1. Texas State Leadership Consortium for Curriculum Development
Rural Entrepreneurship Support Networks for Economic Development (RESNED)
Mid-Year Report
March 28, 2006
Institution Name: TRCCN
Project Director: Glynis Strause
Coastal Bend College

2. Texas Rural Community College Network (TRCCN) is:
a catalyst  for community and economic development in rural Texas;
a collaborative to build partnerships; and
a leader to strengthen workforce education and technical programs and services.

3. Partners South Plains College Coastal Bend College
Dr. Dick Walsh, Provost Workforce Development
Coastal Bend College
Glynis Holm Strause, Continuing Education Coordinator
Texas A & M University
Dr. Greg Clary, Extension Economist, Texas Cooperative Extension, Texas Center for Rural Entrepreneurship

4. Partners Texas Rural Community College Network Coordinating Colleges
South Plains College (lead)
Frank Phillips College
Coastal Bend College
Wharton County Junior College
Paris Junior College
+ Nineteen rural community colleges
Rural Community College Initiative
Southern Rural Development Center
Dr. Alan Barefield, Associate Director
Rural Community College Alliance
Office of Rural Community Affairs
Texas Administrators of Continuing
Education [TACE]

5. Partners’ Roles South Plains College Coastal Bend College
Lead college in TRCCN and fiscal agent
Coastal Bend College
Project leader and coordinator, working with research and deliverables.
Texas A & M University
Dr. Greg Clary is developing and writing the E-ship curriculum and deliverables.

6. Partners Texas Rural Community College Network Coordinating Colleges
TRCCN will preview. serve as quality assurance of the curriculum modules, and will help to disseminate module deliverables.
Rural Community College Initiative
RCCI focus groups have met in brainstorming focus groups, completed needs assessments, and minutes of meetings over two years reflect need for curriculum development.
Southern Rural Development Center
Dr. Alan Barefield has served as consultant, research generation, and has set up demonstration of project to Rural Community College Alliance meeting.
Rural Community College Alliance
Focus group for quality control, feedback, and dissemination of deliverables.
Office of Rural Community Affairs
Leadership has met with leaders, served to focus project, and will aid with dissemination statewide.
Texas Administrator of Continuing Education [TACE]
Conference has scheduled special session to preview and discuss curriculum and deliverables.

7. Project Summary
Three new entrepreneurship (Eship) courses will provide the knowledge, skills and tools individuals need to:
Employ Eship as an economic development strategy
Develop the capacity and atmosphere in rural communities for entrepreneurs to be successful
Assist entrepreneurs with early stage ventures
Assist entrepreneurs with growth companies

8. Project Benefits Create jobs, self-employment, distributed wealth
Decrease unemployment, poverty, youth problems
Community colleges more involved in ED
Increase capabilities of agency employees in ED area
More local community involvement

9. Deliverables & Timeline
Deliverables (qtr due) On Target
Needs assessment (1) completed
Skills analysis (2) completed
State/National Curriculum Models/Products (2) completed
Curriculum/Skills Crosswalk Matrix (2) completed
List of Courses w/Descriptions and Learning Outcomes (2) completed
Curriculum Plan (3) Yes
Course Syllabi (3) Yes
Learning Activity Plans (4) Yes
Learning Outcomes Assessments (4) Yes
Formative Product Evaluation (4) Yes
Dissemination Plan (4) Yes

10. Statewide Dissemination Plan
TRCCN workshops
Regional agency workshops
Regional economic development conferences
Public programs
CD version (planned)
Online version (planned)

11. Evaluation Written reviews will be completed by: TRCCN members
Rural committee of Texas Economic Development Council
Texas Cooperative Extension Community Resources & Economic Development faculty
State agencies involved in ED
Faculty developing extension online entrepreneurship community of practice
All participants of pilot workshops

12. Contact Information
Greg Clary, PhD, (author)
Extension Economist
Director, Texas Center for Rural Entrepreneurship (
PO Box 38, Overton, TX 75684
Glynis Strause (Project leader)
Continuing Education Coordinator
3800 Charco Road
Coastal Bend College
Beeville, Texas 78102  
CE Office COED (2633)
Toll free ext. 2419
Fax