Standard 2: Planning, Resource Allocation, and Institutional Renewal Some Things to Consider Andrea A. Lex, Ph.D. Dean, Planning, Assessment, & Institutional Research Prince Georges Community College Largo, MD

The Standard An institution conducts ongoing planning and resource allocation based on its mission and goals, develops objectives to achieve them, and utilizes the results of its assessment activities for institutional renewal. Implementation and subsequent evaluation of the success of the strategic plan and resource allocation support the development and change necessary to improve and to maintain institutional quality.

Plan Set measurable goals Objectives to achieve the goals Allocate sufficient resources Assess progress

Plan Set measurable goals Objectives to achieve the goals Allocate sufficient resources Assess progress

Otherwise …

Wants Pressures Terrific Ideas

Lets unpack the standard … In the service of the institutional mission...

Ongoing Planning Is there a written strategic plan? Do members of the institutional community know it exists? Do they smirk when you ask them about either the plan or the planning process? Is its approach holistic? Is there evidence that there is an ONGOING planning PROCESS ?

Ongoing Planning Is there evidence that planning is supported at the highest level of the institution? What individual and/or unit is responsible for keeping the planning embers burning? – Where is that individual/unit positioned within the organizational chart? What institutionalized organizational structures and venues exist to facilitate an ongoing and participatory PROCESS? Do the entities charged with the responsibility of leading the planning process have the appropriate authority to do so?

Clearly Articulated Goals Are there any? Do they logically tie back to the institutions mission statement? How widely are they disseminated? How deeply do they permeate the institutional culture? What institutionalized process is in place to develop and review them? How inclusive and transparent is this process? Quality always trumps quantity.

Washington & Jefferson Strategic Goals (May 2007) Enrich the Intellectual Culture of Washington & Jefferson College. Develop the Whole Student Both Inside and Outside the Classroom. Bring the World into W&J and W&J into the World. Fortify the Sense of Community at Washington & Jefferson College. Secure the Future of Washington & Jefferson College.

Objectives to achieve the goals Do the objectives make sense given the goals? Are they clearly articulated? Well understood across the institution? Are they measurable? Reasonably achievable? Quality always trumps quantity.

Activities/Strategies Are there strategies in place to achieve the objectives? Do they make sense? Are the strategies being implemented? Is progress being tracked? Is progress regularly reported?

Washington & Jefferson Goal: Fortify the Sense of Community at Washington & Jefferson College – Clarify and strengthen our proud identify as a liberal arts college and a teaching institution. – Invest in the retention, recruitment, and support of our top-notch faculty and staff to sustain positive morale. – Improve campus communication and planning so that all are informed and work toward a common goal. – Build bridges to our alumni community.

Resource Allocation Has the discussion of what distinguishes a strategic initiative from an operational necessity occurred? Is there a regular and systematic process that attempts to provide reasonable resources to facilitate achieving intended outcomes? Are the number of strategic initiatives to be achieved each year reasonable given available financial and human resources? Have the initiatives been prioritized? Has the potential impact of multiple-year initiatives been taken into consideration? Are these processes transparent and participatory?

Assess Results Is there a systematic assessment process in place? Are appropriate data routinely collected and systematically analyzed? Are the results of planning-influenced decisions readily accessible (e.g., dashboards, annual reports)? Do the results achieved match the intended outcomes stated in the objectives and goals? Were the objectives/strategies appropriately resourced?

Utilizes Assessment Results Are the assessment results communicated? Is there evidence that assessment results are being used for improvement? Are there mechanisms and opportunities that allow for these improvements to be made (mid-course corrections)?

Supports the Change Necessary to Improve & Maintain Institutional Quality Can members of the institution articulate progress or improvements that can be tied back to the influence of the planning process? Do the outcomes achieved bring the institution closer to achieving its goals and mission?

Feedback to the Institution Accomplishments – Progress, innovations Clearly articulated resource allocation process Regular reporting of progress Suggestion – Meets the standard but you might want to consider …. Adjusting the budget calendar Providing additional opportunities for input Publishing progress/results on the Intranet

Feedback to the Institution Recommendation – Improvement advised to continue to meet the standard Results of planning and resource allocation processes neither regularly nor clearly communicated across the institution. Variability of regular ongoing institutionalized Requirement – Institution does not comply with the standard Lack of evidence that …

Standard 2: Planning, Resource Allocation, Institutional Renewal, Institutional Resources, Administration Planning must be rooted in an institutions mission Planning is a VERB Planning must be thoughtful, deliberate, and systematic Planning is participatory Planning strives to find a balance between external expectations and institutional aspirations Planning must be predicated on analytical and evaluative information Planning must be used for institutional decisions, including resource allocation Planning and its results must be reviewed and renewed

Ima Gonna MY PLAN

Plan Set measurable goals Objectives to achieve the goals Allocate sufficient resources Assess progress