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While cooperatives play an important role in a variety of economic sectors, most professionals in the legal and business sectors have only a passing familiarity with the cooperative business model and how it compares with other business and organizational structures. The Center is reaching out to the University of Wisconsin Law and Business schools to build relationships that, over the long run, will foster opportunities for teaching and learning about cooperatives within those disciplines.

This year, Center staff will conduct a training session on cooperatives for third year law students participating in the UW Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic. At the clinic, students with a background in business law provide legal and business planning advice to entrepreneurs under the supervision of faculty and private sector lawyers. The collective entrepreneurship inherent in cooperative start-ups is often not recognized and supported by services geared toward entrepreneurial support. The goal of the training session is to provide an overview of how cooperatives are used in a variety of sectors, and the benefits and challenges that characterize cooperative development. Law students will gain a better understanding of the cooperative model and the situations in which it might support an entrepreneurial effort effectively.

The Center, in a joint program with the Wisconsin School of Business, held the first Cooperative Executive Leadership Program in June 2-10. Fifteen cooperative executives from across the country and economic sectors participated in an intensive 4.5 day residential program held on the campus of UW-Madison. Participants rated the program, which was taught by both School of Business faculty and Center staff, very highly. In addition to the quality of the instruction and content, participants also valued the interactions with other successful cooperative executives. However, the program was not offered this year due to insufficient enrollment; program cost and scheduling were major factors.

The faculty at the School of Business has expressed strong interest in continuing to collaborate with the Center. Program ideas continue to be explored for 2012, and a shorter program is under consideration. Building these relationships may also help foster other teaching and outreach possibilities with the School of Business.