Author Archives: Robert Viens

The Road to a Good Plan

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At the first meeting of the Strategic Plan Update Task Force we asked the members to share their experience with a “plan that worked”. Members shared a lot of examples of personal plans that they had made and what aspects worked well for them.  Although it was not initially our goal to record this information (we really just wanted to use it as an icebreaker), it really generated a great list of components of any good planning efforts.  Below is a list of some of the key components I was able to distill from the discussion.  My hope is that we can learn from them and use them to help guide our future planning efforts.  Please feel free to comment if there is something that I have missed.

Good planning should:

  • Be done in “bite-sized” pieces that (if necessary) increase in complexity through time
  • Be consistent and follow agreed upon “rules”
  • Have specific goals in mind
  • Have realistic timelines, but also be flexible to allow for adaption to change
  • Be developed in context with the environment/community in which they exist
  • Focus on what needs to get done
  • Leave room for uncertainty
  • Recognize and incorporate physical and personal connections with related plans and people
  • Incorporate reminders and a physical component (its not all mental)
  • Involve teamwork

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories and experiences!

Strategic, Academic, and Student Affairs Working Drafts Now Open for Comment

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Bellevue College students, faculty, staff, as well as community members are invited to participate in a review of three major college plans, which have been in development throughout the 2013-14 academic year. The Strategic, Academic, and Student Affairs plans posted on this site are currently in DRAFT form and available for comment May 12-23.

You may provide comments in several ways:

(1)  Post your feedback in the comments box at the end of each plan (see Draft Plans).  These will be visible for others to read.

(2)  Send your comments anonymously by using this survey link.

(3)  Download and print out a pdf version of the plan, write comments and return it to Tracy Biga MacLean (mail stop A202).

(4)  Bring your verbal or written comments to the Open House (May 19 or 20) or facilitated feedback sessions (May 20).

We look forward to your comments and suggestions!

Open Comment Period Begins May 12th

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In the Fall quarter we asked for your input on the colleges strategic planning efforts. In the Winter we formed several task forces to synthesize all the data we collected. Now that Spring is here, it is time to bring the plans back to you for feedback.

On Monday May 12th, draft copies of the Strategic, Academic and Student Affairs plans will be posted here on the Designing Our Future website for your review (see Draft Plans). We encourage you to share your feedback, advice, questions, etc. via the site through Friday, May 23.

During the second week of the open comment period, we will also host a two-day Open House on Monday, May 19th and Tuesday, May 20th (from 9am to 6pm) in the West Boardroom (B201). During these two days, members of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee and the task forces will be available to answer questions and receive feedback. Participants are also encouraged to bring written comments, and provide edits during the Open House. In addition, drafts will remain posted in (and outside of) the West Boardroom throughout the week for comment.

If you would like to provide feedback in a more structured environment, we will also be hosting three facilitated Feedback Sessions on Tuesday, May 20th (1 hr sessions starting at 10:30, 12:30 and 3:30). To sign up for one of these sessions, please contact Tracy Biga MacLean (click her name to send an e-mail request). If demand exists, we will add additional sessions.

Details will be provided to North Campus, ASG, and community partners to highlight some of the additional opportunities for these groups to provide feedback.

Thank you all for your input during the Fall and your patience in giving the task forces time to synthesize that information.  We look forward to your input on what has come from those efforts!

Question of the Week: Classroom of the Future

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What are some ways in which you see the “classroom” evolving and/or adapting to changes over the next 10 years?

[Use the speech bubble to the right or the reply link below to respond]

Please feel free to think of this question in terms of the college as a whole, as well as in relationship to your own discipline, expertise, or experience. You might want to comment of changes in student learning styles, how (and where) we teach, class scheduling, technology uses, textbooks, etc.

There is a lot of material on this topic “out there” – here are some articles/reports (mostly from outside Higher Ed) that might generate some ideas:

Feel free to share other good resources in the comments.

Question of the Week: MOOCs

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There is a lot of talk (and a range of opinions) in higher ed about the impact of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) on traditional education.  In what ways, if at all, might MOOCs impact how we teach at Bellevue College? [Use the speech bubble to the right or the reply link below to respond]

Please feel free to think of this question in terms of the college as a whole, as well as in relationship to your own discipline, expertise, or experience.

There are a lot of “opinions” out there on this topic.  Here are a couple recent articles to get folks thinking. Feel free to share other good resources on this topic in the comments box, too.

 

Question of the Week: Community Connections

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The second major foundation of the strategic planning “arch” is “Community & Regional Needs”. Given the importance of our “community” in planning for the future, please consider sharing your thoughts on this week’s Question of the Week:

In the near future, what are some ways Bellevue College should engage and integrate with local cities, schools, non-profits, businesses and the region as a whole? [Use the speech bubble to the right or the reply link below to respond]

Please feel free to think of this question in terms of the college as a whole, as well as in relationship to your own discipline, expertise, or experience.

For inspiration, see the resources provided by Northern Essex Community College in Massachusetts – one example of an organized community engagement effort that spans the campus.

Community Partnerships: A “How-To” Report

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In the spring, the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges released a report detailing resources for developing partnerships between community colleges and their communities titled Prosperous Places: Putting Your College and Community of the Map. The report is designed to be:

“a toolkit to help colleges build “prosperous places” by creating high-impact partnerships, gathering data, and creating programs that meet critical workforce needs. Creating a highly skilled workforce advances both the signature industries that make Washington competitive in the global marketplace, and the local employers who create the very fabric of our communities.”

There are some good questions to think about here (see pages 7-8) and several resources that are designed to help colleges think about their community connections. 

Check it out, and feel free to comment.

Foundations: Mission, Vision and Core Themes

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One of the foundations of the strategic planning “arch” are the college’s Mission, Vision, Core Values and Core Themes. As you consider our strategic planning efforts take a look and remind yourself of the foundation on which the college currently operates:

As always, we welcome your comments.

Question of the Week: Communication

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Many participants in the strategic planning listening sessions this Fall have talked about a lack of communication at the college, but also expressed concern about the volume of email we all receive.

What is the best way for the college to effectively communicate important information without it getting lost in a barrage of emails? [Use the speech bubble to the right or the reply link below to respond]

Please feel free to think of this question in terms of the college as a whole, as well as in relationship to your own discipline, expertise, or experience.

“Strategic Planning in Motion” at North Florida CC

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After establishing the goals and objectives of a strategic plan, North Florida Community College put an implementation process in place with work groups. They call it “Strategic Planning in Motion” and it ensures that the plan has an active life after adoption. Read more about it on their website and send us your comments on how it might apply to BC.