More than 400 adult learners came to Pomona College last month for the annual Western Credit Union National Association Management School (WCMS), a two-week summer program for credit union employees from the 13 Western states seeking higher education for their careers.

WCMS was founded in 1960 on the UCLA campus and moved to Pomona in 1972. This year’s semester, which ended with a graduation ceremony at Little Bridges on July 25, was the 51st semester hosted by the college.

James D. Likens, professor emeritus of economics at Pomona College, directed the WCMS program from 1972 to 2015. Under his leadership, WCMS quadrupled its enrollment, became accredited, and implemented a curriculum that develops both “head and heart.” Likens recruited many popular college faculty to co-teach with him at WCMS, including Martha Andresen, Kevin Dettmar, Michael Kuehlwein, Nicole Weekes, and Michael Steinberger.

Likens’ contributions to the college’s mission of inclusion, excellence and education are diverse, says Steinberger, associate professor of economics and dean and chief academic director of WCMS.

The average age of WCMS students is 47, and about half of them do not have a college degree, Steinberger says. The school is rated by the American Council on Education (ACE), which recommends college and MBA/Ph.D. credits for program completion.

These adult learners attend WCMS three summers in a row, completing projects between each semester. Many use the credits they receive from the school and go on to earn a bachelor’s degree, Steinberger says.

“This school is truly changing the lives of many of its students,” adds Steinberger. “This program has a real impact on their lives through education, and these students are confident that they can impact their communities through their work for the credit union.”

The curriculum is designed to teach students how to better manage their credit unions and serve their members and communities.

In addition to Pomona College faculty, faculty from Claremont Graduate University, USC Marshall School of Business, and UCLA Anderson School of Management teach courses, as do attorneys and executive-level credit union professionals and consultants.

Areas of study include behavioral psychology, human resources and organizational behavior, business law, communications, corporate strategy and innovation, credit union history, philosophy and ethics, economics, finance and accounting, and business management.

WCMS learning outcomes include the ability to apply strategic management principles to the management of financial institutions and to strategically understand and respond to the economic environment.

Annette Pixley was one of this summer’s 108 graduates and one of seven to graduate with honors. After 11 years on the marketing team at Oregon-based InRoads Credit Union, Pixley was recently promoted to director of digital solutions.

Given what she’s learned over the past three summers at WCMS and the projects and work she’s completed in the months in between, “I truly believe my promotion was due in part to my WCMS experience,” she says. “The three-year WCMS program provided me with the opportunity to delve deeper into all facets of credit union management and made me a more well-rounded, knowledgeable and confident leader.”

Likens, who titled his 2017 memoir Head and Heart: My Life in Credit Unionsis very proud that the management school continues to change people’s lives in such a short time.

As Pomona College’s largest and longest-running summer program, says Steinberger, “WCMS showcases the college’s work toward its strategic vision, particularly as it relates to non-traditional adult learners and access to education.”