Certified Course

Module 1: Basic Planning & Initial Steps

• Explain how a well-devised 5-year plan will improve operational efficiency and bottom-line performance.
• Utilize a 5-year strategic plan as a basis for business and marketing plans.
• Identify staff who are to be involved in the planning effort to ensure that all constituencies are represented.
• Assess, within the context of the plan, current educational programs, continuing educations courses and potential articulation agreements, including changes, additions and deletions, to meet the demands of the workplace.
• Plot program enrollment goals for each session over the next five years.
• Review factors that affect the planning process such as tuition structure and increases, tuition assistance and financial aid resources.

Module 2: Student Services Planning

• Identify student services currently offered and assess the impact on student success, completion, graduation, and placement.
• Determine, in context of the 5-year plan, what support programs need to be initiated, changed or enhanced such as orientation, student retention and intervention, graduation, and staff development.
• Determine what employment skills training can be added to career services offerings.
• Determine how the career services department can be enhanced to attract more students during the admissions process.
• Describe the pros and cons of internships and externships.

Module 3: Organizational Development Planning

• Create a current organizational chart and restructure it to meet current and future organizational needs.
• Utilize tools for creating new job descriptions and updating those of current employees, and determine what additional staff may be needed to support school goals.
• Evaluate the pros and cons of an Advisory Board.
• Determine library requirements by the appropriate state licensing board and accrediting agency, and assess the library in terms of meeting program, student and faculty needs.
• Evaluate the school's physical site and whether it will support growth goals for the future.

Module 4: Marketing & Budget Planning

• Identify current marketing strategies.
• Develop a profile of ideal students.
• Determine the profile of ideal prospects that are not being currently reached.
• Put plans in place to evaluate current marketing strategies.
• Initiate a budget planning process.