“My interview
experience made me
feel like I mattered,
the fact that one of
the Vice Presidents
took time out of
her day to ask my
opinion said a lot
to me about the
faculty and staff of
STCC. From the professors
to the administrative staff, they have
made a positive impact on my academic
and professional life.”
It was exhilarating to
experience the enormous
amounts of energy and
enthusiasm that were generated
by using Appreciative Inquiry in
the strategic planning process. We
are confident that this will carry
forward in the plan’s implementation. We will
continue to use AI to build consensus and guide our
work in furthering the mission of the college.
stcc mission
Mission
Springfield Technical Community College, a leader in
technology and instructional innovation, transforms
lives through educational opportunities that promote
personal and professional success.
Vision
Springfield Technical Community College will be a
dynamic, multi-cultural learning community where
students grow in character, intellect and self-confidence.
- Ira Rubenzahl, President
Core Values
Dedication: We believe that with pride and
determination among our faculty, staff and students we
can create a community of truly inspired individuals.
-Ileana Castillo, Student
Integrity: We are committed to fostering an
environment that promotes truth and the development
of individual character.
Respect: We nurture mutual respect among faculty,
staff and students. With respect, we embrace differences
to create an inclusive environment for all.
“The Appreciative Inquiry
process used here at STCC was
excellent, exciting and engaging.
The opportunity to work with
a wide range of individuals
from across campus and from the
community to plan our future was
great! This approach to building a
strategic plan brings about a new
sense of positive energy that will help
shape our college for student success
for years to come. I am truly happy to have
been a part of this launching pad for change
to be the very best for our students and the
community at large.”
- Kamari Collins, Academic Advisor
Community: As a community within the community
at large, we improve lives and strengthen the region
through accessible and affordable higher education.
Student-Centered: We encourage our students to
be the best that they can be. We provide a diverse
educational experience that promotes personal and
professional growth.
Caring & Commitment: As a community
of dedicated faculty and staff who care about
student success, we produce graduates who will
contribute to the well-being of the region and to
the Commonwealth.
From pre-summit interviews with
internal and external stakeholders, to the two day
Appreciative Inquiry planning summit with faculty, staff and students,
hundreds of voices were heard, and their input was incorporated into
the planning process. It was quite exciting to experience all those voices
in harmony forming a final framework for the strategic plan, and a
collective vision of the future of STCC.
- Stephen Keller, Vice President of Academic Affairs
For additional information
on the Strategic Plan
visit: stccsp.wordpress.com
Springfield Technical
Community College
Exceptional Education. Proven Results.
One Armory Square, Springfield, Massachusetts
www.stcc.edu
Fiscal Years 2010-2014
Strategic Plan
dedication
integrity
respect
community
students
caring
Springfield Technical
Community College
discover.dream.
design.
destiny.
Introduction
Appreciative Inquiry (A.I.) has the potential to unleash
organizational renewal; the college decided to use this
technique to create our new strategic plan. A.I. can be
described as a search “from a strengths perspective for
latent, untapped capacity to pursue shared images of a
preferred future.” Thus, it “discovers, builds, and expands
capacity to cooperate” (from Appreciative Inquiry, A
Positive Approach to Building Cooperative Capacity by
Frank J. Barrett & Ronald E. Fry).
To prepare, in November 2008 STCC hosted a fourday “Appreciative Inquiry Facilitator Training” session
attended by education and business leaders from the U.S.
and Canada, including eleven STCC administrators,
faculty, and staff.
the plan.
The STCC Strategic Plan,
comprised of the following four
directions, reflects the College’s
mission, vision and values.
This provides great challenges, yet tremendous opportunity.
Those who are successful at reaching their goals not only meet
their individual aspirations but also begin a cycle of economic
success for their families.
These thirty-five volunteers then interviewed sixty-five
business leaders, alumni, transfer institution personnel,
community leaders and current students who readily gave
of their time and expertise to help “Design the Future @
STCC”. Their responses were entered into a data base and
analyzed for themes and directions.
One hundred thirty faculty, staff, and community friends
met in late May 2009 for a day-and-a-half Summit to
document the college’s strengths, to create a vision for
the future and to design the outlines of a strategic plan
in keeping with the 4-D methodology of A.I. (Discover,
Dream, Design, and Destiny). Our stakeholders worked
together to discover common history and preferred values,
then developed new aspirations and plans that they have
committed to realizing.
The process has indeed galvanized our campus. By
embracing these broad directions, each college unit can
adopt specific goals and objectives that help advance this
strategic plan. In so doing we will move forward to a
preferred future that will renew and energize our College.
Our greatest strength is the care and concern that staff
and faculty demonstrate toward students that translates into
a commitment to help each student succeed in his/her
academic objectives.
Many of our students share some or all of these
characteristics:
• first generation in college
• ethnic minority
• non-native speakers
• require at least one pre-college-level class
• disadvantaged financially
To begin the planning process, in February 2009 thirtyfive STCC faculty and staff volunteers gathered for a oneday A.I. training session. The enthusiasm generated from
spending a day immersed in the exciting principles and
practices of A.I. served as the perfect starting point for
engaging the campus community and those who interact
with it from the community at large.
Strategic Plan
Summit,
May 2009
Caring and Commitment to Students
We give students the support needed to succeed. This requires
expanded scholarships, financial resources, facilities designed
to meet the needs of students, and people – our greatest asset.
Culture of Respect
Jessica Galenski, Class of 2010 and
Professor Warren Hall, Coordinator of the
Architectural Technology Program
We believe that if we practice respect then the culture of
our institution improves. By creating such an environment
we realize the potential of our talented, diverse campus
community. Each one of us has a wealth of experience and
a distinctive cultural background. Within this rich, vibrant
community different voices amplify one another in a chorus of
teaching and learning. To support this climate we:
• welcome all to join in the learning, listening, discussions
and teaching supported by our institution
• strive to understand, accept and appreciate ourselves and the
different perspectives and experiences of others
• offer friendship without bias
• utilize thoughtful behavior by expressing one’s individuality
without malice
• serve as role models to others
By applying these strategies in our daily interactions we
create a safe, comfortable environment in which all can
flourish. Each member of our campus community has the
opportunity to shine, and to put forth the best that each of
us has to offer without fear of ridicule or exclusion. Students
have the freedom to explore ideas and opportunities, to
concentrate on their studies and to interact in constructive
ways. Lifelong relationships are fostered, extending well
beyond the campus grounds. STCC continues to grow as a
center of diversity and excellence within the region.
Innovation and Embracing Change
Innovation means change, and change fosters an excitement
that causes all members of the educational community
to actually embrace it. To support an environment where
innovation is welcome, the campus community:
• accepts the fact that change is inevitable
• allows and encourages experimentation
• examines the way we do business at all levels of the
organization
• provides necessary training, funding and infrastructure to
support change
Communication and Collaborating
Across Campus
Increased communication and collaboration results in a
more engaged campus community. Knowledge, sharing of
ideas, cooperation, information and communication lead to
inclusive decision-making.
To enhance communication the college:
• conducts college business in an open and transparent
manner
• encourages the open exchange of ideas among campus
constituencies
• empowers decision-making responsibility broadly within
the organization
• utilizes various media to inform one another
• uses Shared Governance as a forum to debate and
recommend policy and college direction
Positive interactions within the campus community have a
beneficial impact on students.
The result is an environment in which this technical
community college is responsive, adaptable and
educationally sound.
Nangelie Ferrer,
Class of 2009 and
Professor Vanessa Hill,
Mathematics
Department
Dr. Nicholas Massa, Laser Electro-Optics
Technology program and
Gary Mansfield, STCC Alumnus