Methods of Promoting Academic, Business, and Community

Partnerships

Dr. Peg MorelliColorado Community College System

Tuesday, October 8, 200210:45 - 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