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Proof Under Pressure: Measuring HBCU Career Readiness in the Age of AI

Proof Under Pressure: HBCU Educators Share Career Readiness Lessons at National Workforce Readiness Conference

A former HBCU business dean and two Langston University educators presented a practical approach to making career readiness visible through student work, competency assessments and real-world opportunity.

How does a college know its graduates are truly ready for work, and not simply more experienced? That question framed “Proof Under Pressure: Measuring Career Readiness at an HBCU,” presented November 10 at the 2026 Workforce Readiness Conference.

Dr. Daryl D. Green, former dean of the Langston University School of Business, presented alongside Dr. Heidi O’Donnell and Professor Malayna Hasmanis. Together, they shared a redesigned internship course, competency data behind it, and the story of a graduation inside a state prison that illustrates what access to education can mean.

Conference Session at a Glance

• What: “Proof Under Pressure: Measuring Career Readiness at an HBCU”

• When: Tuesday, November 10, 2026, 10:45–11:30 a.m. Central

• Where: 2026 Workforce Readiness Conference, a national virtual event from The Teaching Professor (Magna Publications)

• Audience: Faculty, career services professionals, internship coordinators, academic leaders and workforce partners

Why Career Readiness Needs Proof

The November 10^th session followed the November 3 midterm elections and National First-Generation College Celebration Day on November 8. FirstGen Forward estimates that first-generation students make up 54% of U.S. undergraduates, approximately 8.2 million students. For many families, the pressing question is whether college prepares graduates for meaningful work.

“Elections change who holds office. They don’t decide whether a first-generation student walks into her first job ready to lead,” Green said. “That work belongs to educators, employers, and communities, no matter who won. Our students don’t need another promise. They need proof.”

Inside the Redesigned Internship Course

Every business student at Langston University, Oklahoma’s only public HBCU, must complete an internship to graduate. That requirement made the internship course, BA 4993, the natural place to test whether students were growing. Green and O’Donnell rebuilt it from a largely self-guided handbook into a structured experience that now includes:

• A pre- and post-assessment based on the eight NACE career readiness competencies

• Coaching sessions and professional portfolios, including an “All-Star” LinkedIn profile

• Mock interviews and résumé and cover-letter development

• AI literacy assignments that compare AI-assisted writing with students’ own work

• A professional business certification and an AI certification

• Internship supervisor evaluations at three points in the semester

“I have been in academia for over 20 years. Many institutions are well-intentioned but do not focus enough on the end product,” Green said. “We have to prepare students who are battle-tested and ready for a world of disruption. That is why I introduced innovation into the Langston University School of Business curriculum.”

Presenters (left to right): Dr. Daryl D. Green, DSL; Dr. Heidi O’Donnell, DBA; and Professor Malayna Hasmanis, MPA, M.Ed.

What the Spring 2026 NACE Data Show

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) defines eight competencies employers value: career and self-development, communication, critical thinking, equity and inclusion, leadership, professionalism, teamwork and technology. In spring 2026, students’ matched self-assessments rose in all eight. Technology climbed from 3.19 to 3.65 on a four-point scale, leadership from 3.20 to 3.64, and professionalism reached 3.79, the highest score recorded.

The presenters are careful about what those numbers mean. They reflect how students rate their own growth, not independently verified hiring or employment outcomes. “An internship can teach students things that are difficult to fully understand in a classroom,” O’Donnell said. “They learn how to build skills and competencies, communicate with people and cultures they don’t already know, manage responsibilities, ask questions, and respond when a situation doesn’t go as expected.”

Seven Graduates at Dick Conner Correctional Center

In August 2026, seven students earned business degrees through Langston University at Oklahoma’s Dick Conner Correctional Center, where Hasmanis served as lead faculty.

“Seeing seven students earn their business degrees at Dick Conner Correctional Center reinforced my belief that education has the power to transform lives and systems,” Hasmanis said. “It challenges barriers, expands opportunity, restores possibility, and reminds us that potential is never defined by circumstance.”

