Excellence Goal Team
Data Review:
EXCELLENCE
Demonstrate operational excellence and maintain a healthy fiscal operation that realizes and plans for
declining state resources, while providing an affordable, world-class education.
D1. Operational excellence in all areas of service
Excellence - Effectiveness & Efficiency
Adequate classroom/facilities for Student Success; Everyone should have goals that link to the various categories.
IF we measure performance - HOW do we show/measure? Challenge: Maintain healthy operations, be fiscally
responsible; We need to look at "student-driven" numbers, since they are who we serve. Are we spending $ in
right places & serving our external constituents? We are held accountable at the state for a standard set of
financial ratios. OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE is key.
Must be measureable goals.
*Customer Service Survey / Internal (ie: Employee) Customer Service Survey
*Energy Cost
*Workplace Safety (# of incidents)
*Budget Performance
*Bond Rating (to borrow)
All employees MUST know the goals of the college. IF "excellence" is our goal - objective...how can we measure?
objective data....but no "subjective" data. Must measure quality as well as quantity; Should "affordability" be an
institutional goal...to keep tuition down?
Align w/Mission, Purpose, Vision - Focuses heavily on financial....responsibility - Could be broader.
Once large goals identified, every money spent should be directly related to that goal. $$$ spent must tie to
goals/mission of the College. When budget submitted, DOE must plug into goals & objectives of the
College....must be able to justify $ spent. Align operational expenses to goals.
D2. Recognition of the College, program, employees, students, or alumni by external bodies for excellence (i.e.
Achieve the Dream, STAR Awards, accreditations, etc.)
What arguments can we make for being recognized as "excellent"?
*Measurements of Excellence is subjective / qualitative - how can this be put into a measureable goal?
The community doesn't hear about our successes...GOAL: to be nationally recognized
Certain areas of the College do not fall into the area of "Student Success" (ie: grounds/maintenance) but MAY
impact whether or not a student attends Grayson. Customer Service...Websites - multiple / not linked together.
Should be integrated. All areas should share successes. Many staff members involved in leadership throughout
state - communicating this could open other doors for us. How would you compare and promote your
department's "excellence" and measures of success to your peers? ie: Police Academy; Housing (affordable, safe,
accessible); Public Information (relationship w/media, number of news releases, negative perceptions mitigated),
etc. Pass rates for exams, accreditations, etc. More tangible? ie:
Two areas of excellence in each department/area of campus
Student:Faculty Ratio; Safety; Workplace Injuries (employees/students)
PTK Eligibility; State Licensures / Certifications
Program Accreditation
# of externally recognized programs
Distinguished Alumni Recognition
Piper Professor Awards; #Special Appointments of our Faculty/Staff
D3. Align operational expenses enhanced budget requests to the goals of the college - SPOL Data
D4. Best in Class Fundraising
Excellence Goal Team
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Provide scholarships through the Foundation and other revenue streams to keep education affordable.
Opportunity to maintain tuition?
More scholarships; Maintain Tuition/Affordability
Increase #scholarship awards for non-traditional students
Amount of scholarship funds awarded and actually transmitted / Average annual award
Departmental Scholarships/Program Enhancement
Grants
D5. Provide alternative revenue streams through GC Enterprises
IF other revenue streams are identified...enterprises / auxiliary funds
ie: by 2016....thru alternative revenue sources....maintain or decrease tuition costs? OR base any increases in
tuition upon COLA w/in county(ies), to stay in line w/competing and comparable institutions. By 2016 - 20%
increase in enrollment.
# of enterprises; facility rental
Incentive Program for employees who bring ideas of alternative revenue streams
Campus Store sales on GC website (ie: hoodies, t-shirts/caps, Viking memorabilia, etc.)
*We are affordable w/in our district....Revenue for community colleges is restrictive (property taxes; Grayson
County has grown slowly in assessed property values)....State - less funding...fewer perks for benefits;
Enterprises - small increases...To keep a balanced budget - spend less in DOE...is a big part of the puzzle.
RE-CAP:
(Steve Black) More encompassing: Demonstrate operational, educational & service excellence by maintaining a
healthy operation that realizes and plans for declining state resources; providing an affordable, world-class
education; recognizing the...diversity of the community, while supporting economical, accountability and efficiency
and lifelong learning....need to break down into measureable goals. Operational/Educational/Service
Excellence Goal Team
Goal Team Meetings – Thursday November 14th
Activity Guidelines: Goal Team Conversations: Each goal team should continue discussions on data and
initiatives to address the gaps.
a. Discuss what has been revealed in the data and potential initiatives to address the
gaps in the data.
Look at policies , processes, reallocation of resources, best practices that drive
excellence for student success
b. Identify additional data that may help in decision making
Possible Data Resources
Customer service survey
Student Survey of Instruction
Log-in system data
Direct student complaints, etc.
