College Planning Process

The Blinn College Planning Process is a three-tier process that incorporates a formal "bottom-up" approach to planning (Departments - Planning Committee Board of Trustees) to facilitate an institution-wide understanding of and support for the process. The first tier consists of six steps and is done on an annual basis. The six steps that constitute the first planning tier are: (1) review of previous annual departmental goals; (2) formulation of new annual departmental goals and budgets; (3) formulation of annual institutional priorities and goals; (4) establishment of annual institutional budget; (5) revision of departmental goals; and (6) action on annual institutional and departmental goals. The second planning tier occurs on a three year cycle. It consists of the six steps of first planning tier, preceded by a review and revision of the institutional goals. The third planning tier normally occurs every five years. It consists of the seven steps of the second planning tier, preceded, by a review and revision of the institutional mission statement.

In the Blinn College Planning Process, annual institutional goals and priorities are formulated early in the planning process so that they may be used as a key element in the development of the annual institutional budget. This process of continuous planning and evaluation is used to advance the institutional purpose in a broad-based participatory manner. In this document, "department" is used to refer to any one of several types of functional units that collectively constitute Blinn College and its operations, and which has a separately identifiable budget. Examples of these functional units are the Biology Department, the Personnel Office and the Security Office.

Review of Previous Annual Departmental Goals. The initial phase of the planning process occurs during the months of January and February, at which time each department reviews the status of the goals previously set for that current academic year. Consideration is given to the possible achievement of those goals by August of that year. The extent to which the goals have been achieved and problems that have impeded their accomplishment are included in these considerations. This review is conducted by the members of each department under the direction of the designated supervisor of that department. Careful attention is given to include the Brazos County campuses, to ensure that the resulting deliberations and observations reflect the status of departmental goals on all of the Blinn College campuses. The purpose of this review is to determine appropriate goals and related actions for the following year. Each department prepares a brief written report that concisely describes the projected status of each of their goals and related issues. This report is submitted to the vice president most closely associated with the department, according to the institutional organizational charts.

Formulation of New Annual Department Goals and Budgets. During the months of February and March, the members of each department consider actions that can and need to be taken during the next academic year to improve the operation and results of that department. These deliberations take into account such matters as desired student outcomes, needed equipment and facilities, techniques to enhance professional development and improved working conditions. The projected year-end status of the goals for that current year are also a major factor in determining needed actions for the following year. The identified needed actions are formulated into departmental goal statements for the next academic year. Each goals statement includes: (1) a concise statement of each goal; (2) activities by which the goal will be achieved; (3) indicators that can be used to verify the achievement of the given goal; and (4) the current status of that indicator. During the course of the discussions to determine appropriate annual goals for the next academic year, additional goals are identified that require more than one year to accomplish or need to be addressed in the future. These also are included in each departmental goals statement. Each set of departmental goals incorporates and reflects the operation of that department on all campuses on which it functions. By March 15, departmental goals are submitted to the vice president most closely associated with that department, for his/her review and approval. The departmental budgets reflect the fiscal implications associated with the formulated departmental goals. All departmental budget requests are submitted to the Dean of Financial Services by April 1.

Formulation of Annual Institutional Priorities and Institutional Budget. Each year an Institutional Planning Committee is appointed by the President. This 14-member committee consists of the President, five Vice Presidents, Dean of Financial Services, Dean of Business Services - Brazos County, Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, Dean of Technical Education, Coordinator of Instructional Computing and three other individuals selected from among the faculty and administration. The initial task of this committee is to review the departmental goals statements for the next academic year, and prioritize the goals and actions identified in those statements with respect to the existing institutional goals and needs of the institution. During the months of April and May, budget hearings are conducted by this committee as part of the goals-and-budget review process. These budget hearings provide each department with an opportunity to clarify or discuss specific points contained in their goals statement or budget request. Further budgetary information is obtained from a Student Fee Advisory Committee, as defined in state statute (§54.503 et. seq. Ed Code). This committee is composed of five student members and four other members as appointed by the President. The committee renders advice regarding the type, amount and expenditure of compulsory fees for student services. The Institutional Planning Committee's work culminates in a proposed annual institutional budget in support of approved departmental goals and related activities. The resulting institutional budget proposal is then submitted to the Board of Trustees for its review, revision and adoption during the months of July and August.

Review and Establishment of Annual Institutional Budget by Board of Trustees. In July, the Blinn College Board of Trustees reviews the institutional budget, as proposed by the Institutional Planning Committee. This review and discussion occurs at a board planning retreat or during a regular board meeting. The final approval of the institutional goals and institutional budget occurs at a regular board meeting in August.

Revision of Departmental Goals. Once the final institutional budget is established by the board, some departments may find it necessary to partially revise their departmental goals to make them correspond to their final departmental budget allocations. This is done during the month of August, in consultation with the appropriate Vice President, the Dean of Financial Services and/or the Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness. Very early in the fall semester, the members of each department are apprised of the revised departmental budget and the revised departmental goals.

Action on Annual Institutional and Departmental Goals. The activities identified in the departmental goal statements are implemented at the beginning of the fall semester, with their achievement scheduled for no later than late spring or the following summer. Assessment measures identified in the goal statements are used to determine the extent to which goals were achieved. Since the departmental goals collectively support the institutional goals, the institutional goals are accomplished as the departmental goals are addressed and achieved. Examination of the extent to which the departmental goals are being achieved commences in February of the following spring semester, at which point the planning process continues in an annual, repetitive manner.

Review and Revision of Institutional Goals. Every three years, an Institutional Goals Committee is appointed by the President. This 15-member committee consists of the President, the five Vice Presidents, the Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, and eight other individuals selected from among the Blinn College faculty and administration. It is the task of this committee to review the goals and activities of the recent three years, the achievement status of the previous institutional goals, and discuss the future needs and developments for the institution. From these deliberations, the committee formulates a list of institutional goals that provides overall guidance for the actions of the institution for the following three academic years. This set of proposed institutional goals is submitted to the Board of Trustees for its review, revision and adoption. The adoption cycle for institutional goals by the Board of Trustees began during the summer of 1993.

Review and Revision of Institutional Mission Statement. Every five years, an Institutional Mission Committee is appointed by the President. This 15-member committee consists of the President, the five Vice Presidents, and nine other individuals selected from among the Blinn College faculty and administration. It is the responsibility of this committee to review and evaluate the appropriateness of the existing institutional mission statement. Their deliberations include both current purposes being served by the institution and projected purposes the institution will need to address in the future. If necessary, the committee formulates a revised mission statement that is consistent with the determined current and projected purposes of the institution and state laws. This revised institutional mission statement is submitted to the Board of Trustees for its review, revision and adoption. A review and revision of the institutional mission statement is scheduled to occur in 1997. At the direction of the President of the college or the Board, the mission statement may be reviewed between the five-year cycle.

Rev. 1.30.97