As Langston’s Second Chance Pell Program Coordinator, Hasmanis addressed how competency-based career preparation could be adapted for justice-impacted learners. That application remains in development and has not yet been evaluated.

A Turnaround Made Teachable

The course redesign took place within a broader turnaround Green led at the School of Business. For a general audience, Green reports 54% enrollment growth during the turnaround period. In 2025, seniors scored in the top 1% nationally on the Peregrine Business Exam; one-year retention rose from 40% to 56%; and business graduates nearly doubled, from 19 to 36. These are institutional context, not outcomes attributed to a single course.

Five Practices Any Campus Can Adopt

1. Define the career competencies the program intends to develop.

2. Assess students before and after the learning experience.

3. Build work samples students can show employers.

4. Ask internship supervisors for actionable feedback.

5. Refine at least one practice each semester.

“First-generation students carry their families’ hopes into every classroom,” Green said. “When we can show them, and show employers, what they are able to do, we honor that hope.”

Meet the Presenters

Dr. Daryl D. Green, DSL, is a scholar-practitioner, institutional transformation expert, workforce disruption researcher, and author of more than 50 books. He served as dean of the Langston University School of Business from January 2024 to June 2026, leading an 18-month turnaround. Previously, he spent 27 years with the U.S. Department of Energy as a senior engineering manager overseeing more than $100 million in projects. He is the creator of The Nehemiah Blueprint in the Age of AI and publishes the Nehemiah Leadership Brief.

Dr. Heidi O’Donnell, DBA, is a professor and U.S. Marine Corps veteran who teaches the Career Readiness and Internship for Business course at Langston University. She has led education and workforce development programs for universities, federal agencies, and national research institutions, supporting undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral participants nationwide.

Professor Malayna Hasmanis, MPA, M.Ed., a doctoral candidate, is Second Chance Pell Program Coordinator and Adjunct Instructor at Langston University and lead faculty at Dick Conner Correctional Center. She is also Executive Director of NAMI Tulsa and assistant producer of Langston Vibes on KBOB 89.9 FM.

Media Interviews

Dr. Green and the other presenters are available for interviews on career readiness, HBCU innovation, workforce disruption, and higher education for incarcerated learners. This announcement is issued independently by AGSM Consulting LLC and is not an official Langston University news release.

Media Contact: Dr. Daryl D. Green | AGSM Consulting LLC | 865-719-7239 | advice@darylgreen.org | http://www.darylgreen.org

November 10, 2026
Emerging Trends for Black America in 2021: African-American Experts Provide Hope to Millions About the Future
A panel of experts shares their market trends during Black History Month to foster better conditions for Black America in 2021.

During February’s observance of Black History Month, AGSM Consulting LLC gathered perspectives from experts in the fields of education, business, health care, social services, and media. A summary lists of observations and predictions for various market sectors.

Each panel member brought a unique perspective on Black America. One key conclusion reinforced in their analysis is that Black citizens continue to suffer disproportionately from the effects of COVID-19.

According to the National Urban League’s 2020 State of Black America Report,the economic devastation wreaked havoc on Black America, highlighting deeply rooted inequities in the economy. Black and Latino Americans are overrepresented in low-wage jobs that offer the least flexibility in working accommodations and increase their risk of exposure to the coronavirus. Their rates of coronavirus infections and deaths attributed to COVID-19 are higher. Additionally, Black and Latino’s workers are more likely to hold jobs that don’t offer health insurance benefits.

Unreliable information is another concern identified by the group. “In many cases, the Black community is flooded with misinformation,” said Dr. Daryl Green – a business strategist and author. “Yet, we have some brilliant people within our community. Therefore, it is important that the Black professionals share their expertise in order to propel this generation.”

