A New VisioN: The RichaRd desich School of Business and Entrepreneurshipa T L o R a i n c o u n T y c o m m u n i T y c o L L e g e

T h e R i c h a r d D e s i c h S c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i pT h e R i c h a r d D e s i c h S c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p

Creating a World-Class Learning Environment

Lorain County Community College has been recognized time and time

again for its innovative approaches to teaching and learning as well as its

ability to connect business and industry with talent development. Named

one of the top 120 community colleges in the nation by the

Aspen Institute for the second consecutive year, Lorain County

Community College is strategically positioned to lead the way

in revitalizing business and entrepreneurship education. As we

enter a new economic era and witness rapid industry changes,

this is the ideal time to transform our business program into

a world-class center of learning through the launch of the

Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

While developing the key components for the Richard Desich

School of Business and Entrepreneurship’s Vision, we have

analyzed best practices of existing business education programs

nationwide. One element has become clear : that blending

traditional business coursework with hands-on entrepreneurial

learning is the concept that will define the Richard Desich School of Business

and Entrepreneurship on a national level. This integrated learning model

will enable Lorain County Community College to build upon our existing

strengths within entrepreneurship and economic development, classifying

LCCC as the thought leader within the world of business education.

On a local level, this transformation will create a continuum that spans K-12 and

beyond by offering a customizable pathway for virtually every type of student

who enters our campus. By inspiring entrepreneurship among our youngest

residents, Lorain County will be poised for an economic recovery unlike any

seen elsewhere. The national recognition received by the Richard Desich

School of Business and Entrepreneurship will also attract the highest caliber

University Partners to expand our Bachelors and Master degree offerings.

T h e R i c h a r d D e s i c h S c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p

In order to fully implement this innovative approachcombines business education and entrepreneurship, we have identified

three critical elements required for success:

1. First-Rate Programming: Integrate educational programming

designed to fill industry needs with entrepreneurship curriculum.

2. Real-World Experience: Expose students to renowned business

professionals and industry leaders by connecting them to companies

already on our campus.

3. Excellent Faculty: Recruit high-caliber faculty who are motivated

to inspire students and implement innovative teaching and learning

practices.

The following plan demonstrates Lorain County Community College’s intent to

bring world-class business education programming to the residents of Lorain

County. By implementing best practices as well as building upon the growing

success of GLIDE, the Innovation Fund, and now the launch of Innovation

Fund America, we expect this transformation to generate widespread notoriety

and interest in the Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

T h e R i c h a r d D e s i c h S c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i pT h e R i c h a r d D e s i c h S c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p

Implementation Strategies:

1) First-Rate Programming

Lorain County Community College’s Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship will distinguish

itself as a premier school blending top-tier business and entrepreneurship curriculum.

Richard Desich National Leadership Lecture Series

The Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship will leverage the nationwide leadership role Lorain County Community College has

taken in entrepreneurship and economic development to build and launch a premier lecture series. The Richard Desich Leadership Lecture Series will

attract nationally recognized entrepreneurs, business leaders and investors and give them a stage from which to reach not only students enrolled in the

Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship, but students at community colleges across the country through Innovation Fund America.

Innovation Fund America

The launch of Innovation Fund America, with the support of the Kauffman Foundation, will enable Lorain County Community College to drive the

creation of a sustainable, growing, and highly productive community college-based engine of economic and entrepreneurial growth throughout

the United States. By replicating the successful Innovation Fund model across the country in combination with the Richard Desich National

Leadership Lecture Series, Lorain County Community College will gain national recognition for this program—recognition that will flow down to

the Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship. Innovation Fund America will provide a that opportunity to further integrate these

best practices into our business educational curriculum, allowing students at Lorain County Community College and throughout the country the

ability to walk alongside entrepreneurs as they launch their businesses.

Continuum of Degree Programs

With Lorain County Community College’s far reaching partnerships across all levels of education, the Richard Desich School of

Business and Entrepreneurship will offer a continuum of degree programs for business and entrepreneurship. Beginning with an

Early College High School program that instills an entrepreneurial mindset in youth and flowing flawlessly into higher education

degrees through the college’s University Partnership program, the Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship

will make Lorain County community College the national thought leaders in holistic business and entrepreneurial education.

Certifications & Boot Camps

The Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship will offer the most comprehensive business program, continuously evaluating

and responding to the needs of local employers. The School will expand its certification offerings and work seamlessly with area businesses to

educate the talent pool in cutting-edge business and technology areas.

