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Weekly UpdatesA GOOD "COLLEGE TRY" means "a serious effort to do or achieve something." Indiana's independent colleges and universities are making just such an effort to support their communities and state.
"The number one way in which we impact our local communities and the statewide business communities is simply through employment," says Dr. Hans C. Giesecke, president of Independent Colleges of Indiana. "We are a major employer in the state of Indiana, with approximately 20,000 employees.'
Some prime examples of business relationships between campus and community include Anderson University's Flagship Enterprise Center, with its state-of-the-art conference center. It mixes highly qualified staff and faculty with community needs and offers both internships and fellowships for students to work with local firms. MBA and undergraduates in the business program assist the Center with marketing strategies, accounting services, business plans and web site development. Three years ago Butler University began a business accelerator to develop consulting services and practices with Central Indiana businesses utilizing its MBA program and undergraduate business program students. Indiana Tech uses its MBA program as a wedge to help local companies expand and develop. "They've developed a number of onsite MBA programs as well as undergraduate programs in business to help professionals who want to expand their skill sets do so while they are working."
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Here is a look at the many innovative ways independent colleges are making a difference all over the state.
Anderson University. "Our first and best example would be the Flagship Enterprise Center (FEC)," says Chris Williams, director of university communications. Anderson University partnered with the City of Anderson to create the FEC, which serves as a small business incubator and growth-stage business accelerator. In 2007 the FEC was expanded to include the Anderson University Flagship Center (AUFC) which houses the Anderson University Falls School of Business Residential MBA program as well as programs offered by the School of Adult Learning and Purdue University's College of Technology. The facility's Professional Development Center can accommodate nearly 160 people for meetings.
Butler University, "At the core of the College of Business Administration's Real Life, Real Business curriculum is a unique partnership with the Central Indiana business community," says Courtney Tuell, director of public relations. "This means our students sometimes step into businesses and sometimes businesses come into the classroom. This process gives each student the opportunity to learn how to blend business concepts with business practice, and results in both students and businesses helping each other grow."
Butler's Integrated Capstone Experience pairs students with companies as diverse as Finish Line, Roche Diagnostics Corporation, Second Helpings, CMW, Inc. and Rolls-Royce Defense North America for a semester-long consulting project. Since fail 2007 the Butler Business Accelerator, part of the College of Business Administration, has been providing growth strategies and consulting services to private Central Indiana businesses such as Gilchrist & Soames, SaniServ, Royal Food Products, Cannon IV and Wellspring Pharmacy. Both undergraduate and graduate classes collaborate with businesses. For example, one retailing class partners with Finish Line each year to assist with a market research project, and a marketing research class is currently working with two Domino Pizza franchises on a marketing research projects targeted at the Butler student population.
The Butler University College of Business Administration fall 2008 enrollment has 650 undergraduates and 300 graduate students.
Earlham College. Earlham College has a close bond with the community of Richmond and many of its faculty and students volunteer their services to the community. Earlham is one of the 10 largest employers in Wayne County. College and student spending--current enrollment is 1,194--contribute more than $26 million to the local economy. In the fiscal year ending June 30, 2007, the college and its students accounted for more than $42.9 million in income for local businesses, organizations and people.
Earlham sponsors monthly forums that include community members as speakers. The community partnership council, which meets three times a year and has been in existence for five years, consists of 12 community members (one-third are alumni), one student and Avis Stewart, the College's vice president of community relations.
Earlham's Wellness Center boasts 425 memberships from the Richmond community, and most college events are discounted and open to the public. Earlham also shares a common theater space with the community and gives half of its radio station's airtime to disc jockeys from outside the college.
Hanover College. Hanover's Center for Business Preparation (CBP) offers free consulations for businesses and organizations through its senior strategic planning course. Students, supervised by CBP faculty, are assigned specific projects that addresses critical issues for businesses. CBP students also interact with community business leaders who share their expertise through the Leadership Speaker Series program.
"We have 40 managers and executives representing a variety of sectors of the business community who serve on the Center for Business Preparation's two advisory groups," says Rhonda Burch, director of communications and marketing. "Those individuals provide a strong connection between the Hanover College's Business Program and the business community Many faculty and staff of Hanover serve on the boards of various non-profit organizations across the state, including local chambers and economic development groups."
The CBP and other Hanover organizations sponsor project-based internships, 60 percent in the state of Indiana. A significant portion of an intern's work is a stand-alone project, unlike many traditional internships.
Holy Cross College. For the past five years Holy Cross College, enrollment 470, has partnered with St. Joseph Regional Medical Center to provide Medical Spanish to the hospitals employees. The Gerontology Consortium of Michiana, which Holy Cross College helped found, sponsors an annual conference for professionals in health care and other businesses providing services to the elderly Hundreds of local professionals have earned CEU credits through this program. Holy Cross also works to bring awareness and government funds to businesses serving the elderly.
Staff members help with projects to serve the community through the South Bend downtown Rotary Club. Students serve through an internship program.
"As far as we know, we are the only college in Indiana that requires the completion of an internship for graduation," says Mike Davids, director of marketing, communications and public relations. "We are committed to preparing students for real-world challenges through our unique four-part experiential learning program. Along with an internship, students must also complete a service project, an international travel experience and develop and deliver a Capstone Presentation, which is a 45-minute, multi-media program each graduating senior gives to a group of local business, education, and/or government leaders, academic advisors, peers, family and friends. We believe this helps our students become better prepared to serve Indiana businesses as employees when they graduate."
Huntington University. Last month Huntington University launched its newest initiative, the Center for Leadership Studies. "We are providing some leadership training for business leaders in our community and the neighboring counties," says John Paff, executive director of communications for Huntington University. Huntington University partnered with a recognized expert in leadership development to establish a curriculum.
"Our Enterprise Resource Center is a clearing house to serve the regional business community with the expertise of our faculty and the hard work of our students, Paff says. "We have crafted it as a resource for the business community. One of its primary functions is to match student interns to business needs in the region. We've had over 700 placements where our students will go in and tackle significant projects for businesses." A computer science student helped install a bank's new computer hardware system. A student in Huntington's animation program took an internship with Carmel-based MediaSauce, which uses digital, social and traditional media to give its clients the advantage and performed commercial television work for business clients.
Huntington University, which has more than 1,200 students, partnered with the Enterprise Resource Center to create Venture Works, a small business incubation operation, and sponsors a business planning competition, worth $10,000, every year, partnering with the Huntington County United Economic Development Corporation.
"There are lots of ways to stimulate our economy," Paff says.
Indiana Tech. "Indiana Tech focuses on career-oriented programs, particularly those that support local and regional industries," says Janet Schutte, director of marketing. "For example, our biomedical engineering program was developed in collaboration with the orthopedic-oriented businesses in the Warsaw area."
Students are strongly encouraged to complete internships with local companies, while pursuing their degrees. This benefits the students, who gain experience, and the employers, who can develop an incoming workforce.
Indiana Tech is a strong provider of degree programs for nontraditional students. About 75 percent of Indiana Tech students are enrolled in the College of Professional Studies which offers accelerated degree programs throughout the state and online. "These programs allow working adults to complete their degrees in a much more flexible, convenient way," Schutte says. "While completing their coursework, they are learning practical knowledge that they can apply immediately in the workplace. They also gain skills that prepare them for advancement, helping to build a stronger workforce."
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