Below are the key emerging trends for Black America in 2021, from a panel of experts working with AGSM Consulting on topics including business, education, media, medical/health, and technology:
- BUSINESS SECTOR – Employers search for employees across a global market. Companies are reaching out to emerging markets. Organizations are tapping talent from across the globe. In Globalization in transition: The future of trade and value chains, the McKinsey Global Institute noted the impact of globalization in today’s commerce: “Flows of services and data now play a much bigger role in tying the global economy together. In addition, all global value chains are becoming more knowledge-intensive. Low-skill labor is becoming less important as a factor of production.”
- BUSINESS SECTOR – E-commerce and digital platforms will continue to dominate the business landscape. COVID-19 reinforced the power of the digital economy. If companies did not have a digital platform in 2020 with the lockdowns, they did not exist. According to Shopify, global B2C e-commerce sales are expected to reach $4.5 trillion by 2021.
- BUSINESS SECTOR – A new work model is emerging. 2020 brought on an explosion in working from home due to COVID-19. Employees already wanted to have more flexibility in their work lives. They got it from employers. Companies responded by offering 70% of full-time workers the ability to work from home!
- EDUCATION SECTOR – HBCUssee a resurgence in student enrollment. Raised awareness of social issues, increased private gifts, prominent HBCU alumni gracing headlines, and the many historical firsts achieved during 2020 spurred increased interest and enrollment of African American students at HBCUs. For example, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff saw a 12% enrollment increase, the largest for UAPB in nearly ten years. North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University listed enrollment at 12,754, making it the largest HBCU
- MEDIA SECTOR – Tough environment for public trust, advertising; but some gains in diversity: News consumers continue shifting from legacy media to digital options, exacerbating erosions in traditional advertising revenue – a major funding source for newsrooms. Surveys of the public show low regard for media integrity, especially associated with political coverage. Racial unrest sparked attention to diversity within media organizations, leading to the reassessment of content and promotions for several Black, Hispanic, and Asian journalists. In a tight market, job-seekers can expect more emphasis on in-demand skills – video, podcasts, storytelling, trustworthiness – for traditional and social media.
- TECHNOLOGY SECTOR – AI and other automation continue to displace workers and industries. Artificial intelligence is a disruptive technology. Individuals should not seek to fight AI but work beside it. Thousands of jobs are being automated. According to a 2013 Oxford University study, nearly half of American jobs are at risk of being taken over by computers by 2033. Small businesses can leverage technology by empowering their employees to utilize AI where appropriate so that that technology is not viewed as a negative.
If individuals in the black community can empower themselves by understanding and acting on emerging trends, the future will be brighter for Black America in 2021.

To reach this panel of experts, please contact Dr. Green at drdarylgreen@gmail.com.

About These Panel Members:

Dr. Daryl. D. Green, DSL:

Owner with wife Estraletta of AGSM Consulting LLC, based in Tennessee. Professor and Dickinson Chair of Business at Oklahoma Baptist University. Retired from the U.S. Department of Energy in 2016, after 27 years as a senior engineer. Speaker and author of several books, including Job Strategies for the 21st Century, Small Business Marketing, and Marketing for Professionals.

Dr. Gloria Thomas Anderson:

Assistant professor of social work, North Carolina State University, and author of a CDC-recommended resource book for advance care planning called The African-American Spiritual and Ethical Guide to End-of-Life Care. She works extensively with healthcare and hospice organizations on implementing equitable healthcare decision-making strategies that include advance care planning (ACP) and end-of-life (EOL) care options for African-American communities.

Caesar Andrews:

Professor and Distinguished Chair in Media Ethics and Writing, Reynolds School of Journalism, University of Nevada, Reno. A former editor for Gannett Co. at newsrooms in Florida, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania, New York, and Detroit.

Betty H. Blackman:

Nurse, Knoxville, Tenn. Owner of Health Spectrum Worksite Solutions, which provides health and safety training and consulting. The past executive director of People Empowering People Project (PEPP), which raises health awareness within the community. Consultant for corporate and private organizations.

Dr. Trina Jackson:

an Associate Professor in the School of Business, Logistics and Entrepreneurship at Ivy Tech Community College in Northwest Indiana; U.S. Army veteran; doctorate dissertation was on “Community Response to Veterans Overcoming Barriers to Education.” Continuum of Care organization focused on homelessness in Northwest Indiana.

