Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) is among 15 of the country’s leading community colleges selected for the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) Entrepreneurial College of the Future national pilot program. This new initiative harnesses teams of three leaders at each college who will work together and with other colleges to tackle challenges and opportunities in their campus and local communities. PHSC’s representatives will be Lisa Richardson, Ed.D., associate vice president of alumni and college relations/executive director, PHSC Foundation; Jim Myers, assistant professor and program director of business; and Sonia Thorn, assistant vice president of academic affairs, marketing and communications. 

Through the collaboration, a group of leading experts in ideation, fundraising, student and employee engagement, and workforce development will identify best innovative practices that will be shared through NACCE’s network of colleges reaching over four million students. NACCE is the country’s leading organization advancing entrepreneurship education and innovation in community colleges. 

“PHSC is pleased to be part of the Entrepreneurial College of the Future pilot program,” said Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D., PHSC president. “There is great value in combining the entrepreneurial mindset with actions that will help us tackle challenges and leverage opportunities within our community, and serve as a resource for best practices among communities and community colleges nationwide.” 

The Entrepreneurial College of the Future pilot also includes a group of 65 colleges that will co-create a comprehensive database of innovative approaches that will be available to all NACCE members. The database will be unveiled in October. Specific focus areas of the pilot include: 

• Workforce Development – aligning with employer needs and creating one’s own job. 
• Fundraising – moving beyond scholarships to big community-driven initiatives. 
• Student Success – enhancing enrollment and retention. 
• Silo Busting – increasing engagement and retention of college personnel. 

  The initiative is supported by the Everyday Entrepreneur Venture Fund (EEVF), which provides seed funding to student entrepreneurs served by community colleges, and the Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation, which sponsors both the annual “Pitch for the Skilled Trades” competition and the new “Pitch for the Foundation.” Both pitch competitions will take place at NACCE’s Annual Conference October 2-5 and will offer a total of $300,000 in prizes for innovative ideas pitched by community college teams. 

  Colleges participating in the initiative receive free consulting, mentoring services from experts, and travel and conference support valued at more than $25,000 for each college. 

Pasco-Hernando State College, a comprehensive, learning-centered institution, serves its community by providing affordable, accessible, and diverse educational experiences that empower students to achieve academic success, personal enrichment, and socio-economic advancement. 

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