The Entrepreneurial Studies Program at The Entrepreneurial Studies Program at Carthage College: Creating theCarthage College: Creating the

Students that Industry Wants to Hire Students that Industry Wants to Hire

Dr. Douglas ArionCarthage College

Kenosha, WI

An Anecdote:An Anecdote:How to Become a Corporate ExecutiveHow to Become a Corporate Executive

Science &Technology:Science &Technology:The Basis for All CareersThe Basis for All Careers

• All careers involve technology– Products are developed, produced, purchased,

sold, or used• Justifies required science study in the

undergraduate curriculum• Current curricula do not include Science Career

Preparation– What do you DO with a Science Major?– How you can succeed in a Technology job?

Education vs. TrainingEducation vs. Training

• Colleges and Universities purport to Educate

– Prepare graduates to be ‘Think-ers’ and ‘Do-ers’

– Teach ‘How to Learn’

• Training is job-specific, skills-based

– Prepare graduates to be immediately employable

– ‘Short Term’ View

• Education is necessary

– Be a complete person

– Be flexible and self-learning/teaching

• Education is not sufficient

– The ‘Real World’ Intrudes!

College Major: College Major: Topic of Study vs. CareerTopic of Study vs. Career

• For Example: We teach Chemistry.• Is Chemistry the same as Being a Chemist?

– NO! The study of Chemistry is not directly related to the Career

• No one is prepared for their careers – including PhDs!!• Most science students will not become academics• Many students select a major based on interest, not

employability• Other students select a major based on employability, with

no regard to interestBoth are wrong!

What Else Do Students Need to What Else Do Students Need to Know?Know?

• How to get information and be current in technology subjects

• How to manage staff and work in teams

• How to make purchases

• How to supply products or services

• How to market and sell

• How to make a business viable/profitable

• How to handle taxes

• How to deal with Government regulations, rules, and laws

• How to work with other companies and organizations

• How to write

• How to listen

• How to speak and give presentations

Professional Business Training Professional Business Training Now Includes Technology Now Includes Technology

TrainingTraining• Several MBA Programs now include technical coursework or

projects

– Example: Maryland Lab to Market Program

• Duke, Yale, MIT, also added technical requirements to MBA activities

• PEP Program at Case Western Reserve University

• However: The converse is rarely if ever true:

– Technical programs do not include career/business training

– Professional Masters program now include Business Training

• Only addresses a limited audience

Carthage’s ApproachCarthage’s Approach

• Supplement (not replace) curriculum with career topics

• Create a structure which fits within College requirements

• Key pedagogical elements:

– Topical and skills coursework

– Hands-on experience

– In-depth project activity

• Completion of all three elements at Carthage is a Minor

• Is it training or education?

– It’s both!

Carthage Carthage ScienceWorksScienceWorks Program, Program, Part 1: Part 1: Core CourseworkCore Coursework

• Skills-based activities– Writing– Speaking– Listening– Software– Web/e-Commerce– People Management Skills and

Teamwork– Interviewing

• Outside speakers and guests– Introduce students to range of

careers– Reinforce necessary skills and

effort

• Topical content includes:

– Business communications

– Intellectual property

– Business structures and cultures

– Incorporation

– Finance

– Taxes

– Legal Regulation

– Bids and Proposals

– Contracts

– Purchasing and Property

– Dress and Appearance

Examples of Course Content: Examples of Course Content: Communication Skills are KeyCommunication Skills are Key

• All business activities require communication

– Business letters to other companies, vendors, customers, suppliers

– Advertisement copy for flyers and publications

– Presentations to potential customers, especially corporate customers

– Speaking skills for marketing, business presentations, and community outreach

– Proposal writing

– Report and Paper writing

– Conference presentations

• Business communication is not creative, it is terse

• People only know what they see, hear, or read!

Managing People and Being Managing People and Being ManagedManaged

• Schoolwork is based on individual effort

• The Real World involves teamwork

– How do you form a team?

– How do you keep a team working well together?

– How well do you work in a team?

• Motivating employees is a key management responsibility

– How do you get people to do the things they don’t want to do?

– How can management motivate you?

• What motivates you to do a good job?

• Conflict resolution is another key management responsibility

– Harassment and discrimination charges are commonplace

Government RegulationsGovernment Regulations

• EEO/AA affect who you hire/dismiss, and how you hire/dismiss them

• OSHA regulations affect lighting, bathrooms, work hours, protective equipment, desk placement, …..

• ADA defines access requirements and capabilities, facilities, and support

• CPSC places requirements on products and product labeling

• FDA places requirements on foods, drugs, and supplements

• State, city, and local regulations also apply

Financial PerformanceFinancial Performance

• Businesses exist to produce profit – Even Non-profits still need to generate more than they expend!

• Profit is the difference between revenue and cost– Changes in either affect the bottom line– Beware of profit vs. profitability

• When you want something, how will it generate profit?• Accountants work for you

– Learn to read an MIS Statement, a balance sheet and profit/loss statements

– Learn to track costs and revenue– Learn to make financial projections

• Remember - You are always selling!

