For one block a year, CC students have a chance to study economics and business with a man who has plenty of first-hand experience in both: CC Trustee Van Skilling ’55. Skilling’s resume includes 27 years of executive roles, at conglomerate TRW and as chairman and CEO of information services firm Experian.

Skilling teaches the class Business Policy and Strategy, usually in block two, with Professor Larry Stimpert.

In some ways, a Skilling class is just like many others in the economics department. There’s lively discussion and review of last night’s reading. There are case studies of real companies, and more discussion on what makes them succeed or fail. Last year, students on a field trip put questions to the president, CFO, and CEO of Frontier Airlines.

But in other ways, this class is different, because Skilling brings his perspective as a successful businessman who’s learned plenty of economic lessons by experiencing the pain of decisions gone awry and the fruits of correctly managed efforts. “I can bring real-world experience to the classroom, and a few good war stories,” Skilling says.

“	Van Skilling ’55 brings his perspective as a successful businessman who’s learned plenty of economic lessons by experiencing the pain of decisions gone awry and the fruits of correctly managed efforts. ”

For example, when the economy has fallen on hard times, standard economic theory says it’s a good time for companies to batten down the hatches. But in practice, says Skilling, it’s more complicated. “That might be a time when competition is weakened. That might be a great time to take the risk of putting yourself in greater debt and expanding.”

Having nationally prominent businessmen teach classes isn’t an easy feat to pull off with their busy schedules, but that’s where the time-efficient Block Plan comes in. “There’s no way I could do it otherwise,” Skilling says. “There’s no way I could be there for a semester, but I can be there for a month.”

Skilling started co-teaching at CC in 1992 — for a day the first time, then a week, later 10 days, and eventually two weeks. By 1999, it was up to a full block. “It’s the most enjoyable thing I do all year,” he says. “I really find it stimulating to be in the classroom with CC students.”

Assistant Professor John Stinespring (foreground, left) discusses strategy for buying and selling stocks, currencies, and other financial instruments with Troubh Hedge Fund partner John Troubh ’79 during a 2004 field trip. Behind them, Money, Banking, and Financial Markets class members Kaloyan Kapralov ’05, Glenn Carlson ’06, Astrid Brouillard ’06, and Scott Weaver ’06 watch real-time trading and learn about indicators (such as Federal Reserve Bank announcements, company earnings reports, and news on current events) that cause the markets to move.

Photo courtesy of John Stinespring

Field Study: Economics in Its Natural Habitat

by Peter Rice ’05

Every May as part of a class called Money, Banking, and Financial Markets, a dozen or so Colorado College business and economics students don coats and ties and head to the Big Apple. Their goal: to see the people and places that matter in the global financial system. Visits range from the Federal Reserve Bank and New York Stock Exchange to various investment banks and hedge fund institutions.

But this isn’t your average gawker visit: “Instead of just touring institutions, students get lectures from practitioners and an opportunity to see their day-to-day work,” says economics Professor John Stinespring, who organizes the annual trip. “This is CC’s opportunity to introduce students to Wall Street so they learn about potential careers for economics and business students, all while making valuable CC contacts.”

“	Students get … an opportunity to see [practitioners’] day-to-day work … This trip provides a fantastic view of the application of economics that would not be possible without the Block Plan.”
	– John Stinespring

The group meets with CC economics alumni who’ve launched successful careers on Wall Street. “Many students aren’t sure what they can do with economics degrees,” Stinespring says, “and this trip provides a fantastic view of the application of economics that would not be possible without the Block Plan. With three to four meetings a day, the students enjoy the intellectual immersion for which the Block Plan was designed.”