Inside Startup U.

By Dr. Marciene Mattleman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Thomas Byers opens is first day of class at Stanford, or StartupU, as it's often dubbed, rattling names of luminaries who have studied or taught there -- a senior executive at Twitter, the head of Google X. Silicon Valley surrounds the campus and has become entwined with it.

Graduates and undergraduates can choose from dozens of classes, clubs fellowships and contests that focus on innovation, from technical to conceptual. Professors can take two years away from campus and start their own firms.

According to Beth McMurtrie wrote a fascinating article listing its many opportunities in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Close to 40,000 active companies including 5,500 started by students and recent graduates have Stanford roots,  Collectively companies with Stanford connections have created the equivalent of the world's 10th largest economy.

But Stanford is conflicted by its StartupU. reputation. Professors and administrators  prefer the message that liberal arts and technical education do not have to work against each other. Read more.