CONVENING OF TEXAS WOMAN’S UNIVERSITY

STRATEGIC PLANNING

Tuesday, January 11, 2005Denton, Texas

Strategic Planning at Texas Tech:The Approach Taken – The Lessons Learned

T. Gilmour Reeve, PhDProfessor & Director

Office of Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning

Conceptual definition:

• A formalized process

• Built on opportunities

(SWOT Analysis)

• Moving from Mission to Vision

Strategic Planning

Basic ingredients:• Mission Statement• Vision Statement• Goals to achieve vision• Benchmarks for each goal• Objectives for benchmarks

with strategies (tactics)• Assessments

Strategic Planning

Why do Strategic Planning?• Planning occurs in all

activities (intentionally or not)

• Accreditation agencies require planning

• Strategic Planning offers a workable model

Strategic Planning

But Strategic Planning is a “Business Model”

Is it suited for an Academic Environment?

• YES – but we need to recognize and apply the differences to adjust the process accordingly

• Strategic Planning must WORK FOR the university

Strategic Planning

Why plan when EXTERNAL, UNEXPECTED & UNCONTROLLABLE

factors impact what happens on campus?

Planning based on a strategic vision with predetermined goals and benchmarks are

MOST NEEDEDin an uncertain environment!

Strategic Planning

• Don’t strategic plans become “SHELFWARE?”

• For many, there are really two concerns:– We WON’T use our strategic

plansOR

– We WILL use our strategic plans!

Strategic Planning

SHELFWARE OR NOT?

Strategic plans:

• Chart the course

• Maintain direction

• Are flexible and dynamic

Strategic Planning

Don’t strategic plans come and go as often as college presidents?

The “Plan du jour Phenomenon”

With university commitment, strategic plans will:

• endure changes,• and be used in defining future

needs.

Strategic Planning

How do we get commitment from the university community?

• Engagement

– All levels of the university

– Faculty, students, staff, administrators

• Use an “Out and In” approach

• Communication

• Develop sense of ownership

Strategic Planning

How do we know when we’ve reached our goals?

Assessment

Systematically collect and analyze data as identified in benchmarks and interpret

findings relative to goals.

Strategic Planning

But we can’t assess what we do?

OH YEA!?Then how do you know what you

have done? Or

How do you know you’ve done anything?

Strategic Planning

Assessment Examples• Faculty manage to grade students in a variety

of contexts (science, philosophy, social studies, art, dance, mathematics, etc)

• Academic programs and departments are assessed regularly in program and accreditation reviews

• Faculty and staff are evaluated for performance and merit annually

Strategic Planning

But, what we do can’t always be captured in numbers, test scores, or other quantitative

data!

THAT IS CORRECT!So, you can also use qualitative information

of outcomes (student comments, awards received, program reviews, etc.).

Strategic PlanningLevels of Assessment

Individual assessment

Students

Faculty, Staff, Administrators

Academic and Support Services

Course, Program, Departments

Institutional - University

Institutional Effectiveness

Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning + Levels of Assessment

Strategic Planning can and should operate at each level of assessment.

That is, for students, faculty, courses, programs, services, and the institution there should be visions, goals, objectives, and strategies that can be assessed

over time.

Strategic Planning

Is strategic planning the final answer?NO!

Strategic Planning is a process that must be integrated with other accountability

and accreditation activities, and budgeting and decision making , and

must be constantly evaluated to judge its usefulness to the university.

Strategic Planning

The TTU Approach:• Steering Committee• Task Forces for reviews• Strategic Plans at all levels• First set of plans completed

December 2001• Annual Assessment Reports• Strategic Planning Web-page• Publicly accessible plans and

reports

Strategic Planning

TTU Lessons Learned:

• Progress occurs through planning

• Engage the university community

• Develop a sense of ownership for all

• Begin with the end in mind

(planning + assessment)

• Be flexible and allow for changes

• Be open and accessible to all

• Work through problems –

not around them

Strategic Planning

Texas Woman’s Universityand

Strategic Planning

The process and the outcome will be UNIQUE to TWU

Where will you be a year from now?

Thank you!