Director Ben MacMinn stated that StartUP Columbus will again be partnering with the Turner College in hosting the event, during which the top-placed competitor will be awarded $40,000. MacMinn added that an added benefit of the competition is that the contestants will be pitching to a crowd of investors and peer entrepreneurs. Links to the LaunchCon application is available via StartUP Columbus' website.

With the Turner College opting to delay the search to replace former Dean Deborah Kidder , Acting Dean Tesa Leonce and Acting Associate Dean John Finley begin the 2026-2027 academic year with the titles "Interim Dean" and "Interim Associate Dean," respectively. CSU currently has a number of high-level position searches going, and the search for the new Turner College dean should join the group next month. Kidder, who was removed as Turner College dean late in fall semester 2025, is now the business school dean at Kutztown University. Last week CSU President Stuart Rayfield reported to the CSU community that the administration  continues to closely monitor enrollment and retention efforts, and that she is cautiously optimistic about the fall based on all the early indicators the central administration monitors daily. "As the new fiscal year begins, our budgets serve as an important reminder of how these efforts are tied to our bottom line," Rayfield explai...