Existing UnivErsity PartnErshiP Programs:accounting – Hiram College Computer information systems – University of Akron and University of Toledomanagement – Kent State University

UnivErsity PartnErshiP Programsin ProgrEss:EntrepreneurshipFinancial servicessupply Chain managementmarketinghuman resources management

additional two-yEar CrEdit dEgrEE Programs:Administrative Office Information SystemsBusiness managementhospitality and tourism managementworkplace relations

T h e R i c h a r d D e s i c h S c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p

2) Real-World Experience for Business Students

Students enrolled in the Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship

will be learning in a unique environment that blends classroom education with

real-world experiences, setting them apart from other business school graduates.

The entire program will be connected with real-life business settings where

students can sit alongside successful entrepreneurs and business owners and

put the text book skills they have learned to work.

Hands-On Learning

The Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship will set an expectation of its students

to complete hands-on learning projects at the Richard Desich SMART Commercialization Center for

Microsystems and the Entrepreneurship Innovation Center (EIC). Among many entrepreneurship initiatives

and programs, EIC is home to the Great Lakes Innovation and Development Enterprise (GLIDE), placing

numerous startup and established companies at students’ fingertips. GLIDE coordinates these learning

projects, ranging from market analysis, marketing research, and business plan writing, between college

students and it’s 20 portfolio companies housed within EIC and 75 additional portfolio companies

throughout Northeast Ohio.

Internships and Co-Ops

GLIDE and the Innovation Fund are both ideal sources for student internships and committed to collaborating

with the Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship to provide these opportunities. Today,

students in the Capstone class, the last class of the entrepreneurship certificate program, are matched

with a GLIDE portfolio company. These internships are offered in the EIC building, which puts students in

touch with entrepreneurs who can expose them to the real day-to-day challenges of creating and running

a successful business.

Business Mentoring

Lorain County Community College is the first community college to be selected by The Blackstone

Charitable Foundation, in partnership with The Burton D. Morgan Foundation, to house a Blackstone

LaunchPad on campus. Based on a successful program developed by the University of Miami, LaunchPad

will not only illustrate to students in the Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship that

starting their own companies is a viable career path, but it will teach all students how to transform their ideas into thriving businesses by connecting them with mentors, experts and resources that will provide the advice, counsel and network necessary to get their ideas off the ground. At Lorain County Community College, this program will be an entry way into entrepreneurship, with support programs like GLIDE and the Innovation Fund as next step support for entrepreneurs and their businesses.

T h e R i c h a r d D e s i c h S c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i pT h e R i c h a r d D e s i c h S c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p

3) Recruit High-Caliber FacultyThe programming set forth in the Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship

will attract the highest caliber faculty, staff and partners.

The Richard Desich Chair of Business Education

Creating a Richard Desich Chair of Business Education position will enable Lorain County Community

College to secure a high-caliber faculty member to spur national interest in our programming. By securing

a renowned professor for this particular role we will be positioned to build a solid academic foundation to

rival the most competitive business schools in the nation.

Visiting Professor Program

In addition to the Endowed Chair position, Lorain County Community College will create a visiting professor

program as way to rejuvenate our faculty and our course offerings on a regular basis. By opening this

program up to business professionals, industry leaders and entrepreneurial experts, we will be able to

drastically enhance our students’ educational experiences beyond the traditional academic structure.

ImagIne: Students in the Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship listening to an accomplished faculty member’s finance or marketing lesson in the same environment where an entrepreneur is making a sale with his first customer.

T h e R i c h a r d D e s i c h S c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p

The Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship will lead Lorain County

Community College in becoming one of the earliest adopters to strategically blend

business and entrepreneurship programs and environments. The college will join an elite

group of higher education institutions, alongside leaders such as Harvard University’s

Business Innovation Labs, paving the way for future innovation and entrepreneurship.

In this environment, students in the Richard Desich School of Business and

Entrepreneurship immediately understand what it means and what it takes to be an

accomplished business leader and entrepreneur. They see it by example—how to dress

for success, how to effectively communicate a vision, how to build a business network.

This will be a rich experience held exclusively for students in the Richard Desich School

of Business and Entrepreneurship…an experience not available through any traditional

business school program.

ImagIne: The enrollment increases we will witness following the launch of the Richard Desich School of Business and Entrepreneurship.

50% Increase in the number of seats taken

in business education courses from 2002-2011

40% Increase in the number of active

business education sections offered from 2002-2011

55% Increase in full time equivalent

enrolled business students from 2002-2011

1005 Abbe Road North • Elyria, OH 44035

www.lorainccc.edu

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T h e R i c h a r d D e s i c h S c h o o l o f B u s i n e s s a n d E n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p

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