Business-Minded
A president’s guide to a successful
entrepreneurship program
BY JACK HUCK
O
ne way to provide students and entre- preneurs opportunities to work with and contribute to the success of local economies is through the creation of an on-campus entrepreneurship program. When done right, such programs, which often include business incubators that allow young companies to grow amid
the comfort and resources afforded a college campus, offer a
win-win for colleges and industry partners.
At Nebraska’s Southeast Community College (SCC), where I serve as president,
our five-year-old Entrepreneurship Center has brought to light many of the
benefits and challenges inherent in integrated business partnerships. If you are interested in pursuing a comprehensive entrepreneurial education program on your
campus, consider these lessons learned:
Lesson 1
A successful entrepreneurship center requires three essential elements: a comprehensive model; an ambitious team of employees to deliver services, drive projects,
and explore new opportunities; and entrepreneurial vision at an administrative
level to ensure overall innovation and growth.
The first step is to establish a vision. That vision should be predicated upon the
college’s strengths, the needs of the community, and the projected impact of the
project. Your vision is more likely to be successful when it is shared by the CEO, key
administrative players, the board of governors, employees, and community partners.
Lesson 2
Develop a team of creative thinkers who are not afraid to try new
approaches. Their hard work is necessary to realize your vision. These
individuals should be challenged to identify potential industry partners,
create services, and seek opportunities to fulfill the vision. In a college
setting, team members must be able to educate entrepreneurs, innovate,
and offer business expertise. That is why it is important to include
individual team members with hands-on business experience.
Lesson 3
Adopt a model that is equally effective for the college and community. An effective
entrepreneurship model consists of, among other elements, education, business resource services and coaching, and community outreach and partnerships. Through
these services, the goal should be to educate, enhance, and empower each entrepreneur or aspiring entrepreneur who walks through the door.
Lead by Example
The CEO or college president is critical to the success of any entrepreneurship
center through his or her role as an internal and external advocate, supporter, and
leader. Strong leadership sets the tone and atmosphere in which entrepreneurship
takes root, grows, and,
eventually, thrives.
But even the best lead-
ers are likely
to encounter
challenges.
It’s a safe bet,
particularly in
this economy,
that certain
constituencies
within the col-
lege and the wider
community will question
the need for entrepreneur-
ial pursuits and the attendant
allocation of resources. The
CEO must persistently connect the dots
so that everyone understands the fu-
ture of the college and its impact on the
community, the state, even the nation.
As leaders, we must effectively target
our advocacy and related support to
students, staff, and faculty within the
college via consistent, effective com-
munication. We must spread the word
through interactions with key stake-
holders, including local service clubs,
workforce investment boards, commu-
nity leaders, politicians, economic devel-
opment groups, chambers of commerce,
K–12 schools, banks, and other groups—
all of which will be anxious
to embrace entrepreneur-
ship if given the opportu-
nity. It is incumbent upon
college CEOs everywhere
to engage all constituencies
and to cultivate and grow
the spirit of entrepreneur-
ship on and around campus.
The SCC Model
Any postsecondary student
at SCC interested in entrepreneurship
can earn an Associate of Applied Science
degree with an entrepreneurship focus
through our business administration
program.
Students in other vocational programs can earn a certificate in entrepreneurship, which aims to equip
them with the skills necessary to run a
business without completion of an additional degree. Our philosophy—that
