Education – Advance Northeast Ohio

Teaching Entrepreneurship

Categories:

Education

Last week dozens of educators, entrepreneurs and civic leaders gathered for brainstorming session hosted by NOCHE to explore how the region could do more to develop and educate entrepreneurs. I meant to write about the conversation last week, but got distracted by other matters. Jack Ricchiuto led the conversation and emphasized the need to start some small experiments. As he noted, every big deal started out as a small experiment.

Participants identified several small experiments that could get rolling, including:

Introducing more entrepreneurship curriculum into middle school and high schools as is being done at E-Prep.
Creating internships for faculty at early stage companies.
Offer field trips to the Youngstown Business Incubator and other NEOinc incubators.

NOCHE will be highlighting some of these ideas and many others in the future and I will provide a link to a more detailed report on this effort as soon as it’s available.

What do you think needs to be done for the region to do a better job of teaching entrepreneurship?

Bookmark/Search this post with:

Comments

# Submitted by Carole Cohen (not verified) on Wed, 10/31/2007 – 14:44.

Your post sounds forward thinking, and the link to ePREP school sent me to their site. I have a few questions. (And yes I love the idea of inserting entreprenuerial curriculum ideas into a young student’s daily life).

They have a page on their site that indicates they have improved efficiencies in Math and Reading. Can someone interpret? Did they go from 7% to 75% in Reading? Here is what they say:

An incredible feat: E PREP, in its very first year, has attained a Continuous Improvement Rating from the State of OHIO. Long hours, hard work, high expectations, and a relentless belief that all children can learn and go to college…

Has yielded exceptional results:

7% to 75% proficient in Reading
12% to 62% proficient in Math
And Continuous Improvement.

Improvement is wonderful and if it’s that kind of incredible improvement it’s wonderful indeed.

# Submitted by Mike Shafarenko on Sun, 11/04/2007 – 14:24.

1. Teach students how to think critically, not merely regurgitate known information. Present them with problems that do not have exact answers.
2. Emphasize statistical analysis, through the means of proper data collection and data analysis. For example, when it gets cold in Northeast Ohio, more people stay indoors. Would a business focused on home-dwellers succeed? What kind of business would it be? A proper study of home-dwellers spending habits from the months of November – May, and the statistical correlations therein, would be a good start. I bet some local eateries would really appreciate it too. I wonder what Mitchell’s Ice Cream does in the winter . . .
3. To that effect, have local businesses present regional students with their business problems. My idea would be to have an RFP process, wherein businesses would type up a problem and the student team that provides the best synopsis and plan for a solution would have the opportunity to work on it (maybe for some cash? It would be cheaper than a McKinsey plan!). A local company has the right idea, though it’s not specific to students: http://www.ninesigma.com/ – – – **Side note: I remember talking to this company’s owner, Paul Stiros, and he said it was very difficult to get companies from Northeast Ohio on board with NineSigma’s offerings. Hmm . . . .
4. Entrepreneurship starts with the definition of a “need” or a growing trend. Encourage students to look for needs and trends in their own lives. See www.trendwatching.com
5. Give students hope that their passions can be achieved and give them the tools to achieve those passions. The moment someone kills a young person’s passion, is the moment an entrepreneurial spirit dies. If you’ve ever met John Zitzner, co-founder of E-Prep, you know what it means to give support, encouragement, and hope.

Ideas 6 – 1000 to come later.

# Submitted by William Holdipp Jr (not verified) on Thu, 11/08/2007 – 11:37.

I was fortunate to be a participant at the NOCHE event. I enjoyed meeting representatives from some of the many college/universities that are working on putting together an entrepreneurship strategy. I learn a lot from the attendees and I was able to share some information with the attendees concerning entrepreneurship in the minority communities.

One thing I would like to see is more experienced entrepreneurs heading up these entrepreneurial initiatives. It is hard to understand what is going on in the minds of entrepreneurs if you have never been in their shoes.