Media Contact

Dr. Daryl D. Greendrdarylgreen@gmail.com+1 (865) 719-72395322 Lance Drive Knoxville, TN 37909https://darylgreen.org/

Source : AGSM Consulting LLC
March 8, 2021
Hoping to Save Businesses During COVID-19, OBU MBA Offers Marketing Assistance Across the US

Being a college poised to help businesses grow and offer marketing assistance to business owners around the globe, The Paul Dickinson College of Business of OBU has made available novel marketing assistance to business organizations. Dr. Daryl D. Green, along with his MBA students, made this happen through research and class assignments. This has been successfully done even when COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on many businesses and affects their revenue. Dr Green and his current crop of OBU MBA students are providing marketing consultation to 16 organizations across the United States this semester despite the Covid-19 impact.

Therefore, at Oklahoma Baptist University, Dr. Green, DSL, Business Professor, has used his class assignments to build a cadre of graduate and undergraduate students that can offer marketing assistance across the globe.

“Our MBA students have managed to take theories from the classroom to assist organizations with their marketing problems. This is because OBU believes theories must be practiced and concretized if we are going to have reasonable achievements, help businesses, mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on businesses and achieve the essence of education, which is to help their society,” said Dr Green.

However, it is a fact that the MBA students under the tutelage of Dr Green have done the research and this action to help businesses in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic and their own personal challenges. As Paul Dickinson College of Business of OBU is duly established to always give students tools that they can use today, not just tomorrow, Dr Green and his MBA weren’t discouraged with Coronavirus pandemic outbreak but instead continued to research through class assignments, peer-review and other academic activities to help the MBA students turn theories into reality and help businesses across the globe.

Dr. Green, professor of this group of MBA students, used a class project to help local communities struggling during Covid-19. Having done professional engineering management, he knows the value of practical experience for his graduate students. In 2016, Dr. Green retired from the Department of Energy, where he worked as a senior engineer for over 27 years.

Below is a highlight of the Paul Dickinson College of Business MBA students and their supervisor who contributed to the assignment:

Caption: Devan Costa-Cargill provided marketing assistance to Swirling Arrow Pack and Harness Waterford, California.

Devan Costa-Cargill, who is an OBU MBA Student, provided marketing assistance to Swirling Arrow Pack and Harness Waterford, California. She is an entrepreneur and teacher. After obtaining her Bachelor in Sociology from University California Santa Cruz, Devan entered the public-school system, specifically Special Education.

Caption: Nick Hostetter provided marketing assistance to The Barn Athletics in Choctaw, Oklahoma.

MBA Student Nick Hostetter provided marketing assistance to The Barn Athletics in Choctaw, Oklahoma. Hostetter is the Customer Service Manager for APMEX Inc. and has been with this organization since 2017. From 2016 to 2017, he was an Operations Supervisor for AB InBev. He was a Logistics Supervisor for corporate Love’s from 2013 to 2016 where the team he oversaw was responsible for over one billion dollars in fuel deliveries per year.

Caption: MBA Student Jocelyn Martinez used her marketing skills outside of the US with The Nouva Agency in Monterrey, N.L, Mexico.

MBA Student Jocelyn Martinez used her marketing skills outside of the US with The Nouva Agency in Monterrey, N.L, Mexico. Martinez is from Mexico. Currently, she is a Senior Student-Athlete at Oklahoma Baptist University, pursuing a BBA in Management and Marketing with a passion for Digital Marketing Analytics.

Caption: MBA Student Jason Proctor provided local marketing assistance to Wallace Avenue Baptist Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

MBA Student Jason Proctor provided local marketing assistance to Wallace Avenue Baptist Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma. Proctor is the Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU). He is originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Click to Download the Full Press Release

Caption: Dr. Daryl D. Green, DSL, Business Professor, has used his class assignments to build a cadre of graduate and undergraduate students who can offer marketing assistance across the globe.

