Strategic Drivers:
Based upon the environmental scan the college believes the following to be the key drivers of the
2012-2017 Strategic Plan:
Demographic changes related to student success
Calls for accountability related to completion and graduation
Changes in technology as it relates to opening up possibilities
Changing funding landscape that impact fiscal sustainability
Inroads made by the for-profit sector possibly requiring institutional response through
advocacy
Student readiness as it relates to the pathway for student success.
In light of the revised mission statement, partnership with the community and meet other
educational needs of business and industry.
These strategic drivers have influenced the development of the 2012-2017 Strategic Plan. The
strategic plan goals and objectives comprise the institution’s response to these drivers. The
related themes will weave through the various components of the strategic plan.
CR Vision
College of the Redwoods is a learning community where lives are transformed.
CR Mission
College of the Redwoods puts student success first by providing
outstanding developmental, career technical, and transfer education.
The College partners with the community to contribute to the economic vitality and
lifelong learning needs of its service area.
We continually assess student learning and institutional performance and practices to
improve upon the programs and services we offer.
DRAFT for CR Constituent Review – Send feedback to Roxanne-Metz@redwoods.edu by March 6, 2012
Goal 1 Fiscal and Operational Sustainability
In response to anticipated changes in the funding environment, College of the
Redwoods will proactively pursue strategies that will lead to fiscal and operational
sustainability.
Objectives
Desired Outcomes
1.1 Reduce reliance on apportionmentbased funding
1.2 Improve college operational
efficiencies
1.3 Increase funding available for strategic
initiatives
1.4 Increase community support for the
college.
Increased funding through a revived foundation, grants and
contracts, and entrepreneurial ventures.
Improved operational efficiencies through effective
management of human, physical, technical, and financial
resources.
The college will tie resource allocation to outcomes and
planning.
The College of the Redwoods Foundation will raise money
for college use.
1.5 Practice continuous quality
improvement
Services and related processes are continuously evaluated
for improved effectiveness and efficiencies.
Goal 2 Technological Relevance
College of the Redwoods will develop infrastructure, adopt best practices, and
practice analytics, to take advantage of current and emerging technologies to
support the learning environment and enhance institutional effectiveness.
Objectives
Desired Outcomes
Objective 2.1 Improve technology
infrastructure to support all college
operations
Objective 2.2 Improve technology to
support effective teaching and learning
Day-to-day operations will be supported effectively
Current technology will be available to support new
initiatives
Faculty and staff will effectively utilize technology in
teaching
Faculty will have appropriate tools available
Students will have access to tools they need
Faculty, staff, and students will experience improved
effectiveness and efficiency when using college
technology.
The college will effectively use data and analytics
techniques to improve teaching and institutional outcomes.
Objective 2.3 Improve efficiency through
technology (see objective 1.2)
Objective 2.4 Improve college performance
through data mining and analytics
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Goal 3 Focus on Learners
College of the Redwoods will employ programs, services, and organizational
structures to meet the needs of learners and ensure student success.
Objectives
Desired Outcomes
Objective 3.1 Match student readiness with
educational pathways.
The college will know whether students have the
knowledge, skills, and other abilities required to attain their
intended goals.
The college will improve the ability for students to achieve
intended learning outcomes.
The institution demonstrates through policies and practices
an appropriate understanding of and concern for issues of
equity and diversity.
Students will be actively engaged and institutionally
supported.
More students will complete any necessary remediation
within one year of admission.
Faculty will employ innovative teaching practices.
Objective 3.2 Continuously assess and
evaluate programs to provide effective
educational programs and services
Objective 3.3 Enhance student support and
student engagement (see 5.1)
Objective 3.4 Improve basic skills success
Objective 3.5 Support instructional
innovation
Goal 4 Contribute to lifelong learning and workforce development
College of the Redwoods will provide, in partnership with the community, training
and education to contribute to the economic vitality and lifelong learning needs
of the community.
Objectives
Desired Outcomes
Objective 4.1 Provide workforce
development training
Objective 4.2 Respond to business and
industry training needs
The Business Training Center will provide industryrecognized certifications in strong and emerging industries.
The Business Training Center will collaborate with
business and industry partners to offer contract training for
incumbent workers
The college will create non-credit programs to meet the
lifelong learning needs of the community.
Objective 4.3 Develop non-credit
programs
DRAFT for CR Constituent Review – Send feedback to Roxanne-Metz@redwoods.edu by March 6, 2012
Goal 5 Enhance Institutional Profile
College of the Redwoods will proactively engage in activities and initiatives to
elevate the college’s profile in the community. At a minimum, the college will
leverage the soon-to-be-surplus buildings to impact the college community in a
positive way.
Objectives
5.1 Enhance support for the college
community.
5.2 Support/increase cultural activities at
the college
5.3 Develop partnerships for utilization of
the available buildings
5.4. Create an alumni association
5.5 Increase communications and outreach
to the community (see 6.2)
Desired Outcomes
Provide services and support for students and the
community.
Cultural groups in the community use college facilities
Business, industry, governmental, or non-profit entities
partner with the college to use available buildings.
The college will have an active alumni association.
Residents in the community will understand the college’s
mission and challenges.