William

# Submitted by Greg Malkin (not verified) on Thu, 11/08/2007 – 11:44.

I wholeheartedly support the importance of teaching entrepreneurship. And the younger we start, the more impact we can have. Here at University School, a private boys school on the East side of Cleveland, we have started an Entrepreneur Institute. Our activities include:
– Full-year elective class in entrepreneurship
– Business plan competition
– Joint summer BizCamp with ECity
– Guest Speaker Series
– Summer Internship program
– Junior Achievement’s Titan business simulation competition
– Scholarship for Entrepreneurial Engagement (SEE) business plan competition

The response from the students has been overwhelming. Entrepreneurship seems more “real” to the students. It helps answer the perennial question – When will I ever use this in real life?

I would love to connect our business program with other programs in Cleveland-area high schools. I believe that the more we can connect teenagers to other teenagers interested in business, the more engagement we will be able to generate.

Greg Malkin
Entrepreneurship Teacher
University School

# Submitted by Halley (not verified) on Fri, 11/09/2007 – 17:48.

Anyone who would like to join the conversation or see details from the event can do so online at:

noche.pbwiki.com
password: noche07

Education

University Merger Talk Continued

Categories:

Education

The Akron Beacon Journal editorial board takes a look at what it will take to reshape our university system in Northeast Ohio in the wake of talk of a merger of CSU-UofA. It’s worth reading the whole editorial here.

Below is the opening graph:

Eric Fingerhut doesn’t want to talk about a ”merger” of the University of Akron and Cleveland State University. The chancellor of the state Board of Regents cautions that the concept invites misunderstandings, defensiveness, hostility. He wants Northeast Ohio to think hard about restructuring, reorganizing or reshaping the landscape of higher education with the goal of creating something stronger academically and economically.

And here is the last graph:

A Northeast Ohio struggling to navigate an essential economic transition must take advantage of the opportunity, resisting the impulse to be parochial, especially in Cleveland, if truth be told. Fingerhut rightly wishes to examine the value of pulling together what would be one of the largest public universities in the country. The challenge is to engage in a thoughtful, open-minded examination, one with a particular eye on ensuring a more vibrant regional economy in 10, 15, 20 years and beyond.

Bookmark/Search this post with:

Education

Diving Deeper into University Changes

Categories:

Education

Credit the Akron Beacon Journal for taking a deeper look into what’s behind the rumblings about a merger between CSU and the UofA.

If you care at all about the future of higher education in Northeast Ohio, you should read both of these stories. The first is based primarily on an interview with UofA president Luis Proenza and the second takes a look at how both Cleveland and Akron would like to be home to at least some of the operations of the Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine and Pharmacy now in Rootstown in Portage County.

Years ago I heard Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic say that NEOUCOM was located in Rootstown because the region couldn’t settle on a destination so it compromised by putting it in the middle of the region. NEOUCOM is an outstanding institution, but because of its remote location it doesn’t have the profile or impact it could. Thirty plus years after its creation, leaders are exploring how best to maximize this regional asset. This process will test how far Northeast Ohio has come at becoming a region. As I’ve noted before, regionalism doesn’t make hard decisions go away. But it should mean that people involved in the decision-making process trust each other and the process enough to have confidence that the outcome will be best for the region.

As Chancellor Eric Fingerhut said to the ABJ:

”These are important conversations. There are many approaches, and . . . we have been and are continuing to look at all of them.”
”Everyone has to be excited and move forward together,” Fingerhut added. ”Ultimately, out of those conversations will be a shared vision, and it will be a combination of everyone’s ideas.”

Bookmark/Search this post with:

Education

Should UofA and CSU Merge?

Categories:

Education

Yes
27% (34 votes)
No
27% (34 votes)
Not sure, but deeper higher ed collaborations need to be explored
45% (56 votes)
Total votes: 124

Comments

# Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/02/2007 – 10:11.

