Bakersfield Business Executives Share their Knowledge with CSU Bakersfield Students

Bakersfield business executives are sharing their knowledge with students enrolled in Enterprise College, a three-week course on the essentials of economics that is under way at California State University, Bakersfield.

The course, offered by CSUB and the Kern High School District, is open to high school students entering their senior year, and also to college students.

Among business leaders speaking to the class are Jeff Green of Grimway Farms (July 2), George Martin of Borton Petrini & Conron law firm (July 9), and Morgan Clayton of Tel-Tec Security Systems (July 12). The class will also tour State Farm Insurance Cos. on Wednesday (July 3).

Enterprise College is a win-win-win course, said Abbas Grammy, chair of the economics department at CSUB. "Students who successfully complete the course are credited for the high school senior year college prep economics course," Grammy said. "They also earn five quarter units of college credit transferable to any accredited college or university. The course, which is listed as Economics 100, Economic Way of Thinking, also satisfies the lower division general education requirement in social sciences at most colleges and universities."

Terri Stanton, director of instruction for the Kern High School District, said she was pleased that Enterprise College's curriculum satisfied the high school district's requirements. "This is a real plus," she said. "Not only will high school students satisfy their high school requirements, but also they'll satisfy college general education requirements. It's an excellent program."

Students learn basic economic concepts, theories and policies through a unique combination of in-class instruction, discussion with business leaders and visitation to private or public enterprises. Students meet from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. The course began on June 24 and runs through July 12. Additionally, participants will spend three afternoon sessions meeting with local public officials and business leaders, and visiting local businesses to see how the economic system actually works.

The course will be taught by Grammy and Lynn Bailey, an economics teacher at Stockdale High School.

The $100 registration fee covers tuition, a class photo and a program T-shirt. Tuition assistance is available to eligible students, Grammy said.

Corporate sponsors for Enterprise College are Bank of the Sierra, Holiday Ford Lincoln Mercury in Shafter, Sanitation Services Co., San Joaquin Bank and State Farm Insurance.

The Enterprise College Advisory Committee is comprised of Grammy, Stanton, Janis Smith, owner and manager of Holiday Ford Lincoln Mercury; Heather Phillips, president of Junior Achievement of Bakersfield; Michael Olague, vice president and manager, Bakersfield Commercial Banking, Bank of America; and Michael Chertok, CSUB vice president of University Advancement.

For more information about Enterprise College, please call the CSUB Economics Department at 661/664-2460.

Media Contact: Mike Stepanovich, 661/664-2456, mstepanovich@csub.edu