The Business and Community Alliance provides a forum for Colorado College and local business and community leaders to discuss issues of common interest.

Upcoming B&CA Events...What is the B&CA?...How was the alliance formed?...Impact on Colorado Springs...Facts about Colorado College 

Upcoming B&CA events

B&CA events for the 2004-05 academic year will resume in September -- check back for updates. Send a request to be added to B&CA announcement list.

Recent B&CA events:

"The Value of International Education" 
Featuring Solomon Nkiwane '64, CC professor of political science; Kitren Fischer '03, CC anthropology major who has studied in Costa Rica and Guatemala; and economics major Elena Imaretska '04, CC international student from Sofia, Bulgaria. 

“What's Ahead for the U.S. Economy?”
Featuring David R. Malpass, a 1976 CC graduate.  Chief global economist at Bear, Stearns & Company, Inc., Malpass is a regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal and a frequent public speaker and television guest.  Malpass is a 1976 CC graduate.
Co-hosted by the Greater Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation and the Colorado College Business and Community Alliance.
Malpass gave the H. Chase Stone Lecture on the CC campus the same day -- read a news release.

“Business Ethics:  Is That An Oxymoron?”
Featuring A. Marvin Strait.  Well-respected in the Colorado Springs business community, Strait is a nationally known CPA and former chairman of the A.I.C.P.A.  Strait currently serves as an expert witness in accounting cases throughout the U.S.  Click here to read a news release.

“Embracing the Future: CC, the Springs, and Economic Development”
Featuring CC President Richard F. Celeste, two-term Governor of Ohio, former U.S. Ambassador to India, and director of the Peace Corps.
Co-hosted by the Greater Colorado Springs Economic Development Corporation and the Colorado College Business and Community Alliance.
Read a transcript of his remarks.

“Market-Led Development:  Does It Work?” 
Featuring C. Peter Timmer from the University of California in San Diego.  Timmer’s talk focused on the role that business and markets play in reducing poverty by promoting growth in the Third World.

“The Political Vision of Islam” 

Featuring CC Professor of Religion David Weddle, chair of the CC Department of Religion, a noted author, lecturer, and scholar of world religions, particularly religions and politics of the Middle East.

“Sustainable Development: Concepts & Applications in Colorado” 
Featuring Professor of Economics Walt Hecox and students from his Sustainable Development Course.  The class had just completed study in the San Luis Valley.  

“Hockey Night,”  at the World Arena, CC Tigers vs. Wisconsin Badgers

“Olympic Fever,”  featuring Lloyd Ward, CEO of the United States Olympic Committee and Alison Dunlap '91, Olympian and World Mountain Bike Champion.

“Perspectives on Downtown,”  featuring Mayor Mary Lou Makepeace, political science professor Robert Loevy, assistant professor of sociology Eric Popkin, and Buck Blessing, CEO of Griffis-Blessing, Inc.  (Held in conjunction with Downtown Partnership)

Ken Salazar  '77 , Colorado Attorney General
Scott Schoelzel '80, Janus Funds manager 

What is the Business and Community Alliance?

The Business and Community Alliance of Colorado Springs is a group of local citizens who would like to broaden the role of Colorado College in Colorado Springs.  As small-business owners, bankers, and corporate community leaders, they have joined together to strengthen ties and demonstrate the mutual reliance of each to the other.  In a sense, they are "ambassadors" for community relations.

Members of the Alliance bring the business community to the campus, letting it see firsthand what the college does and how it impacts the Colorado Springs community.  Most often this takes place as breakfast events that highlight faculty, special campus visitors and college departments that have community appeal. These events are great opportunities for business people to network with each other and college faculty and administration -- and a great way for the college to hear directly from local business leaders.

How was the Alliance formed?

In the early 1980s, when then-CC-President Gresham Riley wanted to highlight Colorado College to the business community, he formed the Corporate and Business Advisory Committee.  This group of 20 faithfully invited co-workers and business associates to events, building the membership so that now the group has more than 650.

Today, a 23-member board directs the planning of the Business and Community Alliance.

The Impact of Colorado College in Colorado Springs
 

A significant contributor to local economics*

Since 94 percent of the students at CC come from outside El Paso County, almost $40 million of annual tuition income is imported.  Eighty-six percent of the annual gifts and endowment income received comes from out of state as well.

$32.4 million is spent to compensate employees of the college, and $42.4 million is spent in the local community for materials and services each year.

Each student spends an average $5,650 a year on personal purchases off-campus.

Over 5,000 conference participants, visiting alumni and parents spend an average of  $960 per visit at local hotels, restaurants and stores.

When the RIMS sales multiplier  (using all commercial categories) is applied to the import portion of the budget, the total impact of Colorado College on the economy of Colorado Springs is about $114 million.

While only 6 percent of students enter CC from within the Colorado Springs area, many graduating students stay in the Colorado Springs area.  Currently there are an estimated 2,060 alumni living in the Colorado Springs area.

*From a 1997 study conducted study by CC economics Professor William J. Weida.

A significant contributor to education

Colorado College is a highly ranked national liberal arts college, the only one in the Rocky Mountain region.  The quality of its undergraduate education is well-known, but CC also offers a master of arts in teaching (MAT) degree that draws mostly local teachers into its program.  Each year, the college graduates an average of 26 teachers from our MAT program, who then take jobs in our local school districts.  The enhanced quality of education for the children in our community is a direct benefit of the college.  The college also presents numerous conferences and workshops for the community to improve K-12 education in the region.  See a related Business Journal article.

A significant contributor to the cultural and entertainment community

Visiting performers, concerts and art exhibits are a few ways CC has added value to the cultural community.  Public lectures by faculty and prominent guests stimulate intellectual discussions.  KRCC, a National Public Radio affiliate, is operated by the college and largely funded by community donations, providing top-quality entertainment and news around Southern Colorado.  And don’t forget CC sports!  The World Arena in Colorado Springs hosts CC hockey, a favorite local pastime.  The arena was built with the help of college and alumni contributions.  Soccer, football, basketball and other sports are also great community entertainment.

A significant contributor of service and leadership

The college’s Center for Community Service coordinates service projects around the city for more than 1,400 student volunteers -- nearly 72 percent of CC students.  Students  staff the college’s soup kitchen, the only one in the United States operated by a college.   They also help disadvantaged youth, teach English as a foreign language, assist teachers in local schools and counsel troubled teens.  In addition, faculty, staff and administrators are active in other civic and religious organizations, including the Chamber of Commerce, Citizens Goals and Urban League.

Political leaders have emerged from Colorado College.  Mike Bird, a college professor, has served in the state legislature.  Robert Loevy, an expert on presidential elections, helped redesign Colorado Springs’ city council system and was the architect of Colorado’s first presidential primary.  Diana DeGette, a 1979 alumna, represents the state in the U.S. House of Representatives;  Ken Salazar '77 serves as Colorado's State Attorney General.

Facts about Colorado College

Enrollment:  1,952 students from 49 states and 25 foreign countries.

Average range of SAT scores:  1240-1380

Tuition (for 2002-2003 fiscal year):  $25,968.  Room and board:  $6,480.  Total:  $32,448/year.  Approximately 74% live in on-campus housing.

Financial Aid:  43 percent of all students qualify to receive need-based aid.  Of those, 100 percent receive some form of aid.  Average freshman award:  $17,500/year

Endowment Value:  $380 million

800 employees, including faculty/administration/staff

Student to faculty ratio:  10:1.

2,200 local alumni and 5,000 statewide

Operating Budget:  $88.8 million for fiscal year 2001-02

(Statistics are for the 2001-02 academic year unless otherwise noted)