WNCC 2010 Self-Study Report - Western Nebraska Community ...

Findings for Criterion Two
Strengths
1. WNCC has benefitted from visionary leadership for many years, resulting in the creation of
the HATC, three campuses, and diverse educational and training offerings
2. WNCC effectively uses multiple methods to scan the environment to anticipate changes in
educational needs or the regional economy
3. The College has developed the ability to respond in a rapidly changing environment
4. WNCC has many long-term employees and Board members with years of experience,
which helps to keep the institution true to its values and mission
5. The institution has been able to make good replacement hires, including well-trained
faculty and staff members who bring with them experience and expertise to provide new
perspectives and energy
6. WNCC manages its financial resources carefully and consistently, prioritizing educational
quality, inclusiveness, and accessibility while recognizing potential challenges as well as
growth opportunities
7. WNCC seeks to serve its constituencies well, to improve programs and services, and to
use resources efficiently and effectively
8. Planning, decision-making, and budgeting practices take place in an environment that is
consistently shaped by a commitment to providing quality service to students and area
constituents
Challenges/Opportunities for Improvement
1. An updated Strategic Plan, with College-wide goal setting based on the new document, is
needed to guide particularized planning within individual sectors of the College, as well as
to determine budgetary priorities
2. Continued dedication to meeting the educational needs of under-served populations is a
necessary part of any future visioning, and the College must explore more aggressive
programming and find new opportunities to connect with under-served students
3. The shrinking populace in the High Plains and the Nebraska Panhandle mean that the
College must find ways to increase its footprint and to attract students from other target
audiences
4. Further expansion into workforce development, job training skills, and business and
industry continuing education for incumbent employees may provide additional
educational service opportunities, and the potential must be explored fully
5. Retention strategies must continue to parallel recruitment efforts
6. It is essential that the institution find additional sources of revenues to stabilize its
operational budget needs as well as to facilitate future flexibility and growth opportunities
7. The institution must continue to use data effectively and even increase it usage for
planning in areas like programming, capital expansion, and renovation
8. Assessment initiatives and student learning data need to be more correlated with budget
lines so that fiscal expenditure in instructional areas is linked to student learning
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Western Nebraska Community College