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

memorable. When a new institutional plan is developed, it would be a natural time for the recasting
of the mission’s core guiding documents into a more streamlined and emphatic phrasing.
Mission Evidenced in Strategic Planning
The “Blueprint for Success: A Strategic Plan for Western Nebraska Community College,”
established to guide the College from 2000-2004, was based on the mission documents (RR 8).
The Blueprint became most widely known throughout the College because of “The Seven
Initiatives” identifying strategic targets of concentration for both service and recruitment/growth
which were developed as action items to focus the College’s recruitment/expansion efforts. The
initiatives are listed below:
1. Program Development
2. International Student Market
3. Hispanic Student Market
4. Colorado /Front Range Market
5. Senior Citizens Market
6. Technology
7. Business and Individualized Training
In reality, the target initiatives, since they were folded into the essential purposes of the College,
have continued to shape the emphasis of the College beyond 2004, and faculty and staff members
strive still toward improving performance in the areas identified in the plan.
Members of the President’s Cabinet held a planning retreat to review the Blueprint for Success in
October of 2006 (RR 9). During the session, Cabinet members revisited the seven initiatives and
created action plans to follow through on the intentions. Since the former Blueprint for Success
and the derived service and recruitment targets remained central to the College’s function, a
replacement plan was not developed at that time. The Board of Governors had also been invited to
participate more fully in the creation of a new, more comprehensive strategic plan capable of
meeting the needs of constituents and stakeholders throughout the district. As well, board
members wanted to emphasize the valuing of diversity by establishing guidelines which would
make that attitude a publicly explicit part of the culture.
Consequently, a new plan is slated to be drafted at some time in the fall of 2009 or early 2010,
grounded primarily in a community-needs survey currently being administered by Clarus
Corporation. The Western Community College Area Board of Governors will be involved directly in
the creation of the new strategic plan, providing overall direction for the College so that the
individual area plans can fit under the general umbrella.
Program-level Planning
As detailed in the Responses section previously, WNCC works to develop existing programs and
add new programs that fit within its role and mission. The Powerline Construction and Maintenance
Program on the Alliance campus is one example. This program, build from industry demand,
draws students from Nebraska, Colorado, and Wyoming. Two-thirds of the 2008 graduates were
from Nebraska and took jobs in western Nebraska.
Western Nebraska Community College Page 47