FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGE OCIOBER 1987 AT JACKSONVILLE VOL. 3, NO. 3 JTLQQJ FCC] student Paula Speights apprentices with Levi Jordan. owner of Levi Jordan St Associates placement specialist firm. Funded by AACJC Minority Business Project Under Way By Judy Moore Helping more minorities to begin their own businesses, and assisting cunent minority’owned businesses to operate more efficiently, is the goal of a new FCC] pro— ject funded by a grant from the American Association of Community and Junior Cole leges (AACJC). The Minority Business Enterprise Project is coordinated through a local consortium which includes Jacksonville’s Urban League, the NAACP, the Northwest Count cil of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Jacksonville Minority Business Develop— ment Center in addition to FCC]. “This is the first time we’ve worked in a coordinated effort to enhance the business outlook for black youngsters,” said Rufus Jefferson, director of equal access/equal opportunity at FCCJ, and director Of the minority business project. “All the organiza- tions in the consortium will be working in concert. In the past, we’ve all been working toward the same goals, but not in unison. We were all going down different roads and the twain did not necessarily meet.” State Senator Amett Girardeau will give the keynote address at a free day—long seminar for interested students Oct. 10 at Downtown Campus. For information, call 633—8292. “Our project is designed to convince black youngsters to consider going into business for themselves,” Jefferson said. “We' re getting information out to 1,500 students between the ages Of 16—21. From them, we’ll choose 100 students who are really tuned in to the idea and we'll match them with minority businesses in appren’ ticeship situations.” Encouraging students to go into their own businesses does not mean the students won’t also be encouraged to seek a higher education, Jefferson said. “Students will be encouraged to go to college to come out prepared,” he said. “There are a number of people who believe more minorities would go to college if they had a better idea of what their future employment might be like.” Businesses which participate in the pro— gram may take advantage of technical advice and assistance offered through the partners in the program. Those businesses and other minority—owned businesses in the community can receive help at FCC] in improving business management techni‘ ques, upgrading skills of their employees and other aspects of entrepreneurship through the project. “As Jacksonville’s Northwest Quadrant becomes more economically viable, the in— troduction of more and more entrepreneur— ships into the area will evolve,” said Stan Block, FCCJ’s associate vice president of economic development. “We want to be sure that we’re providing the necessary assistance so that all of Jacksonville can share in the city’s great economic develop— ment.” Under the provisions of the AACJC grant, assistance will be provided to 75 alreadyvexisting minority'owned businesses. “We’re devising a survey to see what the needs of minority entrepreneurs might be so we can provide them service through the college. We’re hoping the survey will in’ dicate some of their unmet needs," Block said. “Once the results are in, the assets of the college will be used to provide ongoing training for minority businesses." \ Linking SPD TO Mainstream Goal Of New Director Staff and Program Development (SPD) in the Human Resources Department acts as a funding and technical assistance source to help FCC] employees develop profes— sionally and to aid in evaluating and improving existing college programs. SPD programs that help employees reach their professional goals include the educational leave program, in— service development, staff exchanges, workshop grant programs and others. SPD has been undergoing a reorgani— zation during the past year or so and today is emerging as a solidified department once again under the leadership of new director Dr. Keith Cotroneo. Dr. Cotroneo comes to FCCJ from a position as Director of Career Planning Services with the American College Testing, Inc. in Atlanta. Outlook Editor Judy Moore spoke with Dr. Cotroneo about what to look for in the future from SPD. Q. How will Staff and Program Development be different than it used to be? A. People are asking me all the time what SPD is going to be like I’m asking myself that every day. We’re going to con‘ tinue to provide quality services. That won't change. But we're going to increase the rewards for folks to engage in a planned program of develOpment for themselves. We are discussing implementing an individual development plan program in which employees sit down with their supervisors and set goals and design a plan that will get an employee where he or she wants to go careerwise We’re going to make a greater effort to link SPD into the strategic planning pro— cess — into the mainstream of the institu‘ tion. It seems to be somewhat peripheral right now. Q. In what direction do you see SPD going during the next few years? A. We’re trying to develop a vision Of where things will be in three to five years. We want to begin acting more proactively in terms of responding to staff needs from a strategic planning point of view. SPD has always been important and a real asset to the College. I think we can make more of a difference if we can tie the department into the institutional planning process. The College is taking steps in that direction. I would envision SPD coming in at the end of a program review process to support and act on recommendations and conclusions. Program review is a good way to get into the mainstream. Q. In what new ways will SPD sup— SPD Director Keith Cotroneo port individual staff development? A. We can identify skills and training needs in advance. That way we can docw ment an individual’s needs and that will give us something structured to work with. We don’t really have a structured program for employee development. We have a cadre of different programs — and they’re good programs — but they’re not tied into a structural process. Q. What will SPD do to enhance student retention efforts? A. There are a number of retention projects under way. From what I can see, they appear to be operating independently. There is not as much of a coordinated effort as I think there should be. That’s an issue we’ll be looking at. Another concern I have is that we don’t have the kind of documen’ tation at this time that we need to make an accurate assessment of whether the pro grams are firnctioning well. The whole idea of impact is the theme we‘re establishing. What impact are we having? We need the documentation to establish this. Q. How does FCCJ’s Staff and Pro— gram Development compare to similar organizations at other colleges? A. I believe the commitment here is much stronger than at many other institu— tions. The commitment to a centralized program is very strong. Many other institu— tions see it as peripheral and don‘t manage it centrally. Decentralizing can have a splintering effect and reduce the power of programming. President Spence views us as a change agent. He’s very clear in his expectations of SPD. He sees us as a unit to help the in— stitution reach its goals. We’re starting anew now, and we have to build, but it's an ex— citing time to be at this institution. There’s a real energy across the College. , OCR Text: FLORIDA COMMUNITY COLLEGE OCIOBER 1987 AT JACKSONVILLE VOL. 3, NO. 3 JTLQQJ FCC] student Paula Speights apprentices with Levi Jordan. owner of Levi Jordan St Associates placement specialist firm. Funded by AACJC Minority Business Project Under Way By Judy Moore Helping more minorities to begin their own businesses, and assisting cunent minority’owned businesses to operate more efficiently, is the goal of a new FCC] pro— ject funded by a grant from the American Association of Community and Junior Cole leges (AACJC). The Minority Business Enterprise Project is coordinated through a local consortium which includes Jacksonville’s Urban League, the NAACP, the Northwest Count cil of the Chamber of Commerce, and the Jacksonville Minority Business Develop— ment Center in addition to FCC]. “This is the first time we’ve worked in a coordinated effort to enhance the business outlook for black youngsters,” said Rufus Jefferson, director of equal access/equal opportunity at FCCJ, and director Of the minority business project. “All the organiza- tions in the consortium will be working in concert. In the past, we’ve all been working toward the same goals, but not in unison. We were all going down different roads and the twain did not necessarily meet.” State Senator Amett Girardeau will give the keynote address at a free day—long seminar for interested students Oct. 10 at Downtown Campus. For information, call 633—8292. “Our project is designed to convince black youngsters to consider going into business for themselves,” Jefferson said. “We' re getting information out to 1,500 students between the ages Of 16—21. From them, we’ll choose 100 students who are really tuned in to the idea and we'll match them with minority businesses in appren’ ticeship situations.” Encouraging students to go into their own businesses does not mean the students won’t also be encouraged to seek a higher education, Jefferson said. “Students will be encouraged to go to college to come out prepared,” he said. “There are a number of people who believe more minorities would go to college if they had a better idea of what their future employment might be like.” Businesses which participate in the pro— gram may take advantage of technical advice and assistance offered through the partners in the program. Those businesses and other minority—owned businesses in the community can receive help at FCC] in improving business management techni‘ ques, upgrading skills of their employees and other aspects of entrepreneurship