Summary
This report investigates the organization, development, implementation, and monitoring of institution-wide strategic plans at large, multi-campus community colleges. This project describes how institutional planning staff engage stakeholders, track progress, and measure the successes and shortcomings of strategic planning initiatives. Department heads at community colleges develop targeted KPIs and metrics to address and meet strategic goals on an annual basis.
Key observations from our research:1. Strategic planning committees develop three- or five-year strategic plans by engaging with faculty and staff members, soliciting feedback from community leaders, and prioritizing key areas of improvement.
2. Contacts organize strategic plans into broad, long-term goals, targeted supporting strategies, and department-specific key performance indicators (KPIs).
3. Departmental heads implement strategic initiatives and submit annual monitoring reports to institutional effectiveness and planning staff.
4. Planning staff reform strategic plans and goals annually to adapt to changing environmental pressures and successes and shortcomings of the previous year’s progress.
5. Contacts emphasize effective monitoring practices and open communication channels with internal and external stakeholders for proper strategic plan implementation.