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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
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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