Methods of Promoting Academic Business and Community Partnerships

Methods of Promoting Academic, Business, and Community Partnerships Dr. Peg Morelli Colorado Community College System Tuesday, October 8, 2002 10: 45 - 12: 15

Topics for discussion • • • Overview of Colorado System Colorado Rural Development Council Rural Telecommunications Summit Opening Windows Rural Education Access Program Rural Colorado E-Commerce Initiative Rural New Economy Initiative Academic Workshops Challenges and Conclusions Replicating Successes

Overview of Colorado System • Individual community colleges for decades • CCCOES created by Colorado General Assembly (1967) – Governing board appointed by governor – has full governing authority over 13 community colleges – regulation and administration of all CTE at Area Vocational schools (8) and public secondary system (154 school districts) – coordination of two local district colleges • Colorado Community College System operates under the authority of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) • Name changed to Colorado Community College System (2002)

Colorado Rural Development Council (1993) • Is part of National Rural Development Partnership • Began formation in 1993 – 30 member interim steering committee created – Interim steering committee hired the council’s executive director – Partnerships • Each CRDC sector has two private, two non-profit, and two local government representatives • Denver supplied ten federal liaisons • Governor appointed ten state partners at cabinet level • 2 tribal nations have seats • 1 general member

• Full CRDC Board meets in rural communities around Colorado each quarter. • Executive Committee meets 8 times each year in rural communities. • Each meeting is preceded by a community forum.

• CRDC Benefits to Rural Colorado – Facilitates statewide networking and idea sharing. – Serves as rural representation to numerous organizations and initiatives to encourage accountability to grass roots. – Forum for information sharing between rural communities and governmental agencies. – Provides educational opportunities at request of rural communities. – Directly involves state and federal agencies in rural issues. – Encourages partnerships to address challenges. – Addresses rural policy issues at the federal level through involvement with the Rural Development Council and National Rural Development Partnership.

Rural Telecommunications Summit (1997) • CRDC compiled partnerships to sponsor and host a summit on current and future status of rural access to telecommunications and technology. • Established resources data base.

Opening Windows (1998 -2000) • Theater and human services project that addresses adolescent health and behavior issues. • CRDC brought Opening Windows to Colorado and purchased exclusive rights for two years. • Play was made available, at minimal cost, to rural theater/drama groups for performance throughout Colorado. • Reached about 600 people in five performances.

Rural Education Access Program (2001) • The Rural Education Access Program (REAP) provides financial support to four-year colleges to deliver degree completion programs on the campuses of rural community colleges. • The student earns an Associate Degree and stays to earn an advanced degree.

Rural Colorado E-Commerce Initiative (RCECI) (1999) • CCHE leveraged 1. 3 million dollars in Colorado technology funds. • RCECI included seven community colleges. • Community colleges are now working with local businesses and individuals. • Community colleges share resources and products with each other

• Results of RCECI: – Small business development center programs – All seven community colleges to offer 30 hour program designed to promote development of business networking – Emphasis on local accountability – Colleges offer customized programs to meet employer needs – When local programs are in place, colleges focus on bringing them to scale by sharing programs and curricula

• RCECI Strengths: – Shared governance – Increased resources because of pooling, shared networking, and leadership support – Responding to local needs

Rural New Economy Initiative (2001) • Includes fourteen colleges: – Seven state-run rural colleges – Four four-year colleges – Two local district colleges – One area vocational center

• Present outcomes of Rural New Economy Initiative (RNEI) project: – More than 500 participants currently in RNEI workshops. – Local needs and gaps in available programs and resources have been pinpointed to decide how to best address them. • Focus – Educate elected officials – Fulfill need for healthcare workers – Increase offerings to small business – Pilot a leadership development effort to address the digital age – Local resources are being gathered in a common statewide pool – One of the four-year colleges is formatting outlines/ curriculum in a database that other institutions can access – RNEI will fund curriculum development for areas of interest that have not been addressed

Academic Workshops (2001 - Present) • Provided throughout Colorado for secondary and post-secondary teachers • Topic is: Incorporating E-Commerce Into Curriculum • Four days training, participants receive resource materials, curriculum notebooks and CD’s, lesson plans to facilitate incorporation into programs at participants’ home sites.

Challenges and Conclusions • Role (s) identification: – Provision of business services – Customized training based upon specific local/regional needs – Community training – Industry certification programs – Skills upgrades – Language and employability skills for immigrants – Entrepreneurial training – E-Business, E-Commerce

• Keys: – Clear mission identification, particularly as it relates to rural identity – Rather than all things to all people, need to fulfill mission that will compliment and supplement own strengths • Leadership: – Is critical to identification, fulfillment of, and improvement upon roles – Must be devoid of self-grandisement, truly cognizant of needs and how to leverage multiplicity of partnerships to meet those needs

Replicating Successes • Community colleges are important to rural economic development • Quality of leadership is critical • A state system influences the nature of replication • Finding money to replicate innovative practices can be difficult