entrep. course

ALUMNI OPPORTUNITIES BEYOND THE CAPE

You’ve seen at The Island School how change and innovation happens on the edges of civilization. How do you make new things happen back home at the center of society? How can you be more effective in making your ideas a reality? What factors make a difference in the success of a new endeavor?

Come to Boston for three days before the Island School Alumni Reunion this January. You will meet interesting people with entrepreneurial business experience and hear their stories. We will do case studies, talk about theory, and build your social network. Through action learning, team assignments, and distance classes through the end of January, you will get ideas, connections, and a head start on your own ventures.

From the 2007 Entrepreneurship Class:

“This class provided a great opportunity to synthesize ideas and personal ambitions. Building off the creativity and spontaneous learning we had at the Island School, this course re-energized old motivations and desires and better aligned the way I feel about the future ahead of me.”

“There was a very noticeable focus on making a difference. At The Island School, we analyzed and discussed the problems that needed to be faced in our communities and the world, encouraged to make that change at home. The Entrepreneurship course guides you to make that change... The multiple components of the course--meeting new people, learning new ideas, and having a fun time make achieving your goals more realistic and provide you the resources and the contacts to make those goals happen.”

CALENDAR

January 3-5, 2008: Seminar Classes Guest Speakers Tufts University, Medford, MA

January 12-19-26: Saturday Morning Distance Classes Via Internet

COSTS*

$400 course fees, plus travel, housing and meals in Boston area (3 nights, 4 days)

*Scholarships and local homestay accommodations available

What do I get out of the course?

You’ll get:

Ideas, frameworks, and tools for confronting entrepreneurial challenges,
Connections with Island School alumni and guest speakers,
Mentorship from within the Foundation network,
A fun time in Boston with friends,
Capture some of the momentum from your Island School inspiration and plan to put it to use.

Who should take this course?

Island School alumni and their friends who want to begin to develop the analytical skills to effect change, start their own organization, or create innovation in existing organizations.

What are the course prerequisites?

There are no course prerequisites; students from all disciplines are being recruited for the course. You need a computer and an internet connection.

What are “distance classes”?

They’re class discussions that happen in real-time over the internet. We will have access to the same kind of online technology used by top university degree programs to create a meaningful learning experience with people in different places, using real-time lectures, quizzes, live data sharing, and multi-way simultaneous dialogue.

What are assignments and tests like?

Students will hand in graded team and individual assignments before each class, including case studies, presentations, and interviews. There will be readings assigned to prepare for class discussion and to help students develop a knowledge base.

How much time will it take?

To get the most out of the course, students should expect to put in 4-8 hours per week during January (about an hour a day). Some weeks may require more effort depending on the assignments and your team, and some may require a bit less. About 4 hours of pre-reading is due before the January residency, and final course obligations end January 27.

Can I get credit for the course?

Students enrolled in college should submit an application for course credit to their appropriate college department as a January term independent study course. Additional internship opportunities, course readings, and assignments can be added for those students who require more than 3 credit hours of work for January term requirements. There may be professional development support for students already in the workforce.

How do I register?

Send email to christianhenry@islandschool.org or call (732) 689-6297. Enrollment is limited. Your spot is secured with full payment before December 25th. More information, including a full course description, detailed syllabus, and hard copies of pre-readings are available on request.

About the instructor

Christian Henry has a background in leadership and education, starting as a corporate teambuilding consultant after graduating from Swarthmore College. While teaching at Lawrenceville in 1998, he helped develop the first marketing and financial plans for the Island School. Cape Eleuthera Foundation has since grown over the last 10 years to encompass a US foundation with 3 Bahamas-based divisions and a for-profit subsidiary with over $4 million per year in revenue. Christian has served in several educator, administrative, and managerial roles, and as Chief Financial Officer since 2004. He completed his Masters in Business Administration in May 2006 from the Duke University Fuqua School of Business.

"The course is exhaustive and self-fulfilling. From social networking to writing a business plan, working with a class of Island School alumni you will not only benefit from the studied lessons but find business partners and inspiration in each other."

- student from the Entrepreneurship class of 2007