For more information about this story, please contact Dr. Green at daryl.green@okbu.edu or 405-585-4414.

About Paul Dickinson College of Business

The Paul Dickinson College of Business is part of Oklahoma Baptist University. This qualified and Christian-based education is addressed to those who want to pursue a bachelor degree in business. The university provides the skills needed by the business graduates in contemporary professional careers as a leader. The business degree programs of the Oklahoma Baptist University are accredited and acknowledged by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

For more information on the Paul Dickinson College of Business at OBU, visit www.okbu.edu/business.

November 12, 2020
The Disruptive Nature of COVID-19: Researchers Suggest New Faculty Model

The coronavirus situation has led to disruptive changes in the academic workflow of students in universities and colleges. With an ongoing volatile market, higher education has been impacted immensely with a direct connotation about underachieving and unprepared pass outs from these educational institutes. This has also propagated stark declining numbers in college enrolments and projections and surveys across the United States point at as much as 450,000 drops in students in years beyond 2025. Previous research, undertaken by Harvard professor, DR. Clayton Christensen also states that in the scope of organizational sustainability in educational institutes, disruptive changes and innovation will lead to 50% of 4,000 colleges and universities in the country to go bankrupt in the next 10 to 15 years.

Dr. Daryl D. Green and Dr. Jack McCann suggest a new faculty model to infuse student-centered learning the midst of disruption in higher education. Their research examines a new faculty model that includes an entrepreneurial mindset to stimulate innovation and creativity in the constant, changing environment in higher education. In researching the current crises in higher education, this paper describes a set of strategic implications that will aid faculty wishing to create sustainability education programs.

Caption: Dr. Green and Dr. McCann bring more than 50 years of corporate experience to academia.

Higher education is under tremendous pressure due to market disruption. In fact, economic pressures are forcing higher education to make drastic decisions especially strategic vision, curriculum, hiring, and vision. Furthermore, many people are questioning the value of higher education with growing pressures centered on the merit of post-secondary education against student debt and job readiness. In addition, businesses, government officials, and the general public complain about the number of unprepared college graduates produced by today’s colleges and universities. According to a Pew Research study, 61% of Americans believe that the higher education system in the United States is going in the wrong direction. Dr. Clayton Christensen, who has done extensive research on organization sustainability and disruptive innovation, conveyed doubt about the future of traditional universities; he has argued that in15 years from now half of US universities may be in bankruptcy. Dr. Green argues that the status quo isn’t enough: “Disruption is all around us. Gen Z students are demanding more value for their education. I’m big on practical experience and engaging our students with innovating thinking. That behavioural is what we are talking about in an entrepreneurial mindset for faculty.

Caption: Dr. Green pushes his business students to utilize the entrepreneurial spirit in assisting local businesses with difficult market problems.

In their article, Dr. Green and Dr. McCann argue that today’s faculty must transform academic institutions with an entrepreneurial mindset. Dr. McCann adds, our research focused on a new faculty model that includes an entrepreneurial mindset to stimulate innovation and creativity in the constant, changing environment in higher education. In analyzing the current crises in higher education, our paper describes a set of strategic implications that will aid faculty wishing to create sustainability education programs.”

To view this research, please visit at https://www.arjonline.org/american-research-journal-of-business-and-management/volume-6.  

For more information about the researchers, you may contact Dr. Green at daryl.green@okbu.edu or 405-585-4414

About the Researchers

Dr. Green is the Dickinson Chair and an Associate professor in the College of Business at Oklahoma Baptist University. The Paul Dickinson College of Business is part of Oklahoma Baptist University. This qualified and Christian-based education is addressed to those who want to pursue a bachelor degree in business. The university provides the skills needed by the business graduates in contemporary professional careers as a leader. The business degree programs of the Oklahoma Baptist University are accredited and acknowledged by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs. He is a former US Department of Energy program manager with over 25 years of professional management experience. He is a nationally syndicated columnist, where he writes in the areas of leadership, decision-making, and culture. Dr. Green has a doctoral degree in Strategic Leadership from Regent University.