Graduate survey
Student Services advising survey
Other data to collect
Follow-up surveys
Focus groups
Secret “shoppers”
Consider how we see our role individually in student success as the students enter the door, are
inside, and as they are leaving us
Excellence Goal Team
Day Two - Goal Team Conversations Continued
Activity Guidelines: Goal Team Conversations: Each goal team should continue discussions on data and
initiatives to address the gaps. (use notes from 11-14-13 and How Can We)
a. Discuss what has been revealed in the data and potential initiatives to address the
gaps in the data.
b. Identify additional data that may help in decision making
Notes from *FRIDAY, November 15th.... Thursday, November 14th
Excellence
Demonstrate operational, educational and service excellence by fostering a healthy operation
which contributes to student success.
D1. Operational
Customer service
The students are the "ears" in the classroom; engaged students' perspective could give us useful
feedback; surveys - get data from club members; choose a different discipline @ month...talk
about specific topics, ie: registration/early registration; poll faculty association to focus on
internal aspects...or faculty/staff to get a wider representation...*too many surveys? More
awards/recognition w/in departments...showcase programs to community...celebrate
success...more formal recognition...improve customer service...student success...publicize
student success... Increase student club activity w/in the community... Be involved w/general
community... More PR for programs... Come together as one body w/a common goal to see
student success...in everything we do...how does it impact student success? Student comes
first...
Fiscal
Affordability
Competitive w/in our district...
Fundraising
Where do funds come from? Increased dollar amounts...identification of grant
potential through reporting
Sustainability
Recycling; fiscally/environmentally conscious...Reports to Board; were net assets
increased? Do reserves compare to operating expenses?
Reallocation of resources
Flexibility...don't need to always do things the way we've always done - make
sure reallocations are in line with changing conditions; cross-training of
personnel; recycling data; travel budgets;
Safety
Data from Campus Police; GC Alert; Emergency training; EPA compliance
Adequate Resources - SPOL...Reasonable & Responsible Budget Requests
Support
Report on budget cuts for possible alternative funding...people/adequate
staffing...ability to measure;
Facilities
Good standards in classroom .... classroom utilization; quality learning & student
services Build Dorms (or apartments?)
Excellence Goal Team
Technology
Upgrade; Provide adequate training tools for students that are comparable to
industry
Professional Development
Evaluations
Training needs assessment - bring in trainers/teachers based on NEEDS, not
availability of trainers. Cross-training
Policies
Streamline procedures; Have concrete data that GC exceeds standards....set standards;
Reviews & refining processes; Define mission - both narrowly & globally
Best Practices
Reallocate funds where needed for success; justification for budget requests from
reliable data; Raise the bar....availability
Processes
Best Practices
Make sure committee recommendations are acted upon - Close the loop
Improve data accuracy for better reporting...use SPOL data....technology...carry out a
job until it is finished; Streamline procedures; Have concrete data that GC exceeds
standards....set standards;
Reviews & refining processes; Become more entrepreneurial / take risks...
D2. Education
Program success rates
Increase completion rates; Increase graduation / retention rates / developmental completion
Job placement
To also include transfer rates; Success at 4-year universities...#grads/transfer students
increased; what programs have internships?
National and state Recognitions
Phi Theta Kappa
Accreditations
Honors College
Expand Honors College...
D3. Service
Customer Service
Community understanding
Students have many choices... Communication...great customer service... community
service... Be open to new ways of reaching students...ways to improve...track student &
employee involvement; SURVEYS!
External Customer Service
What do we do to add to the local economy & quality of life?
Marketing
How does GC promote economic impact on community? How is that measured?
Marketing stats; Viking News; Marqees; Videos aired on Marquees...
Community Responsiveness
Program offerings to meet industry
How well do we support industry requests?
We need Realistic GOALS - SWAT...
Excellence Goal Team
Day Two – Review Challenges and Develop Final Initiatives
Activity Guidelines:
Final Initiatives – Each goal team should refine its list of initiatives prioritize the list and answer
each of the following for each initiative:
 Focus Questions (think big picture):
 What would it take to achieve the initiative?
Time & Organization (minimal cost ~ $2K); the cost will be non-tangible (employee time &
reallocation of resources; internal surveys...chat log....call log; leverage existing DATA:
Scholarship Data; Campus Police Reports; Emergency Management Reports; Classroom
Utilization; Any employee who attends a professional conference should be required to report
and share information;
SURVEYS: Need a snapshot (2-3 questions) of the experience immediately following the
experience; Very small percentage of those surveyed submit...How can we increase response
rate on surveys? Graduate surveys - short & to-the-point; review current practices; prioritize
most important survey;
Base-Line: NOW
 What people-resources do we need?
Phone Tree in Admission/Counseling/Student Services
 What financial resources do we need?
 All must have consensus—all agree on what is vital to the mission and goal.
 Each objective should follow a verb-plus description.
 All should begin with the words, "we must….“
 Each should address a single issue.
 Each should have an owner, the person (department) responsible for carrying out the
strategy.