1. Mesa Community College
Overview of MCC’s Department Planning Process
Revised

2. College Strategic Plan
College Operational Plan *
Operational Plan Academic Affairs
Operational Plan Administrative Services
Operational Plan Student Affairs
Operational Plan President’s Office
Departmental plans
Departmental plans
Departmental plans
Departmental plans

3. Levels of Planning Departmental Planning –
All college departments and units develop and prioritize initiatives and related needs.
Operational Planning –
Synthesis of plans from Instruction, Administrative Services, Student Services, President’s Office for coming year.
Strategic Planning –
College-wide; on-going; multi-year

4. Departmental Planning: 3 years
Initiatives
(prioritized)
Related Strategic Priority(s)
Related Needs

5. What is an Initiative? A goal for the department/unit
Reflects growth or change, not a continuation of department’s function
Focuses the department on where it is headed
Helps accomplish the strategic priorities of the college

6. What is not an initiative?
A need is not an initiative
(e.g., hire a research assistant, increase a supply budget)
A continuation of what the department does is not an initiative
(e.g., continue to maintain buildings and grounds)

7. Thinking About Initiatives
What is happening external to the college (e.g., in the community, with technology, at the district office) that might affect what we do in the future as a department?
What is happening internally at the college (e.g., changing student demographics, declining enrollment) that might affect what we do in the future as a department?

8. Thinking About Initiatives
Where are we headed as a department?
How do we want to grow and or change?
How do our department’s initiatives help accomplish the strategic priorities of the college?

9. Examples of Initiatives
Plan and implement faculty and staff training for the new student system.
Expand _____ services at the Red Mountain Campus.
Explore and pursue grant funding opportunities to move toward a “green campus” environment.
Develop new programs and delivery methods suited to the “boomer” population.

10. How many initiatives? NOT TOO MANY!
Try to limit the number of initiatives to reflect your department’s highest priorities for the coming year(s), and to what can actually be accomplished.
Ideally, limit the number of initiatives to between 5 – 10.

11. 3-year plan
Plans will typically be most detailed for first year in the cycle and least detailed for last year.
3-year cycle allows departments to phase in new initiatives and the resources needed to support them.

12. Linking Planning & Budgeting
Planning is not budgeting – it is driven by initiatives, not by needs
Planning allows departments to show where they are heading and what it will take to get there.
Planning drives budget decisions
Staffing
Operational
Capital
Facilities

13. Planning Due Dates
TBD

14. The On-line Planning Form