Planning our Future Together
Saint Paul College’s current strategic plan, Strategic Plan 2018-22, was developed through an inclusive process that included over 600 faculty, staff, students, and external stakeholders from industry, K-12 education, the foundation, and community partners. The process used the institution’s mission, vision, and values as the foundation for developing strategic goals and was led by the Dean of Institutional Research, Planning, and Grants. The process included an environmental scan, SWOT analysis, community listening sessions, surveys, gallery walks and engaging over 600 staff, faculty, students, and community stakeholders.
The process for developing the next strategic plan will begin in fall 2021.
Annual Planning at Saint Paul College
Strategic priorities are identified on an annual basis. Departments use these priorities to develop objectives that align with the annual priorities and strategic plan. Annual planning allows each department to establish specific objectives and actionable tasks that outline how the department plans work to support the goals of the strategic plan and illustrate how the staff and faculty play a role in achieving the goals.
Division and Operational Plans
Saint Paul College engages in systematic divisional and operational planning. Divisional and operational plans align with the College’s Strategic Plan 2018-2022 and aim to advance the institution’s long-range strategic goals. Each division or operational area has identified key activities to complete and outcomes to measure to assist Saint Paul College in meeting its goals.
Integrated Planning and Budgeting
Planning at Saint Paul College occurs in an integrated manner across academic and non-academic units and takes into account long-range and yearly needs. On an annual basis, all academic programs, academic support units, student services, and administrative units participate in an integrated planning and budget process which is designed to gather and collect input from all levels of the college.
Integration is evident through:
- Processes—The planning processes integrates the strategic plan, operational plans, and annual work plans with program review, assessment of student learning, and institutional and external data.
- Finances--The budgeting process is aligned with our planning process and develops budget priorities based on the strategic plan priorities, operational plan priorities, and annual work plans.
- Structures--The integration process occurs across academic and non-academic units.
- People- Input, feedback, and collaborative decision making is woven throughout the entire planning and budgeting cycle with multiple opportunities for participation.
Strategic Planning Online (SPOL)
Saint Paul College uses an integrated planning process supported by a comprehensive software system, known as Strategic Planning Online (SPOL). SPOL is an electronic planning system that allows for the full integration and alignment of the strategic plan, annual planning priorities, assessment and program review data, budget requests as well as priorities of the Minnesota State system. SPOL tracks the implementation and progress of improvements to education programs, services, and operations in an ongoing and continuous improvement cycle.