Proposals to Assist with Developing Strategic Plan

[Eric]

Part of Taft College's efforts to fully comply with the accreditation standards involves strengthening the college's strategic planning process. For the last two accreditation cycles, we have received recommendations to make the planning process more robust by integrating it with the budget planning process (1997 recommendations) and to develop and use a comprehensive educational master plan integrated with a facilities plan (2003 recommendations). To address these recommendations, the Planning Council formed a task force which met several times during the spring 2008 semester to discuss these recommendations and bring options back to the Council. It was decided that one option would be to bring in a consultant with expertise in helping community colleges develop strategic plans and strategic planning processes. Two consultants were contacted during the summer of 2008. The first consultants were John Milburn and Patti Coffman from John Milburn and Associates, who have helped Bakersfield College to develop their strategic plan. The other consultant was Scott Epstein from the Datatel Center for Institutional Effectiveness, who has helped several California Community Colleges develop strategic plans. Proposals from both of these consultants were acquired and are attached to this post. During the Planning Council meeting on Thursday, September 19th, I will present to the Council a summary of these two proposals. The Council will need to discuss and decide whether Taft College should retain the services of one (or neither) of these consultants, or if they would like to get more information regarding the proposals.

I am also attaching the recommendations from the 1997 and 2003 accreditation evaluation reports.