Planning Effectively

ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges
EdInfo Number 98-15

Planning models often involve convening a group of college administrators, support staff, faculty, students, and other interested parties to participate in discussions that ultimately guide the formation of a strategic plan. The group typically engages in several activities.

Developing a vision: Collaborates to create a brief vision statement. College leaders must help articulate that vision for everyone in the organization.
Creating a planning baseline and indicators of progress: Analyzes where the college is at present, developing ways to measure movement toward the vision.
Elaborating on the mission: Articulates a central purpose, an explanation of why the institution exists. Completed vision and mission statements are submitted to the college population at large for input and revision.
Analyzing customers and their needs: Asks direct questions through focus groups and surveys to identify the expectations of different college constituents.
Identifying critical processes and trends: Critical processes are those six to 10 steps the college uses to achieve its mission and meet the expectations of constituents. Trends are those human, financial, environmental, technological, market, and regulatory forces that affect the college and its mission.
Assessing the college's strengths and weaknesses: Explores future opportunities and the ways in which strengths and weaknesses may affect the college's goals for the future.

This information was reported in ED 409 955, "Doing Effective Strategic Planning in a Higher Education Environment," by James B. Rieley. A full-text copy of this document may be obtained from the ERIC Document Reproduction Services, 7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110, Springfield, VA 22153; or call (800) 443-ERIC.

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