Institute for Economic Excellence

Possible Initiatives

The Institute for Economic Excellence may consider the following initiatives as well as others as opportunities and resources become available:

· To incorporate the academic and research skills of a cohort of “Institute Fellows” to serve as the backbone of the Institute’s outreach and teaching activities;

· To work with the Career Development Center to develop more academically meaningful and rigorous experiential learning opportunities;

· To create a new program of educational opportunities to enhance and support the economic development of the Eastern Panhandle and its environs;

· To identify industries in manufacturing, health, and service which have training or educational needs and work with local Chambers of Commerce, Development Authorities, and other economic organizations to develop a list of potential industries to approach;

· To develop a capacity in higher education to conduct research that enhances West Virginia in the eyes of the larger economic and education community and to provide a basis for West Virginia’s improved capacity to compete in the new economy through research oriented to state needs;

· To provide greatly improved access to information and services for individuals and employers on education and training programs, financial assistance, labor markets and job placement;

· To collaborate with government agencies, employers, and public schools to create better prepared professionals;

· To develop close linkages between higher education institutions and business, labor, government, and community and economic development organizations by establishing an institutional delivery mechanism to provide or broker higher level professionals;

· To ensure that highly trained, technologically proficient professionals are in place to spark the region’s economic development; determine precisely what kinds of workforce development initiatives are needed and train students in the kinds of sophisticated skills the New Economy needs;

· To develop a higher level professional program so that Shepherd University can align its graduates more closely to the future professional needs of the Eastern Panhandle;

· To explore the potentials for a new high tech corridor in Eastern West Virginia, building on similar growth along the 1-70 corridor;

· To provide information that enables area political, social, governmental, and business leaders to plan wisely for implementing smart growth projects;

· To reinforce the lifelong learning concept in all business partnerships; and

· To seek grants as an institution and in partnerships throughout the region.