Goal 6 Advocacy
College of the Redwoods will proactively engage in public and governmental
advocacy as a means to increase competitive advantage and promote student
access and success.
Objectives
Desired Outcomes
6.1 Develop a governmental relations
function.
6.2 Increase communications and outreach
to the community
6.3 Increase public support for the college.
Federal, state, and local officials will understand how
regulatory issues affect the college.
Residents in the community will understand the college’s
mission and challenges.
The public will vote for state and local measures that
support the college mission.
Discussion of Strategic Planning Themes:
Fiscal Sustainability: According to the Community College Research Center, “Community
colleges will not be able to count on increased funding to help them meet ambitious national
college attainment goals. Recent state budget cuts and skyrocketing enrollments have reduced
per-student funding for colleges across the country. Instead, community colleges will have to
improve productivity—that is, they will need to graduate more students with the same or even
less funding.” CR recognizes that in the current environment the college cannot continue to rely
on state funding for instruction. In response to this, the college intends to develop alternative
resources and sources of funding in order for the college to accomplish its mission. This may
DRAFT for CR Constituent Review – Send feedback to Roxanne-Metz@redwoods.edu by March 6, 2012
include strengthening the College of the Redwoods Foundation and diversifying college funding
through reduced reliance on apportionment-based funding. This theme is reflected in Goal 1.
Technology: Technology is everywhere. As the “railroad of the 21st century”, technology is
essential for many industries and provides the means for organizational management and
communications. CR must be able to use technology to improve the functioning of the
organization, to improve teaching and learning, and to reach the communities in the district’s
service area. The college will adopt technology best practices that provide the flexibility and
adaptability to serve future college needs. In order to enhance student success, the college will
need to explore the possibility of building the ability to conduct sophisticated data mining and
analytics. For example, analytics can be programmed into the enrollment application in order to
assist the college to determine what students are most interested in and where they get stuck, or
in a distance education course analytics can be used to determine what teaching modules and
techniques are found by students to be most helpful. This theme is reflected in Goal 2.
Student Accomplishment: College completion is high on the national agenda in order to improve
American competitiveness, and the role of community colleges is significant. In order to
increase the number of college completions, community colleges need to be able to serve the
wide-ranging needs of the diverse population of students in the community. Various initiatives
such as the Basic Skills Initiative and the Student Success Task Force have been put forth from
the California Community College Chancellor’s Office and other bodies. College of the
Redwoods will embrace those best practices and service model recommendations that best fit
CR’s community. The college must be able to respond to the needs of a diverse student body by
understanding their expectations, providing guidance to assist them to identify appropriate
educational goals, and providing effective programs and services. Steps towards this may
include initiatives related to programs and curriculum, college processes, and pedagogical
innovations. This theme is reflected in Goal 3.
Community Partnerships: In recent years, College of the Redwoods has strengthened
partnerships with the community to accomplish common goals. Some examples include
collaborations with the Workforce Investment Board, Del Norte County Rural Human Services,
the Job Market, Eureka Adult School, the regional Native American tribes, Humboldt State
University, and the K-12 school systems in our district. Collaborations with industry include the
Humboldt Bay Regional Simulation Center, participation on the Redwood Technology
Consortium, and [NEED TO ADD MORE HERE]. While the college has demonstrated
successful partnerships with the community, additional opportunities can be pursued. This
theme is reflected in Goals 4 and 5.
Non-Credit, Community Education, and Contract Training: In the last few years the college has
served over 1,400 participants in not-for-credit, community education, and business training
activities. Increasingly, external agencies, the college community, and grant funders expect the
DRAFT for CR Constituent Review – Send feedback to Roxanne-Metz@redwoods.edu by March 6, 2012
college to provide short turnaround industry-specific training and workforce preparation to meet
economic and workforce development needs. Recent success indicates a growing need for
education and training that may not lead to a college degree or certificate. College of the
Redwoods will scale up the current community education and workforce development training.
The college has not taken advantage of the opportunity to build college curriculum for work
readiness, English as a Second Language, and basic skills education. Through the development
of non-credit programs such as these, the college can receive state apportionment (funding) for
these programs while meeting a community need. This theme is reflected in Goal 4.
Available Buildings: As the college moves programs and services into new buildings being built
with state bond funds, the college will seek to raise its profile in the community through the
leveraged use of the buildings that will be vacated. Over 50,000 sq. feet of space will become
available, some as soon as Summer 2012. The college will enhance existing partnerships and
seek new partnerships to fully utilize the available space. This theme is reflected in Goal 5.
Advocacy: College of the Redwoods is greatly impacted by decisions made at a national,
statewide, and regional level. However, the college has not actively participated in policy and
decision making in these arenas. The college must strengthen the ability to advocate for
regulatory relief and the flexibility to accomplish college goals without undue impediment. This
may include developing a governmental relations role for the college, increasing participation on
statewide committees and decision-making bodies such as the Accrediting Commission for
Community and Junior Colleges, the California Community Colleges Collegial Consultation
Council, and statewide faculty and student senates. In addition, the Board of Trustees may take
an active role in working with key governmental officials and policymakers to address college
needs. This theme is reflected in Goal 6.
DRAFT for CR Constituent Review – Send feedback to Roxanne-Metz@redwoods.edu by March 6, 2012