CarthageCarthage ScienceWorks ScienceWorks Program, Program, Part 2: Part 2: Technology CourseworkTechnology Coursework

• 4-Week January Term Course on Commercial Technologies

– Technology as separate from Science

• Team/Project-based course

• Three project areas each year:

– Physics/Communications/Engineering/Robotics

– Biology/Biotechnology

– Chemistry/Chemical Engineering

• Emphasizes commercial fact finding, design, acquisition

– Create actual system designs in each project

Commercial TechnologiesCommercial TechnologiesCourse ApproachCourse Approach

• Students work in teams• Each unit includes several segments:

– Lecture/discussion defining and discussing a problem– Teams selected to address key questions to solve the

problem– Teams present potential solutions to their questions– Conference committees resolve conflicts between team

solutions– Each team develops final design for problem solution

• Each project lasts one week

ScienceWorks ScienceWorks Experiential Experiential Learning:Learning: Summer InternshipSummer Internship

• Strongly encouraged for each student

• Emphasizes joint business and science/technology elements

– Not a scientific internship

• Student works with business and technical staff

• Forms basis for Senior Project

• ScienceWorks students work with firms of all sizes:

– Large: S.C. Johnson, United Hospital System

– Small: Applied Logic, Inc., Precision Research, Inc., Innavision, Inc.

– Startup: Acumen, Ltd., Fleuchaus Chiropractic, 3-D Molecular Designs, LLC.

CarthageCarthage ScienceWorks ScienceWorks Program Program Part 3: SPart 3: Senior Projectenior Project

• Business plan project for the INTERNSHIP SPONSOR or other Outside firm.

• Can be any form of technical business plan document:

– Business Plan for new venture

– Business Plan for new product

– IR&D Proposal

– Research Proposal

• Must be completed and defended before ScienceWorks Advisory Board

– Board composed of senior executives from major businesses in Wisconsin and Illinois

Examples of Senior ProjectsExamples of Senior Projects

• 1996-97: Software (Applied Logic, Inc.)

• 1997-98: Wash. Isl. Ferry Line Expansion; Academic Entrepreneurship product

• 1998-99: Biotechnology (Pfaffle, Inc.); Sports software (Heavy Hitters LLC); Business assessment software (Acumen, Ltd.); Croatia tourist camp; Graphics software (Digital Collages)

• 1999-2000: Biotechnology Models (Molecular Designs); Housing Development; On-Line Wedding Planner; Blood Testing Technology and Biological Agent Detection (Precision Research, Inc.); Chiropractic Clinic Expansion (Fleuchaus Chiropractic); Restaurant Operations Research; Hospital Plan (United Hospitals); Retail Business in South Africa; Payroll Software (Express Payroll Systems)

• 2000-2001: Biomoleculer Models (3DMD, LLC); Secure Mail Delivery System; MIGGA Blood Handling System; At-Home Medical Tests; Baby Monitor System (Swarthmore College); Food Monitoring (Johnson Prof., Inc.)

• 2001-2002: Golf Locator – High Tech Driving Range; Neurological Detector and Amplifier System; Street Level Gallery Art Gallery; Computer Keyboard System for the Disabled; Home Aromas Air Freshener

• 2002-2003: Quickscope Manufacturing Software (Innavision, Inc.); Super hand cleaner for Outdoor Use (David Johnson).

Alternative Implementation Alternative Implementation MethodsMethods

• Complementary Coursework (e.g., Carthage)

• Rotating seminar series over several years (e.g., Preparing Future Faculty Program)

• Intensive summer program (e.g., Babson College)

• Post-graduate intensive training (e.g., Beloit, Dartmouth)

Skills/CapabilitiesSkills/Capabilities

• Capabilities in all topical areas– Team teaching is very effective

• Access to and use of many references/resources– No text exists for this program

• Personal experience on the part of faculty– Students will resonate with someone who has

been ‘Out There’

ScienceWorks: ScienceWorks: A Valued ProgramA Valued Program

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ScienceWorks Enrollment StatisticsJuniors Seniors

An Assessment of An Assessment of ScienceWorksScienceWorks

• Tri-annual survey sent to all ScienceWorks participants and their employers/advisers

• Inquiry: – How well has SW prepared you/your employee/advisee

for his/her position?– How does this person compare to others hired near the

same time?• Universal Response:

– Most valuable courses taken in College– Best, most versatile new hires

Recruiting and RetentionRecruiting and Retention

• Some students shy from science due to lack of obvious connection to career, economic success

– Especially true for parents or prospective students

• When shown that economic success is possible, students are more likely to enroll

• Retention improved through course scheduling:

– ESNS is aimed at juniors and seniors

– Many students who experience an ESNS course want to continue in the program

SummarySummary

• It takes more than a good idea and a lot of energy to make a successful career– The more students know the better off they will be - Fewer Surprises!– The more aware of potential problems, and the larger the selection of

available solutions, the more successful students will be• Program can be implemented within standard curricula

– Skills exist within the faculty• Career training is valuable (perhaps critical) across all majors and

programs– If you think the scientists have it tough, ask the musicians and artists!

• Providing pathway from science study to career helps recruit and retain students