The spring series of strategic planning campus forums continued Tuesday with an update from the Center for Professional and Corporate Excellence (CPCE). Tricia Sharrar, JD, vice provost for Academic Administration and Partnerships, gave an overview of where the initiative stands today and provided insights into upcoming goals.
Sharrar opened by noting that partnership efforts include professional development and continuing education courses. Partnerships can also grow to meet client needs, encompassing sponsorships, consulting, research, internships, recruitment and more.
One of the first challenges the CPCE faced was to develop processes internally, drawing teams across various departments together to offer a streamlined experience to potential partners. Sharrar says that process is complete, noting, “We have built up our infrastructure internally, and we’re working collaboratively with everyone in our house.” Those efforts set the CPCE up for success in further developing external partnerships.
Research Points to Partner Needs
One essential component of building outside partnerships is understanding what educational opportunities are needed. Being of service to the community is an important part of the CPCE’s mission, so it’s essential to find out what gaps the community is seeking to fill. In part, that’s done through communications with existing and potential partners as they share their pain points. The CPCE is also working with an outside firm to research trends in the Omaha area, gathering valuable market data.
More broadly, there are several identifiable trends when it comes to education needs for those who already have a degree. Frequently sought-after hard skills include software development, strategic planning, risk management and accounting, while popular soft skills include management, communications and leadership.
Sharrar notes that in today’s landscape, some professionals are seeking degrees to climb the corporate ladder, but many are not. Often, participants are looking to take one or two courses in a subject area or take a certain number of classes to maintain their licensure rather than working toward a full degree. The CPCE accommodates these varying needs with offerings from all nine schools and colleges and customized plans for individual companies. Ongoing data gathering will continue to guide the types of classes the CPCE offers.
Goals and Achievements
Looking toward the future, Sharrar says, “We want to have a plan to serve the growing population of continuous learners.” She notes that plan is in development. Other goals include increasing the number of University and/or corporate partnerships, nurturing sponsorship relationships, and creating and formalizing policies and procedures for marketing, admissions and pricing for CPCE learners.
When it comes to revenue from professional development courses, Sharrar says, “We’re on target for our forecasted revenue, but we need to continue growing that.” Professional development program offerings and enrollment have both increased year-over-year. Participation in continuing education – courses specifically designed to meet licensure requirements – is strong, as well.
When it comes to continuing education (CE), the CPCE is exceeding goals in the number of programs provided and the number of external partners. CE sponsorships are also up. Looking forward, goals for CE include further increasing the number of courses offered and growing the number and breadth of partnerships with health care providers.
Partnerships are a Campus-Wide Effort
Sharrar closed by reiterating that everyone at Creighton is welcome to participate in developing partnerships. When it comes to offerings, she says, “We’re talking about the whole spectrum. What could an organization ask of Creighton University?” Similarly, Creighton faculty and staff are invited to share their ideas for possible partnerships
The next forum session will be held Thursday, April 4, with an update on Living Our Mission. RSVP for upcoming forums and watch past sessions here.
