Strategic Partnership Boosts Pro Cooperative, BVU
A pact linking BVU and Pro Cooperative, a business leader with 21 sites across Northwest Iowa, will strengthen both organizations for the benefit of the region through tuition grants and discounts.
Buena Vista University’s Strategic Partnerships initiative, aimed at growing businesses while benefiting employees of those enterprises, has aligned with its first Strategic Partner in Pro Cooperative, a full-service cooperative offering a wide range of products and services in agronomy, grain, feed, seed, energy, and more.
“Pro Cooperative is excited about this partnership with Buena Vista University,” says Pro Cooperative Vice President of Operations Chris Cosgrove. “This relationship will enhance our mission of building lasting partnerships by being proactive, progressive, and professional. The opportunity to enroll in these programs offered by BVU will strengthen our workforce and the communities we serve by developing current and future leaders of Pro Cooperative.”
BVU’s Strategic Partnerships offer partner organization employees, spouses, and dependents grant funding for tuition for students attending courses on the Storm Lake campus. Additionally, discounts per credit hour are available to students taking BVU’s convenient online/hybrid undergraduate instruction or the Organizational Leadership graduate program courses.
BVU professors and staff members are also available for training programs, workshops, and more should Pro Cooperative seek those services and expertise.
“By becoming a Strategic Partner, those associated with Pro Cooperative, through BVU’s online and hybrid courses, can remain at home building their family farm enterprise while earning their degree in an affordable and convenient manner.”
Katie Smith, Director of Strategic Partnerships
Pro Cooperative, based in Pocahontas, serves producers and their communities in 12 Northwest Iowa counties, maintaining sites that stretch from Estherville to Manson.
“This is such an exciting time for BVU and Pro Cooperative, and we’re so pleased to see the Strategic Partnerships effort spring to life,” says Katie Smith, BVU Director of Strategic Partnerships.
Pro Cooperative, according to Cosgrove, is keenly interested in programming and majors arising within BVU’s new Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Resource Management. Courses and activities led by faculty within the Institute can play a role in the continuing education of Pro Cooperative employees and their families.
“By becoming a Strategic Partner, those associated with Pro Cooperative, through BVU’s online and hybrid courses, can remain at home building their family farm enterprise while earning their degree in an affordable and convenient manner,” says Smith, who notes the agreement is free to Pro Cooperative.
“We’re delighted to be able to offer opportunities to the people of Pro Cooperative which will help their business interests and, as an outgrowth, strengthen the communities in which they live, work, and raise their families,” Smith says.
For more information on Strategic Partnerships and BVU partner opportunities, please visit bvu.edu/strategic-partnerships or contact Katie Smith at SmithK@bvu.edu.