A Feasibility Study of the Re-Establishment of the Small Business Institute at Marymount College of Kansas
Authors:   , Ahlvers Carol 
Published: February 2023

One of the major issues facing Marymount College of Kansas is the provision for a more total relevant experience along with its academic courses for its business administration students. Marymount College, also, wants to give continued service to the Salina, Kansas, community in which it is a member. The purpose of this research study is to establish the extent of impact of the re-establishment of the Small Business Institute Program at Marymount College of Kansas on prospective Salina small business clients, on prospective Marymount College junior and senior business students and on prospective Business and Economics professors at Marymount College. This study includes the review of the past experiences and present views of former students and former small business owners who participated in the Small Business Institute at Marymount College 1975-1976. In obtaining data relevant to the study, the author relied on surveys of former students and former Salina area small business owners who participated in the Small Business Institute Program at Marymount College during 1975-1976; to prospective Marymount College juniors and seniors in business, prospective Salina small business clients, and prospective Marymount College Business and Economics faculty instructors and advisors; to the personal interviews with people involved in and concerned with the Small Business Institute Program at Marymount College; and to a review of literature in the field and area of the Small Business Administration and its Small Business Institute Programs. During the semesters of 1975-1970, Marymount College of Kansas was under contract with the Small Business Administration of Wichita, Kansas, to provide management counseling to community small business owners through The Small Business Institute Program. During three semesters, thirteen students participated in the Small Business Institute Program with seven contracted small business clients. The Small Business Institute Program was de-emphasized, discontinued from the college's curriculum after this time due to other instructional and faculty demands. To solve the problem of Marymount College presently providing a more total, practical experience along with its academic offerings for its business administration, students and better serving the Salina business community, it was decided that a feasibility study is an effective method for solving the issue of the re-establishing the Small Business Institute Program at Marymount College. The conclusion reached by this study indicated the necessity for the Small Business Institute Program being re-established at Marymount College of Kansas. The individuals surveyed, people interviewed, and the author favor the re-establishment of the Small Business Institute Program at Marymount College being the end result of long-range academic and institutional planning with interested college personnel participating. Marymount College's long-range academic and institutional planning for the Small Business Institute Program must take into account institutional goals and objectives, faculty loads and availability, budgets, contracts with the Small Business Administration office, facilities, equipment, and available small business clients in the Salina community seeking managerial assistance.