Learning Resources

Abstract: Tri-County Technical College in northwestern South Carolina developed a proactive academic program strategy to determine which programs will be offered in the future, including where, how, and when. The process also evaluates which existing programs will be maintained or grown. Business and industry have long used product strategies to determine what will be delivered to market to best meet consumer needs; similarly, Tri-County created a program strategy to be more responsive in meeting employer and community needs. The approach is necessarily nimble, responding to labor market changes, political interests, governance assessment requirements, and the need for continuous program improvement. Using this proactive approach, academic programming decisions can strategically impact curriculum design, enrollment management, learner support and engagement, student transitions programming, and facilities design. Processes and tools were co-created by faculty and staff and incorporated into their roles, negating the need for initial buy-in. Overall, an effective program strategy improves both student access and success while helping the college be more nimble in meeting emerging labor market needs.

Abstract: “[This] is a complete guide on strategic planning, presenting step by step the 5 major components of an integrated planning process. It is also a most useful, exhaustive, and updated list of definitions; presentation of all components and subcomponents; suggestions of strategies; and well-chosen examples . . . As I continue my work with Francophone universities, some in Africa, it will be my honor and pleasure to be inspired and accompanied by the Fountains’ guide.”
—Roland Proulx, Consultant, Institutional Planning & Strategic Intelligence, University of Montreal

With a heavy use of SCUP resource materials, SCUPers Doug and JoEllyn Fountain have written the book they wish someone had handed them when they began working for eight years with a rapidly growing university in Uganda. “While North American universities are developing LEED certified buildings, we were trying to pave roads and get stable electricity. We looked long and hard for materials and advisors who could help us with basic issues.”

Abstract: A simple and readily understandable visual display of quantitative measures of academic efficiency and productivity is demonstrated in this article. This graphical construction facilitates annual comparisons of unit efficiency and productivity as well as an analysis of temporal changes in unit activity. By establishing a common framework upon which a data-driven conversation regarding unit activity is constructed, this method produces a single graphical representation of the activities of any academic unit. As such, this technique assists academic decision makers with goal setting, resource allocation and reallocation, and the program prioritization process.

Abstract: Academic Design describes the design process used in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities to evaluate academic programs and priorities based on the unique needs of individual institutions. The four main sections include landscape analysis, program analysis, program design and improvement, and learning paradigms. The conclusion offers information on how to prepare your academic design plan. If you need to understand the elements of an institutional (or large departmental) strategic planning process, this is the book for you. The authors have distilled significant lessons learned from their experiences with a number of mostly smaller colleges and universities, but the principles and processes apply in a wide variety of institutional arenas.