It makes sense for universities (public and/or private) to collaborate whenever possible. However, I feel it is important for education to remain convenient for potential students. Cleveland and Akron are only 35 miles apart, but that can be a long 35 miles for students who often work while attending school or have family responsibilities. Organizing majors/program so that they are at only one location can unintentionally lead to decreased enrollment in specific programs, or a decline in people who actually finish their degrees. Those are not outcomes that will help NEO.

# Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/02/2007 – 10:41.

Not only NO but HECK NO.

This is exactly the sort of thing that must be avoided. This ‘raid’ of a non-Cleveland, non-Cuyahoga County institution, Akron University, can be seen as more of the same. These are two institutions with different public images. What does the faculty and studebts of Akron U. have to gain by this adventure? What does the faculty and students of Cleveland State have to gain?

What does the region have to gain? Will this do anything to build trust between tween the Cleveland -Cuyahoga County elements and the rest of northeast Ohio.

If the merge is a good idea then why not make Cleveland State Univ. be a branch of Akron, University?

The better idea is to tell Eric Fingerhut, “No thank you.”

# Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/02/2007 – 11:41.

It has also been suggested that if the two schools were to merge that the new institution might start a medical school of its own. If that is the case, I would like to see it come to pass. CSU already has a nursing school program and has a pre-med as well. Imagine the advantages for medical and nursing students and the greater NEO community, especially the lower income bracket. The lower income and poor people could finally have decent access to top notch quality health care by students who would be learning from faculty how to care for such people through a state-run facility. People like myself wouldn’t have to sign up for some charity program through a local institution.

# Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/03/2007 – 06:09.

Want to have a merge or institutions that will save commuter time, offer medical and nursing edducation at a huge acale, not to mention law school? A merge that won’t require an intercity railway, gasoline or long commutes!

Merge CSU and CWRU. I realize theat Case is a ‘private’ university. True. But I’ll bet a saltine cracker it is not without substantial ‘public’ support. Ok. don’t call it a mreger. Call it a consortium. Students enrolled in either school can take courses in either. This merer/ conrotrium would have two nursing school, two engineering pscools, a medical school and two law schools. In addition it would offer two MBa’s

An added attraction for this would be that it could be the northern anchor of the Cleveland / Pittsburgh development corridor.

# Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/02/2007 – 12:19.

Not without a decent public transportation system that includes rail.

# Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/02/2007 – 12:47.

Merging the Browns and Steelers would be much more conducive forming a super-region.

# Submitted by Grace Sue Morgan on Tue, 10/02/2007 – 13:31.

CSU and Akron U would be good complement to each other. That is what happens when differing groups work well together. Distance is irrelative as so many of our higher education providers’ satellite availability according to geographic populous numbers in need. This can be seen in the new Wellington Branch for Lorain County Community College and the Medina branch for Akron U. Another alternative for those with distance issues would be to support a new mass transit like the TGV which travels about 200 mile per hour through France. WE need to think/act on alternative solutions. It is time for change.

# Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 10/02/2007 – 14:10.

KSU is geographically much closer to AU. Why would CSU be a better choice? Any merger will require a lot more information before I can provide my opinion on the merits.

The comments about the distance between the student’s work and family obligations and the school are spot on. As tuition has risen more students have to work to pay their way. Living at home is one way for students to minimize their expenses while in school. A merger would likely mean that some classes would only be offered in one location as a way to save money by eliminating duplicate classes — but it would also mean that some students wouldn’t be able to take the class because of other obligations and/or lack of fast and affordable transportation.

I also agree with the comments concerning the need for faster and better intercity rail service in the region, but I don’t see that as a major factor in whether we should merge universities. It is highly unlikely that we will see high speed rail service in the US in the next thirty years, but some rail service would be a nice alternative to driving.

