Nashville State… Partnering with Retail Employers to advance Retail Management.

RETAIL MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE Employer Scholarship Program

“As the retail industry adapts to changing buyer behav-iors and expectations, retail operations will require a different kind of manager with higher-level skills and competencies.

The Retail Management Certificate Employer Scholar-ship Program provides Retail Employer with a focused, cost-effective , higher-education component for develop-ing their high-potential entry-level and incumbent retail associates into that next-generation Manager. “

Dean Karen Stevenson Business & Applied Arts Nashville State Community College

The changing face of retailing... As retailing becomes more complex with the changing buying behaviors of

consumers and the deployment of advanced technologies to meet their demands,

first-line and mid-level managers will require higher levels of knowledge, skills,

and competencies to manage a different set of operating processes and customer

issues to remain competitive and relevant in the marketplace.

Nashville State… Partnering with Retail Employers to advance Retail Management.

• Identify High-Potential entry–level

employees within incumbents and the

available workforce as soon as possible.

• Provide an enhanced educational and

management development program to

teach and instill the critical thinking and

communication skills that will be needed

for middle-managers in the new operating

models.

The New Approach

The New Challenge Retailers are being challenged every day to

integrate new technologies and customer

services to attract and retain “tech-savvy”

consumers demanding a different retail

experience.

To meet this challenge, new operating

models and processes will emerge requiring

first-line and mid-level managers to possess

higher level management skills and

competencies than required today.

Will require a different Retail Manager.

The new retail manager will not only train and coordinate employee activities,

inventory and merchandising processes but have visibility and access to make

supply chain movements to facilitate immediate customer service and satisfaction.

They will think outside-the-box to meet a compromised deadline, value diversity

and different ways of accomplishing routine tasks, and how to use a consultative

approach for diagnosing and mitigating a difficult supplier or customer issue.

Enabled by digitally-empowered consumers... Digitally empowered consumers have as much information about the products and

services they want and need as the retail associate. Today, they simply want the

retailer to locate the product within the supply chain, close the transaction and get

it into their possession promptly and efficiently in the manner of their

choosing….right now, picking it up at 5 p.m., or delivering it Wednesday at 9 a.m.

The New Workforce Today’s talent pool is made up of the same

Millennial/I-Generation thinking and attitudes

seen in digital-age shoppers and buyers. They

have a different attitude about work and

career development. Being prepared for

future opportunity is clearly a major, if not

the leading component in their decision to

choose and stay with an employer.

Nashville State… Partnering with Retail Employers to advance Retail Management.

The Retail Management Certificate’s 24 College Credit hour can be applied toward the Nashville State Associate of Applied Science degree in Business with a concen-tration in Marketing & Retailing.

with a program advisor to guide the employee-student through the college experience. Instructional formats: online, day, night, weekend classes, and employer cohorts.

Faculty and Formats

The Courses and Descriptions ORGANIZATIONAL BEHAVIOR (BUSN 2350) Studies the importance of understanding human relations in the workplace.

SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS FOR BUSINESSemphasizing business problem solving and communication designed to support the achievement of basic computer skill proficiency.

BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS (ADMN 1310) A study of the principles, practices, and re-view of grammar and mechanics of various types of effective written and oral business communications.

PRINCIPLES OF MARKETING (BUSN 2380) Presents the practices and basic principles of marketing from origin to the consumer. Topics include the marketing mix, buyer behavior, organization, planning, channels of distribution, and promotion.

PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT (BUSN 2330) Studies how a business organization works and the relationships of the people within the organization. Topics include managerial functions, motivation of employees, the decision-making process, communication, responsibility, authority, and personnel management.

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (BUSN 2340) Studies principles of managing human resources including laws relating to the HR function, planning, job analysis and specifica-tions, employee selection, training and development, performance evaluations, salary determination, benefits, labor relations, and current techniques used to improve produc-tivity and morale.

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT & BUDGETING (BUSN 2325) Fundamental principles of accounting and finance related to business operations including accounting and finan-cial terms, financial statements, accounting ratios, budgeting, forecasting, time value of money, investment decisions, and break-even analysis.

RETAIL MANAGEMENT (BUSN 2387) Acquaints students with the nature and scope of retailing and its management. Topics include the history and development of retailing, managing retail operations, financial planning, merchandising, location analysis, store design and layout, and its impact on the economic environment.

