CBT: The College Brain Trust

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CBT Case Studies

Cuesta College

Cuesta College expressed an interest in partnering with a consulting firm to develop a new strategic plan. The strategic plan was developed in cooperation with both the internal and external stakeholders of the district. When completed, it helped prompt institutional action leading to improvement in the services and programs designed to meet the needs of a diverse student population.

The specific goal of the strategic planning process was to identify the resources, facilities and actions necessary to meet the short and long-term goals of the district as determined by the comprehensive planning process. The strategic plan addressed how the district can utilize the mission and vision to implement planned improvements resulting in better quality services to students and the constituents of San Luis Obispo Community College District, its governing agency.

Working on campus and throughout the district across institutional lines with all district and campus groups as well as the larger service area, the College Brain Trust consultants worked to promote understanding and support among all college constituencies of the importance and value of a strategic plan, both in relation to accreditation and to the future success of Cuesta College.

The strategic plan is guided by the college’s mission, vision, and educational master plan. It places the goals and values of those documents in the context of the district’s relationship to its community, its students’ needs, and its human and fiscal resources. The plan proposes a series of concrete strategic goals buttressed by specific actions and activities within a set of timeframes.

1. Introduction – an executive summary, purpose and acknowledgements.
2. Foundations for the Strategic Plan — college history, philosophy, core values, mission, functions, goals, objectives, institutional learning outcomes and organizational structure. The foundational planning statement reflects and honors what is unique about Cuesta College and is collaboratively determined.
3. An Environmental Scan – analyses of key external variables impacting the college such as service area population demographics and projections, economic climate, and workforce needs.
4. A SWOT analysis – A look at what is going on inside the college by identifying the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats, including enrollment trend analysis, student demographics and projections, and participation rates.
5. Incorporate the recently approved Mission, Vision and Values statements.
6. Development of three-year goals - based upon the Environmental Scan and SWOT analysis and reflective of the values and goals embodied in the major institutional documents.
7. Development of accountability measurements - how the goals are going to be reached (strategies, objectives, responsibilities and timelines).
8. Recommendations and strategic directions for the future.

College Brain Trust consulting team: Dr. Richard Giese – former president of Mt. San Jacinto College.
Ed Buckley - former vice president of academic affairs at Santa Rosa Junior College.
Carolyn Russell - former English professor and division dean at Rio Hondo College.