An A-HEC Leadership Interview with Andy Scibelli

Volume 1, No. 4, Article 1
Published January 24, 2005

Is development of the “workforce” a mission that is limited to providing training for skills-based positions? As important of an objective as that is, why not aim higher?

Author Richard Florida, the Hirst Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University, has performed pioneering research on the linkage between the development of creative talent, global competitiveness, and prosperity (Florida 2002). In a recent Harvard Business Review article, Florida presents evidence that the United States, while providing the roots for the “creative age”, is losing ground in recent years (Florida 2004).

Colleges and universities have great potential to contribute to development of our most creative individuals. In order to do so, innovative programs that go beyond skills toward creativity should be available to all students at all levels of higher education.

Community Colleges potentially have a special role to play in this equation. As some of the largest demographic shift in students in the coming years will be served by community colleges, we must ask how we can lift the aspirations and develop the full potential of each student. In light of this need, we find the development of innovative programs at the Community College level as particularly intriguing and exciting. Our interviewee is a recognized expert on one category of such program.

Andrew M. Scibelli, president emeritus of Springfield Technical Community College, recently retired after 21 years as its president. During his tenure, he was credited with transforming the Massachusetts institution into one of America’s finest.

In 1996, the college gained national attention for development of the STCC Technology Park, which has received numerous awards for its boldness and its impact on economic development. In 1999, the college created the Entrepreneurial Institute and small business incubator at the Park. It is a full service center for entrepreneurship and nurtures both adult and student businesses.

Dr. Scibelli has served on many national boards, including the AACC Board of Directors, and was a founding member of the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship. Since retiring from STCC he has established two consulting firms, one specializing in entrepreneurship in community colleges and the other focusing on community college presidential searches. Dr. Scibelli can be reached at scibelli@stcc.edu.

A-HEC recently talked with Dr. Scibelli about the role for E-ship education at the community college level.

The Role of

Entrepreneurship

Programs in the

Community College

	Table of Contents Introduction The Emergence of E-Ship Programs Comparison to Related Programs Workforce Development and How to Start

“The more we encourage and nurture the development of small businesses, the more we will impact the economy of this country.”

---

---

---

---