May 2017
A Strategic Plan for Student Success: Strategic Planning Day Preliminary Results
FSCJ welcomed community members and College stakeholders for Strategic Planning Day on April 28, 2017, at the Advanced Technology Center. Much like the 2014 event, the purpose was to gather input to develop strategic goals for the College’s 2018-20 Strategic Plan. The morning session welcomed more than 60 community leaders and the afternoon hosted approximately 125 FSCJ faculty and staff members.
During the morning session, community leaders provided their perceptions of the College as it stands today and offered input on the outcomes they would like to see in FSCJ graduates as they enter the workforce, including:
1. Values of the Workplace: In this category, industry leaders described a need for employees to be ethical, responsible, trustworthy and open-minded. They also noted that they need employees who can work with others and who respect diverse opinions.
2. Professional Competence: Comments like “job preparedness,” “professionalism,” “professional competence” and “workforce readiness” were characteristic of this theme. This category also included comments noting a desire for graduates to have basic computer literacy skills.
3. Communication: When identifying general education competencies that they expected to see in FSCJ graduates, community partners most often identified a need for good communication skills, both oral and written.
4. Problem Solving/Critical Thinking: The second most commonly identified skill expected of FSCJ graduates is the need for employees to be able to think critically and solve problems.
5. Relevant Industry Experience: Finally, industry leaders expect our graduates to have the relevant industry experience and technical skills required to be productive employees.
In the afternoon session, faculty and staff identified the goals and strategies on which they believe FSCJ should focus for 2018-20, including:
1. Student Retention and Completion: Internal stakeholders identified the need to focus on several strategies designed to promote student retention and completion, including advising; student life skills, orientation and capstone courses; consistent classroom experiences (facilities and learning outcomes); understanding of diverse student experiences; active learning; pathways/roadmaps; wrap-around services; and financial support.
2. Institutional Efficiency and Climate: Also included in the internal stakeholder discussion was the need to improve institutional effectiveness and efficiency by: continually monitoring and improving the student experience; strengthening processes and communication; promoting transparency and stability; providing better data for decision-making; promoting professionalism and relationship building; and improving class scheduling.
3. Enrollment: Internal stakeholders included a number of strategies related to enrollment management as a focus over the next three years including recruitment; welcome and support for diverse student populations; ease of enrollment processes; marketing of programs; and communication of consistent and valid information.
4. External partnerships: Finally, internal stakeholders noted a continued need to create, strengthen and build on external partnerships by “telling our story,” placing students in internships and experiential learning activities and participating in community partnerships and engagement opportunities. Internal stakeholders also identified a continued need to increase job placement rates, improve employer satisfaction and continually review programs/curriculum to ensure employer needs are met.
The Achieving the Dream leadership team, along with members of the strategy and planning subcommittee and the data governance subcommittee, are reviewing this information as they work to draft FSCJ’s next strategic plan, which is planned to launch in Fall 2017.