FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The third-annual Southeastern Conference Symposium will focus on the role universities play in preparing students to be entrepreneurial, innovative and creative thinkers and will explore the ways universities impact the economy.

Titled, “Creativity, Innovation & Entrepreneurship: Driving a 21st Century Economy,” the symposium is scheduled for September 20-22 at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta.

Established by the SEC presidents and chancellors in 2013 to address a significant scholarly issue by utilizing the range of disciplinary strengths of the conference's 14 member universities, the two previous SEC Symposiums have focused on renewable energy and obesity prevention, respectively.

Sharon Gaber, provost and vice chancellor for academic affairs at the University of Arkansas, serves as chair of the SEC provost group.

Each day of the 2015 SEC Symposium will have a specific focus: “Creativity at the Intersection of the Arts and Other Disciplines” on September 20; “Innovation in Education” on September 21; and “New Paradigms in IP Management” on September 22.

“The SEC Symposium will still feature talks from SEC faculty, but participants will also have the opportunity to participate in smaller sessions designed to share best practices,” said Torie Johnson, executive director SECU.

Keynote speakers for the 2015 SEC Symposium will be Liz Lerman, a 2002 MacArthur “Genius Grant” Fellow and 2011 United States Artists Ford Fellow in Dance; Don Millard, acting division director of the Engineering Education and Centers at the National Science Foundation; and Tony Boccanfuso, executive director of the University Industry Demonstration Partnership of the National Academies.