This interactive presentation discusses how colleges and universities can develop alliances with companies. Using Colorado Technical University's alliance with McDonald’s as an example, you'll test drive innovative educational programs and technologies. Educational alliances can help to develop the workforce and provide opportunities to a diverse population of students.

Colleges and universities can build strong mutually beneficial educational alliances with companies to help develop a talented and diverse workforce. The Dean and an Executive Program Director from the College of Business and Management at Colorado Technical University (CTU) will discuss how to offer educational programs to corporate partners using innovative technologies. CTU works in detail to understand the company, tailor our programs, and offer innovative technologies so that there is a relatively seamless and worry-free experience for students from our corporate partners entering our educational programs. CTU's Center for Corporate Engagement works with a wide variety of companies. CTU has become McDonald’s single largest national university partner. CTU is able to service McDonald’s in a complex corporate franchise environment from an operational perspective, and by providing educational programs using innovative technologies that they value. McDonald’s diverse population of students can work towards earning a degree in the online environment with no out of pocket expense through a combination of McDonald’s tuition assistance and a grant from CTU. Participants will be taken on a test drive of an array of degree offerings, customized training, micro-credentials, and innovative technologies such as CTU Messenger, Intellipath, and co-curricular networks. Where the competition for talent remains strong, companies can use their educational alliances as a key recruitment and retention tool to strengthen their workforce. Learning Objectives •To understand the ways that colleges and universities can support the unique educational needs of companies. •To review how technology can help to customize the student experience. •To develop an appreciation for the value of developing educational alliances. The examples provided of CTU's educational alliances can inspire OLC member institutions to explore the value that they also could provide to companies. The need for a talented workforce has been a critical aspect of helping to support and grow a healthy economy. Likewise, educational alliances provide educational opportunities to a diverse population of students who otherwise may not have had this opportunity.