Strategic Plan

The strategic plan is designed to provide the college board of trustees, administration, faculty and staff with strategies and activities to accomplish the board-adopted college mission and goals. It also provides a means to assess mission and goals accomplishment. The plan is intended to span the period of 2005-2010. The plan’s assessment activities/tools will be reviewed and updated annually.

College Mission

As a comprehensive, open door community college, South Puget Sound Community College is committed to providing quality educational opportunities to meet the intellectual, academic, vocational, career, personal, and developmental education needs of its students and members of the community.

College Goals

The college strives to:

  • Attract and retain a diverse student population and support their success.
  • Offer flexible, accessible programs and services responsive to the changing employment and educational needs of the community that foster successful transition to educational and career advancement.
  • Develop and use the financial, intellectual, technological and physical resources necessary to create and sustain high quality programs and services.
  • Foster an environment in which students, staff and faculty of diverse cultures, ages, sexual orientations, races, religions, abilities, ethnicities and nationalities work and learn in an atmosphere of intellectual freedom and mutual respect.
  • Value and nurture its human resources by supporting communication, a sense of community and well-being, personal and professional development and recognition.
  • Be an educational resource for the community and partner with local, regional, national and international organizations.

Hawks Prairie Center Mission

South Puget Sound Community College’s Hawks Prairie Center extends the college’s mission and serves the diverse needs of the community by providing increased access to select college courses, programs, and services; customized training; and professional development in traditional as well as alternative formats and styles.

The Strategic Plan--Activities and Assessment

For each of the above college goals, Key Performance Measurements have been established. Key performance measurements include assessment activities and tools as indicated. Annually, assessment activities and tools will be reviewed and modified as necessary to facilitate successful ongoing assessment of each goal and key performance measurement.

Goal: To attract and retain a diverse student population and support their success.
Key Performance Measurement--ACCESS: The degree to which the community participates in the college’s programs and services:
Assessment Activities/Tools:
  1. Enrollment allocation/targets and service level
  2. Time/location/delivery method enrollment
  3. Hawks Prairie Center enrollment/activities
  4. Participation of diverse student populations
  5. Local high school graduate participation
  6. Student financial aid and employment services
  7. International education enrollment
  8. Physical resources availability
Goal: To offer flexible, accessible programs and services responsive to the changing employment and educational needs of the community that foster successful transition to educational and career advancement.
Key Performance Measurement--TRANSFER EDUCATION: The degree to which the College prepares students to pursue upper-division college and university programs
Assessment Activities/Tools:
  1. Student academic achievement (Academic Profile)
  2. Transfer ready/transfer rate
  3. Academic performance of transferring students to other colleges and universities
  4. Participation rate and success of diverse student populations
  5. Articulation agreements/transfer policies
Key Performance Measurement--PROFESSIONAL-TECHNICAL EDUCATION: The degree to which the college prepares students for immediate employment:
Assessment Activities/Tools:
  1. Program enrollment
  2. Student academic achievement (Academic Profile)
  3. Participation rate and success of diverse student populations
  4. Completion rate
  5. Job placement
  6. Wage rate
  7. Employer satisfaction
  8. Analysis of community employment needs
Key Performance Measurement--BASIC SKILLS EDUCATION: The degree to which the college prepares students for college-level coursework, to complete high school, to learn English or for self-sufficiency:
Assessment Activities/Tools:
  1. Program enrollment
  2. Basic skill achievement
  3. Student transition to college-level courses
  4. Student/graduate satisfaction with instruction and support services
Key Performance Measurement--CUSTOMIZED EDUCATION: The degree to which the college meets the customized, continuing and economic development needs of the community:
Assessment Activities/Tools:
  1. General enrollment
  2. Time/location/delivery method enrollment
  3. Contracts negotiated/funds generated
  4. Client satisfaction with instruction and support services
  5. Student satisfaction with instruction and support services
  6. Community education/training needs
Goal: To develop and use the financial, intellectual, technological and physical resources necessary to create and sustain high quality programs and services.
Key Performance Measurement--INSTITUTIONAL EXCELLENCE: The college’s commitment to excellence, integrity, stewardship and accountability:
Assessment Activities/Tools:
  1. Community and external perception/satisfaction
  2. Institutional and specialized accreditation
  3. External audits and internal controls
  4. Student/graduate satisfaction with instruction and support services (Community College Survey of Student Engagement) (CCSSE)
  5. Student academic achievement (Academic Profile)
  6. Student progress & persistence
  7. Campus facility quality survey
  8. Unit cost analysis
  9. Student-faculty ratios
Goal: To foster an environment in which students, staff and faculty of diverse cultures, ages, sexual orientations, races, religions, abilities, ethnicities and nationalities work and learn in an atmosphere of intellectual freedom and mutual respect.
Goal: To value and nurture its human resources by supporting communication, a sense of community and well-being, personal and professional development and recognition.
Key Performance Measurement--CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT: The College’s commitment to a diverse, enriching, safe and supportive learning and working environment:
Assessment Activities/Tools:
  1. Sabbatical leave completion and satisfaction
  2. Advanced degree achievement
  3. Professional development activities and satisfaction
  4. Student satisfaction including diverse student populations (Community College Survey of Student Engagement) (CCSSE) (Academic Profile) Assessment of campus environment
  5. Assessment of Diversity Action Plan
  6. Affirmative Action Plan achievement
  7. Campus crime
Goal: To be an educational resource for the community and partner with local, regional, national and international organizations.
Key Performance Measurement--COMMUNITY OUTREACH: The degree to which the college provides leadership and participates in the economic, social and cultural enrichment of the community:
Assessment Activities/Tools:
  1. Educational and community partnerships
  2. Cultural enrichment activities/events
  3. Community education program assessment
  4. College staff community involvement assessment
  5. Study abroad and exchange activities participation
  6. Socioeconomic benefits to the community