Spinning Straw Into Gold (at Community Colleges)

Nice - definitely worth a read before it goes behind password protection(!) - Business Officer article by Reagan Romall about how community colleges are innovating, changing, and leveraging existing products and services into better ones, that make more money, too.“

We need to diversify our revenue base. Any business that doesn't do this won't survive,” says Larry Eisenberg, executive director, facilities planning and development, for the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD). “Fortunately, there are lots of opportunities out there that make sense, have low impact on existing resources, and are relatively lucrative.”

AND

As in the rest of Florida, budget cuts keep Polk State College, Winter Haven, seeking solutions to counter the crunch. Peter Elliott, vice president, administration and chief financial officer, says the college has experienced a 10 percent cut in state funding since 2006. That has not discouraged the college's leaders, says Elliott. He sees “hope on a daily basis” when he walks the campus and visits with students and staff. “You have to focus on what's important and talk with people. They have good ideas,” he says.

In fact, seeking ideas from the community has helped Polk State generate substantial funds. Conversations with a local corporate training advisory board, the board of trustees, and local community groups have all yielded revenue-generating ideas. “Being engaged in the community around us has been quite productive,” says Elliott.

Further, he says, “Crisis makes you focus on the central thing your college does; it makes you focus on teaching and learning.” By doing that, Polk State College has come up with some effective ideas to expand the reach of its learning programs to its financial advantage.