through the project. “As Jacksonville’s Northwest Quadrant becomes more economically viable, the in— troduction of more and more entrepreneur— ships into the area will evolve,” said Stan Block, FCCJ’s associate vice president of economic development. “We want to be sure that we’re providing the necessary assistance so that all of Jacksonville can share in the city’s great economic develop— ment.” Under the provisions of the AACJC grant, assistance will be provided to 75 alreadyvexisting minority'owned businesses. “We’re devising a survey to see what the needs of minority entrepreneurs might be so we can provide them service through the college. We’re hoping the survey will in’ dicate some of their unmet needs," Block said. “Once the results are in, the assets of the college will be used to provide ongoing training for minority businesses." \ Linking SPD TO Mainstream Goal Of New Director Staff and Program Development (SPD) in the Human Resources Department acts as a funding and technical assistance source to help FCC] employees develop profes— sionally and to aid in evaluating and improving existing college programs. SPD programs that help employees reach their professional goals include the educational leave program, in— service development, staff exchanges, workshop grant programs and others. SPD has been undergoing a reorgani— zation during the past year or so and today is emerging as a solidified department once again under the leadership of new director Dr. Keith Cotroneo. Dr. Cotroneo comes to FCCJ from a position as Director of Career Planning Services with the American College Testing, Inc. in Atlanta. Outlook Editor Judy Moore spoke with Dr. Cotroneo about what to look for in the future from SPD. Q. How will Staff and Program Development be different than it used to be? A. People are asking me all the time what SPD is going to be like I’m asking myself that every day. We’re going to con‘ tinue to provide quality services. That won't change. But we're going to increase the rewards for folks to engage in a planned program of develOpment for themselves. We are discussing implementing an individual development plan program in which employees sit down with their supervisors and set goals and design a plan that will get an employee where he or she wants to go careerwise We’re going to make a greater effort to link SPD into the strategic planning pro— cess — into the mainstream of the institu‘ tion. It seems to be somewhat peripheral right now. Q. In what direction do you see SPD going during the next few years? A. We’re trying to develop a vision Of where things will be in three to five years. We want to begin acting more proactively in terms of responding to staff needs from a strategic planning point of view. SPD has always been important and a real asset to the College. I think we can make more of a difference if we can tie the department into the institutional planning process. The College is taking steps in that direction. I would envision SPD coming in at the end of a program review process to support and act on recommendations and conclusions. Program review is a good way to get into the mainstream. Q. In what new ways will SPD sup— SPD Director Keith Cotroneo port individual staff development? A. We can identify skills and training needs in advance. That way we can docw ment an individual’s needs and that will give us something structured to work with. We don’t really have a structured program for employee development. We have a cadre of different programs — and they’re good programs — but they’re not tied into a structural process. Q. What will SPD do to enhance student retention efforts? A. There are a number of retention projects under way. From what I can see, they appear to be operating independently. There is not as much of a coordinated effort as I think there should be. That’s an issue we’ll be looking at. Another concern I have is that we don’t have the kind of documen’ tation at this time that we need to make an accurate assessment of whether the pro grams are firnctioning well. The whole idea of impact is the theme we‘re establishing. What impact are we having? We need the documentation to establish this. Q. How does FCCJ’s Staff and Pro— gram Development compare to similar organizations at other colleges? A. I believe the commitment here is much stronger than at many other institu— tions. The commitment to a centralized program is very strong. Many other institu— tions see it as peripheral and don‘t manage it centrally. Decentralizing can have a splintering effect and reduce the power of programming. President Spence views us as a change agent. He’s very clear in his expectations of SPD. He sees us as a unit to help the in— stitution reach its goals. We’re starting anew now, and we have to build, but it's an ex— citing time to be at this institution. There’s a real energy across the College. , Z ArchiveInABox,JAX,Outlook Newsletter Resorted,1987,October 1987,October 1987 1, October 1987 1