ELEMENTS OF PLANNING

Strategic vs. Tactical and Operational Strategic Plan – Long range planning for the institution as a whole. Institutional goals and objectives are specified and an action plan is developed. Tactical Plan – Short-term planning that is unit specific that contributes to the attainment of goals in the strategic plan. Operational Plan – Day to day operations or functions of a unit. Serves to identify how to function efficiently and to the highest quality.

Example: Office of Quality Enhancement Strategic - Goal 1 Access – There will be an annual increase in retention rates. Tactical Plan – Conduct student focus groups to ascertain possible obstacles to sustaining enrollment. Develop point of contact surveys for student support services to assess quality of services. Operational Plan – Survey solution in use does not provide adequate analysis for reports. Contact peer institutions to determine solutions used. Conduct comparison analysis to determine the best solution.

Current Assessment Cycle Annual Planning Cycle Sept - July Academic Course Level Assessment Academic/Non- Academic Program Level Assessment Academic/Non- Academic Unit Level Assessment

All assessment/ evaluation data from the previous year is due. Planning meetings conducted by Executive Council and Unit Managers to review previous year’s data and plan for current year. Unit Planning Meetings Action plans for the current year within each unit are due. Unit Summations Institutional Summary Report Institutional Summary Report is disseminated.

Institutional Effectiveness at AC EXTERNAL INPUT Institutional Benchmarking CCSSE IPEDS Closing the Gap LBB Performance Measures THECB Accountability System THECB Reports External Licensing Agencies Accreditation EXTERNAL INPUT Institutional Benchmarking CCSSE IPEDS Closing the Gap LBB Performance Measures THECB Accountability System THECB Reports External Licensing Agencies Accreditation INTERNAL INPUT Community Input Standing and Ad Hoc Faculty Committees Institutional Data Program Advisory Committees Student Surveys Needs Assessment INTERNAL INPUT Community Input Standing and Ad Hoc Faculty Committees Institutional Data Program Advisory Committees Student Surveys Needs Assessment Unit and Program Purpose and Objectives

Strategic Planning Process THE BEGINNING OF THE PLANNING CYCLE INVOLVES: Review Mission/Vision/Core Values Environmental Scan SWOT and Gap Analysis Develop Goals/Objectives Develop Implementation Plan THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF PROGRESS INVOLVES: Review of Data and Needs Assessment by the Intuitional Planning and Evaluation Council (IPEC) Academic and Non-Academic Annual Assessment and Evaluation THE END OF PLAN REVIEW INVOLVES: Goal completion Inclusion of Additional Achievements Continued Applicability of Goals and Objectives (assessment and evaluation is continuous) PRE-PLANNING FOR NEW PLAN: Develop and review preliminary findings Evaluate success of the process Review recommendations from IPEC