• Human Relations - Workforce Development

• Problem Solving with Business Technology

• Effective Business Communications

• Retail Marketing and Merchandising

• Fundamentals of Leading & Managing

• Managing Human Resources

• Financial Management/Budgeting

• Retail Strategies and Operations

The Areas of Study

The Knowledge & Skills • Critical Thinking, Analysis and Evaluation

• Problem Solving, Proper Diagnosis

• Basics of Decision Making, Policy Setting

• Leading, Influencing, Delegating

• Meeting Facilitation, Consensus Building

• Customer Experience, Service Orientation

• Value of Change, Continuous Improvement

• Objective and Measurement Setting

• Human Relations and People Skills

• Budgets, Accounting as Management Tools

• Role of Ethics and Values in Success

• Customer Satisfaction and Meeting Needs

• Logistics and Supply Chain Fundamentals

• Value of Diverse Thinking and Skill Sets

The Retail Management Certificate Employer Scholarship Program is an adjunct, 8 course, college-credit curriculum integrated into the employer’s management development and training operation. It is specifically designed to provide the employer with a higher education component for attracting, developing, and retaining promising entry-level and incumbent employees and equipping them with the business, critical thinking, and management skills they will need as a first-line and mid-level manager in the new world of retailing. Under the program, the Employer pays the course tuition fee and the employee pays for the admission fee and course textbook.

The Employer Program New first-line and mid-level managers are usually incumbent and entry-level employees who have the ability, drive, and aspiration to lead. They possess many of the following characteristics:

• Open to new and different assignments

• Receptive to feedback and instruction

• Get along well with all types of people

• See mistakes as a learning experience

• Dependable and reliable work ethic

• Flexible and adaptable

• Attracted to goals and achieving results

• See change as a positive activity

• Comfortable working under deadlines

• Listen well with interest and eye contact

The Program Candidate

NSCC 32-17 NSCC is a TBR institution, AA/EEO employer, and does not discriminate against students, employees, or applicants for admission or employment on the basis of race, color,

religion, creed, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, age, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, or any other legally protected class

with respect to all employment, programs and activities sponsored by NSCC. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Human Resources, Human.Resources@nscc.edu,

120 White Bridge Road, 615-353-3305, The Nashville State policy on nondiscrimination can be found at www.nscc.edu/legal/non-discrimination-policy. Printer: In Office 120 White Bridge Rd.

Nashville, TN 37209. Quantity: 25, © 2017, NSCC.

Why Employees Stay... The 2017 Retention Report by the Work Institute shows that the #1 reason talented employees decide to remain with an employer after 18 months is not compensation or benefits but a clearly defined career development pathway that will provide more job satisfaction and promotion opportunities.

“As we move forward, we need an incumbent and onboarding workforce with the critical thinking skills to manage the advanced technologies, customer service, and supply chain requirements demanded by an evolving marketplace.” Nashville State’s Retail Management Certificate program is a key component in helping us develop this new manager.”

Kristen Townsend Recruiting & Training Manager

Kroger Nashville Division

How the Employer Program Works The Employer RETAIL MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE Scholarship pro-gram works as follows...

• Annually the retail employer offers high potential entry-level and incumbent employees the opportunity to apply for admission into the Nashville State Community College RMC Program.

• The employee/student will pay the NSCC Admissions Fee and declare their major as the Retail Management Certificate Program.

• With admission, the employee/student registers for up to 2 of the eight online certificate courses per academic term.

• The Employer is invoiced for the course tuition fee and the employee/student are responsible for the course textbook and other required material.

• Upon successful completion of the 24 credit hour curriculum, the employee/student will be awarded Nashville State’s Retail Management Certificate and the WAFC National Retail Management Certificate.

The Employer Program Benefits The RETAIL MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE program...

• Generates more quality applicants with a management development scholarship model vs. higher education tuition-reimbursement benefit model.

• Helps retail employers identify, assess, develop, and retain high-potential incumbent and entry-level employees for mid-level management positions.

• Allows employers to focus on their continually changing industry-specific customer experience activities and process training requirements.

• Provides a more cost-effective, accredited Community College based management development curriculum for management candidates vs. the limited, more expensive consultant-based annual training seminars.

• Helps current and prospective managers become more confident, focused, and engaged in the employer’s business.

• Provides graduates with a deeper understanding of the retail business and industry, both strategically and operationally.

The RMC Graduate* The following is a profile of the RETAIL MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATE graduate…

• 55% Female, 45% Male

• 52% 37 Years Old or Older

• 83% Full-Time Employees

• 71% Supervisors/Managers

• 60% Have 10+ Years Service

• 80% Complete the Program in Less Than 2 Years

• 28% Complete the Program in 1 Year

• 76% Pursue Additional Higher Education Degrees

• 56% Are Promoted or Acquire Increased Responsibilities

*Data provided by the League for Innovation and the WAFC.

A Nashville State Community College offering from:

The Division of Business & Applied Arts in collaboration with the League for Innovation in the Community Colleges, the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC), the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), and endorsed by the Tennessee Retail

Association, Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association, Tennessee Hospitality & Tourism Association.

120 White Bridge Road Nashville, TN 37209

Phone: 615.353.3400 Email: RMC@NSCC.edu

www.NSCC.edu