From Zero to Sixty in 18 Months

Oregon State University

Dave King • Associate ProvostChris LaBelle • Director

UPCEA’s 98th Annual Conference

Boston, MA

Eight directors in 10 years

Frequently a messy breakup

Lots of empty calories…

The Solution?

Step 1: Find a safe environment…

Like a small, navigable harbor…

Step 2: Break the code

Step 3: Raise the water… (slowly)

Step 4: Rescue the wayward projects

A philosophy:

Methods are many, principles are few,

methods always fail, principles never do.

Principle #1 - Credit is not noncredit

Principle #2 – Lead with real examples

Principle #3 – It’s about finding the right team players

The Players.

The ideal team player will seek out new challenges

Smart, risk takers who believed we could succeed...

...and are committed to the vision.

The Team.

Principle #3 – It’s about finding the right players

And then more like football…

Ultimately, every player on the team matters…

Don’t forget to define what success looks like…

Make friendship a fine art. — John Wooden

The Results.

• Team of 2 to 23

• 100+ new programs (from 3)

• 500k+ in grants & foundation money

• Off-campus partnerships and orders from big business

• March = 285 enrollments (record monthly total)

• More signature CE programs @ OSU

• Growing awareness of our unit

• Team ownership & emerging leaders

• Website traffic up considerably

• Programs that are changing lives for our audience

The Open Seas.

Stay focused…

Or there are consequences …

Your culture will continue to change…

But your principles shouldn’t.

Because we’re not selling empty calories…

What’s your role?

Sometimes risk is necessary

But try to land on both feet...university mission and priorities.

Contact Information

dave.king@oregonstate.edu

chris.labelle@oregonstate.edu