Bushnell University and Lane Community College’s Small Business Development Center Launch Undergraduate Credit for Small Business Management Program

EUGENE, Ore. – Starting June 1, small business owners who completed the Lane Small Business Development Center’s Small Business Management Program can earn up to 22.6 undergraduate college credits from Bushnell University. This translates into a first full term of Business education and additional elective credit towards an undergraduate degree, worth up to $11,000.

Small Business owners from around the region participate in this two-year mini business program to get up to speed on practical, key concepts and tools that they need to successfully operate their businesses. The program is part of the Lane Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Lane Community College with campuses in Eugene, Florence, and Cottage Grove, Ore.

The agreement was signed at the recent Small Business Management Program Celebration by Dr. Shelley Tinkham, VPAA, Lane Community College and Dr. Reed Mueller, VPAA, Bushnell University. Mueller noted that Bushnell “appreciates the opportunity to partner with the SBDC in support of local entrepreneurs and is pleased to support their studies in the Small Business Management program.”

Small business owners who have completed the program can earn transfer business and elective credit at Bushnell University once they enroll in a bachelor’s degree program. In the last 5 years, 70 business owners completed the two-year cohort.

According to Lane Small Business Development Center Director, Dr. Dan Collins, “The Lane Community College Small Business Management Program is our core training program with over 30 years of success training small business entrepreneurs across Lane County.”

Bushnell University offers a fully online Bachelor of Business Administration and a 4+1 dual degree — bachelor’s in business and MBA graduate degrees — which business owners can consider as possible next steps in their professional development.

“This is a win-win for the SBM graduates and for our business school, as these business owners will get a chance to get a jumpstart on a college degree by completing the SBDC program,” said Dr. Latrissa Lee Neiworth, Dean of the School of Business, Leadership & Technology at Bushnell University.

The credit calculation for the SBM students was determined based on the current student contact hours for the program as indicated by the Oregon Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) as well as a review of the curriculum taught in the two-year sequence.  For additional information on the transfer program, contact JaiLeigh Wiren, Senior Admissions Counselor, at 541-349-5284 or jwiren@bushnell.edu.