Dr. Jack McCann currently serves an appointment at Union College in Barbourville, KY, as Associate Professor in Marketing and Business. He teaches courses in management, marketing, and other business topics. Prior to joining Union College in August of 2018, he served an appointment as Dean of the School of Business at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN, from 2008-2014. His research interests are leadership, management, marketing, emerging markets, sustainability, and corporate strategy and ethics. He also has many years of management experience in operations, business ownership, consulting, and customer service.

For more information on this research or these researchers, please contact Dr. Green at www.okbu.edu/business.

October 9, 2020
OBU Business College Researchers Share Google Findings During Covid-19

In spite of Covid-19, a team of Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) Business College Researchers publish a new Google findings. One thing that makes it unique is the fact that it was conducted in MKTG 5523 in OBU Dickinson College of Business MBA Program. The new research is titled The Disruptiveness of Technology: A Case Study Analysis of Google Dominance has been published on Management and Economics Research Journal, a reputable journal that is widely known around the world. Dr. Daryl D. Green, who led a team of researchers on this project is the Dickinson Chair of Business professor at Oklahoma Baptist University in the Paul Dickinson College of Business.

It is a fact that the research has shown that the world needs a digital footprint to manage and follow what goes on in the world, especially at a time like this when a disruptive force, such as COVID-19 scourge, is ravaging the world. This disruptive force usually makes many companies and businesses experience difficulty carrying out their usual business, as they tend to experience dearth of data. Hence, with this research, Dr Daryl Green and his co-researchers have been able to provide a practicable response to any technological disruption that might arise in future. Researchers who contributed to this research include Dr. Daryl D. Green, Katherine Custer, Anna Johnson, Jesse Loyd, and Joshua Pettijohn. In addition, Dr.Xanshunta L. Polk (professor at King University-TN), and Heidi O’Donnell (Liberty University doctoral student) also provided additional research assistance to this scholarly project.

Dr. Daryl D. Green, DSL

Ms. Katherine Custer

Mrs. Anna Johnson

Mr. Josh Pettijohn

Dr. Xanshunta L. Polk

Mrs. Heidi O’Donnell

With this new research published, Oklahoma Baptist University, Business College now adds Google research to list of scholarly accomplishments that the institution is widely known for. In addition, this academic expedition critically researched and established numerous facts that show that having a working digital footprint is now a must for every company that wants to keep growing and extending their business reach whenever there is natural disruption.

While speaking on the essence of the research, Dr. Green said, “As we deal with disruptive forces like the Covid-19 situation, organizations are forced to operate remotely. Having a digital footprint is essential. Google is an industry leader in the digital economy. Our research contributes to this digital knowledge.”

Furthermore, as Google is known to be an industry leader in the digital economy, the research has contributed a reasonable pool of knowledge to the existing body of knowledge on data management that exists on Google. The research has also shown that researchers and businesses can make use of data available on Google as the platform continues to lead the way when it comes to managing and providing useful data.

To view this research, please visit https://merj.scholasticahq.com/article/13518-the-disruptiveness-of-technology-a-case-study-of-google-dominance.

For more information about the researchers, you may contact Dr. Green at daryl.green@okbu.edu or 405-585-4414

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About Paul Dickinson College of Business and Researchers

The Paul Dickinson College of Business is part of Oklahoma Baptist University. This qualified and Christian-based education is addressed to those who want to pursue a bachelor degree in business. The university provides the skills needed by the business graduates in contemporary professional careers as a leader. The business degree programs of the Oklahoma Baptist University are accredited and acknowledged by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs.

Dr. Green is the Dickinson Chair of Business professor at Oklahoma Baptist University in the Paul Dickinson College of Business. In 2016, Dr. Green retired from the Department of Energy, where he worked in the Environmental Management Program for over 27 years. Dr. Green is also an award-winning writer with several textbooks and reference books.

Katherine Custer is a 5th grade teacher and high school basketball coach. She graduated with her Masters of Business Administration in December 2019.

