Entrepreneurial College

What We Discovered

• AWC faculty and staff are passionate about what they do
• AWC faculty want to be aligned and ready to respond to employer needs
• AWC team members recognized there is an agility challenge to providing rapid response to fluctuating workforce training needs
• Community members do not want to alter AWC's standard of excellence as it becomes increasingly agile and dynamic
• AWC faculty recognize that not every course, program, or training will endure; some will be eliminated, and new ones will be developed that better align with industry needs
• AWC CTE programs need increased promotion; the college's desire to partner with industry also needs increased community awareness
• A more flexible structure is needed to better accommodate adult learners with complex schedules and availability

• Industry leaders indicated:

  • Industry is interested in collaboration and co-creation of future courses and programs

  • Entrepreneurial College could create courses that meet real-time industry needs, while creating pathways for future degrees by granting students prior learning credit

  • Hiring knowledgeable and highly-experienced instructors from industry too often means asking adjunct faculty to take a severe pay cut to work at AWC. The Entrepreneurial College plans to address this issue.

  • Prospective hires need technical or community college training, experience within specific industries, and demonstration of skills to do the job. Entrepreneurial College will prepare prospective employees to meet industry needs.

  • Entrepreneurial College will prepare prospective employees to meet industry needs. They are looking for individuals who have received a post-secondary certificate, associate degree, or credential from industry or a professional association.

  • Many employers provide tuition support for post-secondary coursework; Many also provide on-the-job training.

  • Most are interested in partnering with a post-secondary institution (e.g., AWC) to further their employees' education and training