Journal of - Southern University New Orleans

THE RESULTS OF TEACHING MINORITYUNDERGRADUATE STUDENTSENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS PLANNINGCONCEPTS USING ANDRAGOGY ANDSERVICE LEARNINGLouis C. Mancuso, Ph.D.Southern University at New OrleansRobert Hardy, Ph.D. 14Southern University at New OrleansJames E. Pittman, Ph.D.Southern University at New OrleansAbstract: Applying andragological techniques andservice learning concepts to traditional college agedminority students can produce dramatic results. Forexample, during the Fall of 2005, Spring of 2006 andFall 2007 Semesters, a Professor of Entrepreneurshipat Xavier University of Louisiana conducted twoclasses (1) an Introduction to Entrepreneurship Classand (2) the capstone Entrepreneurship class using theabove mentioned teaching methodologies. The universityhas never participated in any form of a businessplan competition nor worked with SIFE (Studentsin Free Enterprise). The students while completingthese two courses entered the Ford HBCU (HistoricallyBlack Colleges and Universities) Business PlanCompetition. The Ford Competition received over 900entries with 200,000 students and 119 universities participatingat the undergraduate and graduate levels inthe competition.The Xavier University team consisted offour students; two sophomores, one junior,and one senior with grade pointaverages ranging from 2.03 to 3.1; were placedas one of the top five teams in the nation. InApril 2007, another Xavier team taking thesame courses won The Ford $100,000 HBCUDr. Louis Mancuso is visiting Professor of Business Entrepreneurshipsat Southern University at New Orleans. Prior to histenure at Southern University at New Orleans, Dr Mancusoserved as professor of business and the Conrad N. Hilton EndowedChair of Entrepreneurship at Xavier University of Louisiana.Dr. Mancuso can be reached at lmancusso@suno.edu. Dr.Robert Hardy is Assistant Professor in the College of Business.His career in higher education extends to service in Kenya, EastAfrica where he spent several years in a local university. He canbe reached at rhardy@suno.edu. Dr. James Pitman is Chair andProfessor in the Department of Public Administration at SouthernUniversity at New Orleans. His research interests are in theareas of public administration, polic y analysis, and public management.He can be reached at jpittman@suno.edu.Business Plan Competition.Five Xavier SIFE students participated in thenational competition and won the Rookie ofthe Year Award. Again, the Xavier studentbody has never participated in such an event.Some students taking the classes have openedtheir businesses and are doing quite well.These businesses include an entertainmentbusiness, real estate, a subway franchise and amusic recording business.During the Summer of 2006, a sophomore premedstudent taking the Introduction to Entrepreneurshipcourse won the U.S. Departmentof Commerce MBDA Student Business PlanCompetition.Obviously, these are dramatic results whenapplying andragological techniques to theteaching of HBCU students Entrepreneurshipcourses. Significant research needs to be undertakenover the long-term to ascertain if thestudents are developing their own businessesand the ‚success‛ of their businesses.The short-term results of applying andragologicalconcepts and service learning techniquesto the curriculum of an HBCU have been positive.Certainly, proper research techniques indicatethat a long-term research study must beundertaken to check validity and reliability.Applying andragological techniques and servicelearning concepts to traditional collegeage minority students can produce dramaticoutcomes. For example, during the Fall of 2005,Spring of 2006 and Fall 2007 Semesters, a Professorof Entrepreneurship at Xavier Universityof Louisiana conducted two classes, (1) anIntroduction to Entrepreneurship Class and (2)the capstone Entrepreneurship class, using theabove mentioned teaching methodologies. Theuniversity has never participated in any formof a business plan competition nor workedwith SIFE (Students In Free Enterprise). Thestudents while completing these two coursesentered the Ford HBCU (Historically BlackColleges and Universities) Business Plan Com-