# Submitted by From The Heights (not verified) on Wed, 10/03/2007 – 01:03.

I’ll be the first to support virtually any and every effort at trying to consolidate and regionalize government in Cleveland/NEOhio. That said, although I initially thought an outright UA/CSU merger would be a good idea, at this point, I’m not so sure. I really like what is happening to the U of A’s main campus in Akron, which seems to be contributing quite a bit to the reinaissance of Downtown Akron. I am concerned that a merger of UA and CSU might throw the balance of administrative power and momentum up to CSU’s campus in Cleveland, stealing away a great deal of the new life and energy that UA has breathed into itself and Akron over the past several years.

It just seems to me that Akron has a lot more to lose than what Cleveland would have to gain in this particular case, given that CSU is hardly among the chief social and economic drivers for Cleveland, compared to what UA is and has been for Akron. Cleveland can easily survive without CSU, but Akron takes a massive hit if UA is subordinated to a mere branch campus of CSU.

If any merger does take place, however, as one of the previous posters suggested, U of A should at least be designated the Main Campus, and CSU as a major branch. That makes the most sense, given Akron’s central location in the region and its’ substantially larger campus. I think it would also promote a sense of resource-sharing throughout the region. Cleveland is and must be the flagship city of NEOhio, but if regionalization is going to work, there has to be the realization that the region is so much more than just what is within the present Cleveland city limits.

# Submitted by David Greene (not verified) on Wed, 10/03/2007 – 15:48.

Northeastern Ohio has many problems that are common to cities along the Ohio River. Most of the industry is gone and that takes the high paying jobs and support retail/commercial uses. Population, wages and property values are declining. These issues can be addressed more sucessfully if a region is created to slove the problems.

An Ohio River Cities group would be able to promote the benefits of the area. The Ohio River Valley is still a great natural region with surrounding famland and potential to use both features to generate transportation, agricultural, food processing and recreation. The Columbia River Gorge in Oregon is an area of great beauty between Oregon and Washington and made a regional generator for jobs and redevelopment. The multi-county agreement between two states sreves to protect the natural beauty of the area for tourism and recreation, promote local food industries, historical sites and river transportation.

The Oho RIver cold benefit from the same regional effort. Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania and W. Virginia could combine efforts to protect the river and promote appropriate development. W. VIrginia currently has a “Made in W. Virginia” state agency to promote locally grown food products. A similar effort could be done for the surrounding states and Ohio River recreation and historical sites.

The benefit is more recognition of the area vs individual small cities that have great difficulty competing with large urban areas. The change to non-polluting tourism and food industries would benefit the area. Jobs in preservation and reclaimation would benefit the economy. The region will never regai the peak population levels but the local economy woul dbe more stable and local incomes would be predictable.

David Greene
COl OH 43209
[email protected]

# Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 10/03/2007 – 17:43.

If this region is to move forward, this is exactly the kind of coordination that we need to consider. Lots of details to be worked out, of course. But it makes sense broaden the scope of these two universities and in so doing, hopefully broaden the outreach and availabilty. (I thought NEOUCOM was going to be included….good idea)

If we are to grow and thrive in NEOhio, we need to explore new approaches and new relationships. Same ol’ will leave us trailing forever. Hooray for welcoming new ideas.

# Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/13/2007 – 16:17.

Voted no for an outright merger, and the above replies have summarized how I feel nicely. Where would it be? Brecksville, Independence, Richfield, somewhere else midway on I-77?

I don’t have too much of a problem with creating a consolidated “Northeast Ohio University System” but with keeping independent campuses for, say Kent, Akron, CSU, YSU, etc. much as California has a set of consolidated systems in Cal State, Cal, etc. although there would have to be significant organizational advantages beyond naming (as there are in CA.) The transfer-from-a-community college system could be helped through this as well, with how you see many more students in states like California, Kansas, Oklahoma, etc. save money by starting out at local community colleges and transferring to UC-Berkeley, KU, OkState, OU, etc.

On a similar note, perhaps CSU could be brought in with the YSU/Kent/Akron NEOUCOM establishment.

# Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 10/13/2007 – 16:19.

Another thing, how many of you have actually contacted representatives about this? I know I will.

Education

Should UofA and CSU Merge?

Categories:

Education