September 13-14 - Nebraska State College System

During the planning stage for this program, the college hoped to have
around 40 applicants and 20 to 30 students start the program in Fall 2006. There
was some concern regarding if these expectations could be met, given the
approval came relatively late in the decision season for graduate school and
consequently, very little marketing was done. Despite the circumstances, college
administrators were pleasantly surprised as nearly 60 students initially applied to
the program and 48 students started the first course. Enrollment grew to a peak
of 58 students by the fourth course in the first year. As nearly every matriculated
student has significant family and work commitments (all the students are parttime),
students in the program do not necessarily take every course when
offered. Consequently, the number of students matriculated in the program is
higher than the enrollment for any given course, and the number entering the
program continues to grow. The two sections of each of the two courses
scheduled for Fall 2007 are already at capacity (60 total students, 30 students
per section). Capacity will be limited to 60 students for the duration of the first
run of the program. Clearly any ambiguity regarding “need and demand” has
been resolved.
Sufficient Faculty
The college administration committed to hiring one additional faculty
member to teach in the program. This new faculty member was to have specific
expertise and experience in entrepreneurship. Dr. Mary Goebel-Lundholm was
hired to begin in Fall 2006. She has significant teaching experience at the
college level and has helped start and run three separate small businesses. As
anticipated, she will be teaching Theories of Entrepreneurship and New Venture
Planning, as well as the course in Innovation. As planned at this time, terminally
qualified full-time faculty members will teach all but one of the courses in the
program and they will supervise all student project work. Their credentials have
previously been reviewed by the Commission. In the case of the one course
where the college does not have a terminally qualified faculty member with
appropriate expertise (Ecommerce), a terminally qualified adjunct with
appropriate technical expertise has been identified to teach the course. The
college also has the financial capacity to add another full-time faculty member in
the event the program continues to grow.
Conclusion
Peru State College has launched a successful, well managed program.
Any questions regarding the program’s operation may be directed to Dr. Todd
Drew, Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs,
tdrew@oakmail.peru.edu, 402-872-2222.