Community Colleges America s New Entrepreneurs Dr Tony Zeiss

Community Colleges America’s New Entrepreneurs Dr. Tony Zeiss

Wake Up Call

First Things First Our colleges exist to add value to our students and communities, not to make a profit. ~

Reality Check • We must keep the doors open. -4, 600 working poor- • We’ve moved from public supported to public assisted. ~

A Time For Change • Presidents must become entrepreneurs. • Community colleges must become educational enterprises. ~

Board Members Already Get It • Board Chairs report that fundraising is very important to their college. . • Board Chairs increasingly expect their presidents to be fundraisers. Source: “Show Me the Money” ACCT Journal, Fall 2002

Silence the Critics! • “We’re not sacrificing instructional quality by becoming entrepreneurial, we’re ensuring it!” • Get everyone involved and create it as part of the culture. ~

How? • Learn to Raise Money! • Don’t Sell • Provide Opportunities for Meaningfulness!

How? I. Positive Reactions to Negative Budgets II. Power of Partnering III. Developing an Entrepreneurial College

I. Positive Reactions to Negative Budgets

Budget Truths • Don’t Spend What You Don’t Have! • Don’t Spend What You Don’t Have !

Two Reactions to Budget Cuts A. Decrease Expenses B. Increase Revenues

A. Decreasing Expenses • Increased Class Size: o Increased class size from 15/1 to 19/1 over a 4 year cycle. o Ensured optimal classroom utilization by purchasing Ad Astra, a room scheduling software. o Increased Virtual Campus offerings utilizing teacher assistants. ~

A. Decreasing Expenses • Revitalized Programs: o Identified programs with declining enrollment. o Developed revitalization process matching programs with needed resources (marketing, funding, students, etc. ). o Decided on continuation/termination of program. o Involved 19 current programs in revitalization activities. ~

B. Increasing Revenues 1. Gifts and Donations 2. Federal Grants/Earmarks 3. Fees for Services

Adversity = Opportunity Community Colleges Must Transform From Being Public Supported to Public Assisted Organizations… • Revitalizes Colleges • College is More Efficient • College is Customer Focused • College is Market Sensitive~

1. Gifts and Donations • Foundation o Annual Campaign o Special Events o Capital Campaign o Endowment o Alumni Campaign o Planned Giving o Sponsored Classes~

2. Federal Grants/Earmarks • Forensics Academy • Geospatial Program • Homeland Security • Integrated Systems Technology • Pell Grants • Other Grants~

3. Fees and Services • Contract Training • Consultant Services • Establish a 501 C 3 Corporation (Become entrepreneurial)~

Contract Training Examples: • Computer Training • Supervisory Training • Leadership Training • Workplace Literacy • Industry Specific • Assessment Centers • Succession Training~

501 C 3 Corporation • Kirkwood – Facilities • San Diego – Contract Training (General Support) • CPCC – Incubates Small Businesses (General Support)~

CPCC Services Corporation • Incubates Faculty-Staff Businesses • Leases Property • Auxiliary Services • CPCC Press • On Line Training • Contracts Research Services • Consulting Services • Regional Conferences • National Training classes (ESL) • Conference Center~

II. The Power of Partnering

Partnering Principles • Identify prospects • Benefits must be mutual • Build trusting relationships • Give value first • Maintain trusting relationships (husband/wife)~

Typical Partners • Business (Family Dollar) • Community Based Organizations (Pathways) • Government (Dept. of Labor) • Educational Institutions (CRWDP) • Individuals (Casey)

Educational Partnerships Charlotte Regional Workforce Development Partnership • • CCTI Construction Institute Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools • • Teacher Education Dual Credit Magnet Early College Occupational Academies~

III. Developing an Entrepreneurial College Incentives and Rewards

How ? • Get Board on board. • Get faculty and staff involved. • Provide incentives. • Provide rewards~

Dealing with Change Only 15% of Americans like change…… And they probably lie about the other things too!

Old Sam

Transforming Institutional Cultures to Embrace Change “If the rate of change inside the institution is less than the rate of change outside, the end is in sight. ” Jack Welch, CEO General Electric Co.

Creating Change • Build trusting relationships • Create anxiety, need • Paint clear vision to fix it. • Tap into organization’s core values. • Reward desired behavior ($, Annual Awards)~

Move with Change Yourself “Here lies Will O’Shea who stood up for his right of way. His fight was great, his will was strong. But he’s just as dead as if he’d been wrong. ”

President’s Entrepreneurship Council (President’s Think Tank for Creating Alternative Revenues) 1. Syndication & Sponsorships on Channel 17 2. Futures Institute – 3. Media Sponsorship Packaging 4. Leasing Facilities 5. Center for Research 6. Grant Training Certificate~

Make Entrepreneurialism Part of the Culture 1. Establish 501 C. 3 Fee For Service Corporation. 2. Teach entrepreneurialism to students, faculty, and staff. 3. Establish Entrepreneur of the Year or Semester Awards. 4. Give $ to grant writers and sales teams. 5. Start an entrepreneurial group. ~

Stay Optimistic!

Presentation located at: www. cpcc. edu About the College President’s Office Presentations