Vision, Values, and Mission Task Force
Draft Minutes from November 14, 2006
2:30 p.m. East – 3-113
Attending: Shauna Anstey, Johnny Aplin, Danielle Boileau, Mike Bosley, Julie Corderman,
Debi Jakubcin, Kurt Ewen, Barbara Frazier, Carol Johnson, Lesena Jones, Scott Launier, Dennis
Weeks, Falecia Williams
Absent: Tim Grogan, Linda Neal, Ann Puyana,
I.
Minutes of the 10 October meeting were accepted as corrected.
II.
Learning Day Visioning Session Activity was discussed, based on the initial survey
responses and personal experiences of task force members.
III.
Data Process Considerations
The Task Force owes a debt of gratitude to the 41 facilitators who contributed their time to
leading the discussions on Learning Day. The Visioning Sessions generated 164 response sets to
the two main questions. The wealth of data collected, and the diverse perspectives elicited has
proven challenging and rewarding to analyze.
The raw data amounted to over sixty pages of statements. The Visioning questions encouraged a
wide range of responses, and the initial classification process has been focused on sorting the
statements using the Vision, the thirteen Value, and the nine Mission statements. By the time of
our meeting on Tuesday, 14 November, 31 sessions had been sorted in this fashion, leaving ten
to be completed by the Task Force members no later than Thursday, November 17. The Task
Force approved the sorting process and, recognizing that qualitative data is subjective and open
to multiple interpretations, decided that additional time was needed to review the data carefully.
Therefore, a core group was formed and charged to continue to sort and review the data over the
next few weeks.
Discussion arose regarding how the data will be shared and in which format. The Task Force
recommended that the Communications Task Force consider how the raw data and sorted data
might be shared with the college community. A suggestion was made that it might be posted in
Atlas. It was agreed that additional meetings across campuses would be held early in the New
Year to gain ongoing feedback and input regarding this work.
IV.
Task Force Vision Activity
The Task Force reviewed the forty-six, sorted responses associated with the Vision statement. A
lively discussion ensued on the emergent themes that the responses suggested. Insights and
questions that emerged during the discussion included:
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It would benefit to define “community” in wider discussions as responses indicated
disparate interpretations.
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“Extraordinary” is both nebulous and yet distinct. It elicited the greatest number of
responses and might be explored in more depth.
There was a sense that the existing Vision statement was too static (“is” as a statement of
existence). Many responses offered active language: growing, evolving, building,
embracing, fostering.
Several responses suggested that the statement should set Valencia apart from
comparable institutions: nimble, flexible, diverse, inclusive, responsive, dynamic,
boundless.
A memorable statement is important. “A Better Place to Start” remains distinct and
effective. In actuality, several of our Strategic Learning Plan goal identifiers (i.e. “Start
Right”) serve to define vision.
Unlike the Mission and Values statements, which may change, the Vision statement
remains future and goal-oriented.
V.
Task Force Values Activity
In order to tackle the nearly 24 pages of Value responses, it was initially determined that the 13
existing Value statements would be grouped into 3 groups. This would allow Task Force
members to divide and focus on a limited number of responses. The grouping of our 13 Values
statements was roughly based on the concept of Bossidy and Charan in Execution: people,
strategy, and operations. This resulted in the following groups:
[Group A - People]
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each learner by promoting personal success, high academic standards, civic and personal
responsibility, and a love of learning.
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each member of the faculty and staff as a learning leader.
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the ongoing personal and professional development of learning leaders throughout the
college community.
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the potential of each person to learn.
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a caring and professional relationship among student learners, employees, and the
community.
[Group B - Strategies and Learning Concepts]
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the mastery of the core competencies -- Think, Value, Communicate, and Act.
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planning skills that enable students to create, integrate, and achieve personal, career, and
educational goals.
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diversity and the learning opportunities that it creates.
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the purposeful use of technology and other tools that enhance learning.
[Group C- Operations and Environment]
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an accessible, supportive, and safe environment in which people learn and work.
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a communicative, respectful, collaborative collegiate culture.
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partnerships for community and workforce development.
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academic, professional, and personal integrity.
Although this grouping was somewhat arbitrary, it led to a very dynamic discussion on how the
Task Force might respect the responses from individual, all very specific and personal, and build
them into a conceptual framework that would address the assigned charge of the group.
VI.
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VII.
Conclusions
The high number of Value Statements makes it difficult to remember our shared beliefs
The existing Value statements include duplications and multiple values in each statement.
Since they were based on previous data analysis, though, they should not be set aside, but
rather provide a template to identify missing or additional components. To clarify this
work, the Task Force identified 6 emergent themes:
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Learning
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People
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Diversity
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Access
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Integrity
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Community
Out of respect for the contributions of staff and faculty and to become acquainted with
the nature of qualitative analysis, Task Force members should spend additional time
reviewing both the Raw Data and the Preliminary Findings.
Nine Task Force members will complete preliminary sorting of the remaining data. They
will follow the approved process – association of responses to the existing Vision,
Values, and Mission statements.
A Core Writing Team will meet on Friday, 17 November to more closely work with the
raw data, emergent themes, and the existing Vision, Values, and Mission statements. The
Core Team includes: Shauna Anstey, Fiona Baxter, Mike Bosley, Kurt Ewen, Scott
Launier, and David Rogers.
The Vision, Values, and Mission Task Force will meet on Monday, December 4 to
review all draft documents.
The Communications Task Force will be updated regarding this work at their next
scheduled meeting.
Next Meeting
Monday, 4 December. West Campus 2 pm (TBA)