I am happy to inform you that an outpouring of intensive collaboration, creativity and plain hard work has transformed the raw concept of a "Business Boot Camp" into an exciting Winter Term program that will give students one course credit combined with a career-propelling experience. To that end we believe that MIDD CORE will enjoy broad appeal and add substantial value to the educational experience at Middlebury College.

MIDD CORE – Creativity, Organization, Risk and Entrepreneurship
Prepare for paths less traveled

MIDD CORE, an intensive four-week immersion program during the Middlebury College Winter (January) Term, offers students who are curious about business, social organizations and entrepreneurship an opportunity to gain critical skills and experience through an attractive alternative to majoring in economics. Its curriculum is a blend of traditional classroom work (teaching, readings and assignments); personal interaction with highly-successful guest professionals; experiential and collaborative learning; group projects; public speaking; written communication; and organizational and leadership challenge experiences.

MIDD CORE’s only prerequisite is a thirst for knowledge and personal growth; sophomores, juniors and seniors from all majors are welcome. Students will emerge from MIDD CORE having built a strong foundation in the processes of organization, leadership, entrepreneurship and risk. They will also receive confirmation that exciting careers await them and that they have real opportunities for securing rewarding post-graduation employment without sacrificing studying subjects they care most about in the belief that majoring in economics is the only route to securing a good job

MISSION STATEMENT
MIDD CORE offers a mix of memorable activities and experiences that will build a strong foundation in the processes of creativity, organization, risk-taking, risk-management and entrepreneurship as they apply to the many career paths Middlebury College students follow.

MESSAGE TO STUDENTS, PARENTS AND THE ON-CAMPUS COMMUNITY
Students who work hard and play hard during these four weeks will emerge from MIDD CORE having built a strong foundation in the processes of organization, leadership, entrepreneurship, communication and risk management without having to sacrifice studying subjects they care most about for the sake of securing a good job.

• MIDD CORE is a powerful differentiator that will set Middlebury College students apart from other liberal arts graduates and help them compete for positions with premier companies in diverse sectors;
• A different way of thinking that will help students recognize and act on opportunities; and
• Exclusive access to mentors, alumni and career-launching internship opportunities reserved for MIDD CORE alumni.

MESSAGE TO OFF-CAMPUS AUDIENCE
Students will emerge from MIDD CORE armed with skills and experience that set them apart from their peers:

• Concrete training and experience that will translate directly to better productivity during internships and post graduation careers;
• Student-led initiatives and projects that will immerse them in what it takes to manage, lead and succeed in initiatives and organizations
• Network-expanding exposure to successful businesspeople and entrepreneurs;
• Extensive work on writing, speaking, collaborating, and teaming; and
• Intensive introduction to the process of developing any initiative into an operating entity: planning, creating, quantifying, executing, monitoring and communicating.

KEY ELEMENTS
Creativity and innovation, organization, risk, entrepreneurship, communication and leadership

CURRICULUM
MIDD CORE will be conducted through collaboratively taught, experiential-based tutorials, case study sessions, individual classes and seminars. Through this process students will begin to understand the process of building and sustaining organizations and taking and managing risk in collaborative, team-based sessions led by experienced professionals. The curriculum will be guided throughout be a weekly curricular framework that seeks answers to a unifying question, “How can individuals and organizations make a distinctive impact and deliver superior performance over the long term?”

While these activities will include some traditional classroom teaching, readings and assignments, the curriculum will emphasize a flow of guest professionals, experiential and collaborative learning, group projects, oral and written communication, public speaking and organizational and leadership challenge experiences of the sort many companies offer.

WEEKLY THEMES

• Initial Partial Week, Create a Memorable Experience – built on Jim Collins, Good to Great and its sequel, Good to Great and the Social Organizations
• Week 1, Introduction to MIDD CORE -Creativity, Organization, Risk and Entrepreneurship
• Week 2, CORE in Business Entities
• Week 3, CORE in Social Entities
• Week 4, Lessons from Real Life

FIVE CURRICULAR ACTIVITY PILLARS

• Writing
• Speaking
• Collaborating
• Teaming
• Engaging group projects and delivering “user-generated content”

WEEKLY CURRICULAR FRAMEWORK
Overarching question: How can individuals and organizations make a distinctive impact and deliver superior performance over the long term?

• Analyzing risk and exploiting opportunity
• Articulating the vision: core values and purpose; the envisioned future
• What we are good at and passionate about; what drives our economic or resource engine?
• Understanding why and how a culture of disciplined people, thought and action produces great outcomes
• Building a coherent strategic concept; executing it with relentless consistency
• Building and sustaining momentum – creating a flywheel
• Monitoring performance – applying diagnostic tools, quantifying outcomes and calibrating success
• Communicating to stakeholders