(431) Leveraging Strategic Planning and Accreditation to Impact Change

Objective:

The college has embarked on two important activities, strategic planning (2022) and accreditation self-study (2023-2024). Through these efforts the objective of identifying strengths and areas of improvement through the use of technology and data infrastructure was developed to assist faculty and staff in their respective roles.


Methods:

The strategic planning and accreditation preparation processes elucidated opportunities for improving technology and infrastructure. Specifically, two major areas of improvement were to implement process to improve data analytical capabilities and improved information access and transparency. As an intervention, the college purchased Enflux to improve data analytic capabilities for both curricular assessment and strategic plan progress tracking. In addition, the college developed both a student and faculty/staff intranet to improve information access and transparency.

Results:
Deploying data analysis strategies and intranet data sharing has led to workflow improvements from data driven decision-making. Faculty have utilized these technologies to improve teaching and processes have been implemented to test future technology. The college has invested in a strategic intranet of all operational data management, maximizing access to policy/procedure/guidance materials across activities. A new assistant dean for assessment position was created and a new Director of Faculty Support & Administrative Services was created to bridge staff coordination within our divisions, central business, and HR units.


Conclusion:

Actively engaging the college community in strategic planning and accreditation self-study can identify areas of strength and opportunity to improve access and utilization of data technologies while improving overall infrastructure to assist both faculty and staff in their efforts.