Anna Johnson is a recent MBA graduate from Oklahoma Baptist university. In March 2020, she left the manufacturing/supply chain business after many years in sales, purchasing and customer service. Anna is looking to take her new degree and pursue a career in teaching at the collegiate level.

Joshua Pettijohn, while attending OBU was recognized on both the Dean’s List and the President’s List for academic excellence. He was also recognized as a Captain of OBU’s team for his leadership capabilities. After graduating in 2018 with a Bachelor’s in Business Administration he continued to further his business education earning his MBA in 2020 while working for a National Fortune 500 company.

Dr. Polk is an Associate Professor in the School of Business, Economics, and Technology at King University in Tennessee. She has over 15 years of professional management and marketing experience. Dr. Polk’s research focuses on consumer behavior, marketing management, innovation, corporate social responsibility, and persuasive communication.

Heidi O’Donnell currently works as a project manager for Oak Ridge Associated Universities in STEM workforce development. She is a forward-thinking professional with 20+ years of leadership experience. Heidi served four years in the United States Marine Corps in the Presidential Support Unit of HMX-1 and Headquarters, Marine Corps. She received her M.B.A. with a concentration in Management and Marketing from Lincoln Memorial University, and is currently pursuing a D.B.A. in Strategic Management at Liberty University.

August 30, 2020
New Collaborative Research Leads to Solutions for Liberal Arts Colleges During Covid-19

A research on the sustainability in the scope of higher education led by Dr. Daryl D. Green, Dr. George Taylor III, and Mrs Violet Ford has opened many windows of opportunities. The study is known as ‘Cultivating the Entrepreneurial Mindset In Today’s Small Liberal Colleges & Universities’ outlines the importance of restructuration in colleges and universities with an entrepreneurial mindset for long-term sustainability.

The coronavirus situation has led to disruptive changes in the academic workflow of students in universities and colleges. With an ongoing volatile market, higher education has been impacted immensely with a direct connotation about underachieving and unprepared pass outs from these educational institutes. This has also propagated stark declining numbers in college enrolments and projections and surveys across the United States point at as much as 450,000 drops in students in years beyond 2025. Previous research, undertaken by Harvard professor, DR. Clayton Christensen also states that in the scope of organizational sustainability in educational institutes, disruptive changes and innovation will lead to 50% of 4,000 colleges and universities in the country to go bankrupt in the next 10 to 15 years.

The outcome of these regressive changes has hit independent liberal art colleges the most. Traditional institutes are also at risk of getting negatively impacted by disruptive change. This brings about uncertainty and unpredictability in various verticals of the market, innovation, industry, and more. “Cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset will infuse innovative thinking to difficult problems and provide new revenue streams to universities that utilize student tuition as the principle income for these academic institutions,” Dr. Green notes. Fellow research scholar, Mrs. Ford adds, “At the heart of entrepreneurship is pursuing opportunities with a vision. Traditional organizations will keep creativity within the confines of the classroom; whereas, entrepreneurial driven educational organizations will cultivate and develop creativity throughout an educational system. Thus, the presence of institutional entrepreneurial practice is needed to both create business models and actively participate in implementing changes that can drive transformational change.”

The study leads to a fundamental understanding of the importance of entrepreneurial objectives among students. Dr. Taylor further suggests, “Early considerations of the entrepreneurial mindset within liberal art colleges show that liberal arts students were encouraged to develop characteristics fundamental to entrepreneurial thinking….Although the entrepreneurial mindset is receiving increased attention that encourages students to think in new, innovative ways while improving their life skills, there is little evidence to support its widespread consideration and implementation at a significant level within traditional liberal arts colleges.” Ford, Green, and Taylor hope that the current paradigm among academic institutions will change. The collective effort by the scholars will further inculcate ideas of founding a more sustainable education system that is flexible and progressive.

To view this research, please visit https://tinyurl.com/y3wydycz

For more information about the researchers, you may contact Dr. Green at daryl.green@okbu.edu or 405-585-4414

July 29, 2020