Syracuse University in upstate New York announced that it had established its new creator economic center earlier this week. This is the first center of its kind on university campuses that focuses on the current creator-driven economic landscape.
The center draws inspiration from new types of content creators that have emerged in recent years, including podcasts, streamers, influencers and digital artists, who have reshape the way products and services are sold, monetized and consumed, mainly across social media platforms.
Unlike most sectors today, the global creator community continues to grow at a compound age of 10% to 20% according to Goldman Sachs.
“The creator’s economy represents one of the most important cultural and business transformations of our time,” Mike Haynie, deputy prime minister and executive dean of strategic planning and innovation at Whitman School, said in a statement.
His statement continued: “Syracuse seizes the opportunity of leadership (rather than following) to allow students to thrive at the intersection of creativity, business and digital innovation. Today’s college students are more entrepreneurial than ever, driving the creation of personal brands that not only generate their own income, but also bring their own professional time to their bosses and form their own professionals, and shape their own professionals and incorporate them into their own professionals.
The university is ready to offer undergraduate and graduate programs in creative content, audience engagement, and digital strategy, as well as other opportunities for students and professionals.
According to a report by the Pew Research Center, 42% of U.S. teenagers earn income through digital channels in 2024. But with so many teenagers already profiting on these platforms, it’s unclear whether Syracuse’s products will be a useful investment for these emerging college students or whether it will bring more meaning to those who don’t have capitalization yet.
While few top schools offer economic research for such creators, Columbia Business School chairs the conference and supports research on the creator economy, while Penn State faculty focuses on the creator economy. However, Syracuse was the first to launch a dedicated program.
The shift in course products comes after a recent decision to suspend 20 undergraduate majors, including Fine Arts and Digital Humanities, who have received different reviews in the university community. Syracuse’s vice president and provost Lois Agnew had previously spoken of the pause: “This comment is at a critical moment. Agnew added that while the university remains “financially stable,” there are concerns about its survival “if we continue to remain unchanged.”
