The CLEF program may face a significant overhaul next school year.
Beginning in August 2026, CLEF students may be introduced two new courses that replace three existing ones. Plans also include eliminating the Interim Term investment class and launching an accelerator program for budding entrepreneurs.
The changes aim to broaden accessibility, deepen the curriculum and better prepare students for diverse career paths, according to CLEFprogram director Dr. Ed Harris.
“We’re constantly looking to increase accessibility to students,” Dr. Harris said. “We do not offer honors or AP classes, and we’re not going to do that because we want to have on-level classes that everyone can take.”
At the core of the changes is the restructuring of the program’s foundational classes. The current Fundamentals of Business and Finance course will be split into a new Personal Finance class. This course will cover essential topics such as budgeting, saving and credit management, while integrating practical skills such as Excel modeling and data analysis.
Dr. Harris emphasized that the class is designed for universal appeal not just business-oriented students.
“This class won’t just be of interest to business majors but to everyone,” Dr. Harris said. “It will be designed for everyone to take regardless of your future interests.”
Beyond financial basics, the curriculum will emphasize teamwork skills, including communication and collaboration. Students will build resumes, distinguish between corporate and college formats, and practice interviewing techniques. The capstone project involves creating a financial model for a chosen career path, assessing its feasibility and challenges.
The other two existing courses, Principles of Finance and Investing for the fall semester and Principles of Personal Finance and Business Management in the spring, will merge into a single Fundamentals of Business and Investing class. This consolidation incorporates elements from the soon-to-be-discontinued Interim Term Principles of Investing course, which has traditionally been limited to about 30 students over three weeks in January.
“Having a full semester class will allow us to really dive deeper into topics and analysis of investing like supply chain, marketing, or business operations, which we did not fully have time for in the Interim Term class due to the short time frame,” Dr. Harris explained.
This shift frees up Interim Term for other opportunities such as traveling abroad or other elective courses.
Meanwhile, CLEF faculty plan to explore offering specialized interim courses focused on the program’s themes, though details remain under discussion.
Looking ahead, a summer trip to Japan in June 2026 will immerse CLEF students in global business practices. Starting in January 2028, this international experience will become an interim term option as an alternative to traditional investing coursework.
“I truly believe the CLEF program at Kinkaid is incredibly valuable because it offers such hands-on, real-world learning experiences that you simply can’t find elsewhere,” said senior Elizabeth Marshall, the 2025-26 CEO of the Kinkaid Student Investment Managers board. “Students have unparalleled opportunities, like actively managing and controlling a portion of the school’s investment portfolio, along with outstanding entrepreneurship initiatives.”
Marshall, who is currently in the program, urged peers to participate fully.
“Anyone fortunate enough to have the chance to join the CLEF program absolutely should and make the most of every moment,” she said. “It’s a great way to build lifelong knowledge and confidence in leadership, finance and innovation.”
Harris noted that the program’s evolution stems from feedback and a commitment to student choice.
“The biggest goal is to provide programs and classes that are meeting student interests,” he said. “We know students have to make hard choices because students can’t take every available class Kinkaid has to offer, but at the same time we want to make sure students have the opportunity to take classes and participate in activities they are interested in.”
