Planning Overview

Planning Overview

There are three major phases to developing South Puget Sound Community College’s Strategic Plan and Assessment:  Phase I  – Preparation for the planning process; Phase II – Implementation of the planning process; and Phase III – Closure and follow up on the planning process.

PHASE I: The first phase of planning focused on the development and initial review of the planning process to make sure met the colleges’ planning goals (particularly in relation to accreditation) and had feasible timelines, participation and resources. Phase I was completed in early January.

PHASE II: The second phase of planning involves a series of planning meetings, including one with the Board of Trustees and four meetings with the Strategic Planning and Assessment Team.  The time schedule for this phase is January 15-May 15, 2010.  The major activities in those meetings include:

Board of Trustees Meeting (Feb. 4, 2010)
The focus of this meeting is the review of the present status and likely future directions of South Puget Sound Community College. The outcome was the development of  (1) a set of planning assumptions that will serve as the foundation for the Strategic Plan and Assessment, and (2) a set of priorities that should be addressed in the strategic planning and assessment process and resulting plan. The Board reviewed information sources that included student engagement, accreditation-related materials, effectiveness indicators, marketing assessment, and community focus group results.

Planning and Assessment Team Meeting #1 (Feb. 24, 2010)
The focus at this meeting was to review and any needed revision of the college’s mission, vision, and core values statements.  The team also considered the outcome of the Board of Trustees meeting.

Planning Team and Assessment Meeting #2 (March 18, 2010)
This meeting will focus on the core themes that will be the primary organizers for the Strategic Plan and Assessment in terms of action areas in order to address the college’s mission, vision, and core values.  These core themes will then, in turn, serve as the basis for a limited number (3-6) of strategic objectives that will serve as key directions for the college over the next 3 years.

Planning and Assessment Team Meeting #3 (April 7, 2010)
This meeting will focus on developing operational actions in terms of both planning and assessment to accomplish each of the college’s strategic objectives developed at Meeting #2.  This will provide an action plan for each objective and associated indicators of achievement; check the realism and feasibility of each objective and associated indicators of achievement; link the action plans and the accountability processes; and provide the basis for the follow-up that will be needed to ensure successful implementation of the Strategic Plan and Assessment.

Planning Team and Assessment Meeting Meeting #4 (April 28, 2010)
This meeting will focus on reviewing the overall draft Strategic Plan and Assessment as a purposeful, systematic, integrated, comprehensive, and doable plan to guide the direction of the college over the next 3 years.  A second focus of the meeting will be on the follow-up action areas that should be considered to ensure the successful implementation of the Strategic Plan and Assessment. 

PHASE III: The third phase of planning will occur during May 15-June 30, 2010 and will primarily involve the President and Strategic Planning and Assessment Steering Committee.  During this phase the Strategic Plan and Assessment report will undergo a final review by the Steering Committee based on input from the last Planning and Assessment Team meeting.  Dr. Copa will deliver a final Strategic Plan and Assessment report to President Gerald Pumphrey by May 31, 2010.