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Texas State Leadership Consortium for Curriculum Development

Rural Entrepreneurship Support Networks for Economic Development

(RESNED)Mid-Year ReportMarch 28, 2006

Institution Name: TRCCN

Project Director: Glynis Strause

Coastal Bend College

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Texas Rural Community College Network (TRCCN) is:

• a catalyst  for community and economic development in rural Texas;

• a collaborative to build partnerships; and

• a leader to strengthen workforce education and technical programs and services.

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Partners

•South Plains College

–Dr. Dick Walsh, Provost Workforce Development

•Coastal Bend College

–Glynis Holm Strause, Continuing Education Coordinator

•Texas A & M University

–Dr. Greg Clary, Extension Economist, Texas Cooperative

Extension, Texas Center for Rural Entrepreneurship

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Partners•Texas Rural Community College Network Coordinating Colleges

–South Plains College (lead)–Frank Phillips College–Coastal Bend College–Wharton County Junior College–Paris Junior College+ Nineteen rural community colleges

•Rural Community College Initiative•Southern Rural Development Center

–Dr. Alan Barefield, Associate Director

•Rural Community College Alliance•Office of Rural Community Affairs•Texas Administrators of Continuing Education [TACE]

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Partners’ Roles

•South Plains College–Lead college in TRCCN and fiscal agent

•Coastal Bend College–Project leader and coordinator, working with research and deliverables.

•Texas A & M University–Dr. Greg Clary is developing and writing the E-ship curriculum and deliverables.

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Partners•Texas Rural Community College Network Coordinating Colleges

–TRCCN will preview. serve as quality assurance of the curriculum modules, and will help to disseminate module deliverables.

•Rural Community College Initiative–RCCI focus groups have met in brainstorming focus groups, completed needs assessments, and minutes of meetings over two years reflect need for curriculum development.

•Southern Rural Development Center–Dr. Alan Barefield has served as consultant, research generation, and has set up demonstration of project to Rural Community College Alliance meeting.

•Rural Community College Alliance–Focus group for quality control, feedback, and dissemination of deliverables.

•Office of Rural Community Affairs–Leadership has met with leaders, served to focus project, and will aid with dissemination statewide.

•Texas Administrator of Continuing Education [TACE]–Conference has scheduled special session to preview and discuss curriculum and deliverables.

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Project SummaryThree new entrepreneurship (Eship) courses

will provide the knowledge, skills and tools individuals need to:

• Employ Eship as an economic development strategy

• Develop the capacity and atmosphere in rural communities for entrepreneurs to be successful

• Assist entrepreneurs with earlystage ventures

• Assist entrepreneurs with growth companies

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Project Benefits

• Create jobs, self-employment, distributed wealth

• Decrease unemployment, poverty, youth problems

• Community colleges more involved in ED

• Increase capabilities of agency employees in ED area

• More local community involvement

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Deliverables & Timeline

Deliverables (qtr due) On Target•Needs assessment (1)completed•Skills analysis (2) completed•State/National Curriculum Models/Products (2)completed•Curriculum/Skills Crosswalk Matrix (2)completed•List of Courses w/Descriptions and

Learning Outcomes (2)completed•Curriculum Plan (3) Yes•Course Syllabi (3) Yes•Learning Activity Plans (4) Yes•Learning Outcomes Assessments (4) Yes•Formative Product Evaluation (4) Yes•Dissemination Plan (4) Yes

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Statewide Dissemination Plan

1. TRCCN workshops

2. Regional agency workshops

3. Regional economic development conferences

4. Public programs

5. CD version (planned)

6. Online version (planned)

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EvaluationWritten reviews will be completed by:

1. TRCCN members

2. Rural committee of Texas Economic Development Council

3. Texas Cooperative Extension Community Resources & Economic Development faculty

4. State agencies involved in ED

5. Faculty developing extension online entrepreneurship community of practice

6. All participants of pilot workshops

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Contact Information

Greg Clary, PhD, (author)

Extension Economist

Director, Texas Center for Rural Entrepreneurship (www.tcre.org)

PO Box 38, Overton, TX 75684

g-clary@tamu.edu

903.714.0232

Glynis Strause (Project leader)

Continuing Education Coordinator

3800 Charco Road

Coastal Bend College

Beeville, Texas 78102

361-354-2419 

CE Office 361-354-COED (2633)

Toll free 866-722-2838 ext. 2419

Fax 361-354-2210

ghstraus@coastalbend.edu