Community Colleges as Incubators of Innovation

“Community colleges have always been the ‘go to’ place that enables people at all ages and stages of development to access the knowledge and skills needed for work and play. I started my educational path at a community college. Community colleges attract instructors with deep expertise, many of whom have been extremely successful in the private sector. In addition to being subject-matter experts, they are great teachers who are willing to share their knowledge and experience with others. This book reflects this commitment. The authors, who have brought significant benefits to their communities, are now sharing their knowledge and insights with those of us who seek new knowledge and new ways of improving our practice. We applaud NACCE’s leadership in bringing these authors together to provide this new resource for invention educators who must blend making, inventing, and entrepreneurship together as they prepare the next generation of innovators.”

Stephanie Couch, Executive Director

Lemelson-MIT Program

“With the economy transforming at an increasing pace, it is essential that communities continue to empower institutions that will provide the leadership that keeps them connected and competitive. Community colleges are that key institution for many communities around the country, and the authors of Community Colleges as Incubators of Innovation take another step in providing that leadership. The clear examples, tools, and lessons gained from their experiences offer insights that can help make any organization entrepreneurial as communities adapt to the changing economy of the twenty-first century.”

Tim Shaw, Senior Policy Analyst

Bipartisan Policy Center

“Today’s students are faced with an uncertain future where the guarantees of secure employment seem a distant dream. To meet these challenges, colleges need to prepare students with the tools to help them craft their own future by developing an entrepreneurial mindset that makes them independent, self-motivated, problem-solvers for the twenty-first century. NACCE has been a leader in encouraging this transformation within community colleges as this book demonstrates. It provides a practical guide with many examples that encourage entrepreneurial thinking among students and within institutions. I hope you find the book a compelling call to action within your own organization.”

Desh Deshpande, Founder

Deshpande Foundation, Life Member, MIT Corporation, Entrepreneur and Author, “On Entrepreneurship and Impact”

"Educating the next generation of entrepreneurs is rapidly and rightfully becoming a primary focus of institutions of higher education around the globe. In this book, Corbin and Thomas have masterfully assembled a range of impactful, original, and dynamic entrepreneurship education leaders from across the United States to talk insightfully about best practices in our community college system that are sure to spur entrepreneurial action both on and off campus for years to come."

Eric Liguori, Rohrer Chair for Entrepreneurship

Rowan University; President, USASBE

“Our nation's system of community colleges is a vital resource, and I’d urge anyone concerned about the future of our country to read Community Colleges As Incubators of Innovation. The book offers a tapestry of case studies describing the inspiring innovations of community colleges that are determined to equip students of all ages with the ‘entrepreneurial-ness’ needed in careers spanning business, academia, public policy, or social services. As these community colleges re-imagine their role, they're leading the way in providing students with compelling and cost-effective paths to fulfilling lives in an oh-so-dynamic world."

Ted Dintersmith

Author, "What School Could Be"

“Entrepreneurial thinking has the power to facilitate transformational change within our colleges, and this book captures the essence of not only how it can, but why it should. Whether energizing educators to seek innovative curriculum designs, or creating partnerships to better address complex workforce issues in the twenty-first century, the contributing authors make it clear that the entrepreneurial college is the new standard of excellence.”

Edwin Massey, President

Indian River State College

"Overall, this book has several unique merits. First, it incorporates both theoretical groundings and practical perspectives. The book not only focuses on theoretical frameworks and models that address the underlying factors that influence the development of entrepreneurial mindsets and ecosystems; it also highlights the valuable first-hand experiences gained by community college leaders and entrepreneurial education experts regarding how community colleges can serve as focal points for entrepreneurship education, thereby impacting job creation and economic development.

Second, the book provides a wide variety of examples that will be relevant to a broad spectrum of community college leaders, practitioners, and policymakers. The examples used in the book include rural, urban, and suburban community colleges, and vary from states with a relatively small number of community colleges to those with large, complex community college systems. These different cases offer new knowledge relevant to specific contexts and also allow readers to understand the complexity and diversity inherent in creating sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems."

Teachers College Record