STCC kicks off year-long strategic planning effort for the college

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Springfield Technical Community College has assembled a task force charged with developing a well-structured, dynamic five-year strategic plan for the institution.

STCC President John B. Cook introduced the task force and highlighted its mission at an All-College Town Hall meeting on April 22. After the Town Hall, the group of on-campus task force members held its inaugural meeting via Zoom.

“This is an exciting day for STCC,” Cook said. “This pairs nicely with the recent announcement of $30 million in state funding to relocate our health programs out of Building 20. We can look ahead with optimism. There’s no better time to plan for the future.”

Marikate Murren, chair of the STCC Board of Trustees, said the strategic planning effort will help the college advance its mission to support students as they transform their lives.

“The Trustees are excited to see the launch of the strategic planning process and the task force,” Murren said. “This inclusive, objective-focused action group is doing extremely important work that will help set the vision of the college for the next five years.”

The 30-plus member Task Force includes a broad cross section of voices – students, alumni, faculty and staff. In addition, the group will work with two liaisons, one from the Department of Higher Education and one from the STCC Board of Trustees.

“I am so excited to be launching this process today,” Dr. Shai Butler, Interim Vice President of Advancement and External Affairs and a co-chair, said at the Town Hall. “We have an amazing group of individuals who will be working on the task force.”

Butler described strategic planning for STCC as an “inclusive, transparent process where we will use a consensus approach to develop strategic goals that will launch us as a campus into our bright future.”

This pairs nicely with the recent announcement of $30 million in state funding to relocate our health programs out of Building 20. We can look ahead with optimism. There’s no better time to plan for the future. John B. Cook, STCC President

Co-chair Eileen Cusick, a professor of Business Administration, said guest presenters will assist in the development of the strategic plan. They include deans, vice presidents and others from on-campus, as well as members of the Western Massachusetts community.

STCC is working with a planning consultant, CampusWorks, Inc., which assists higher education institutions in the development of effective strategic plans. The task force will continue developing a strategic plan through spring of 2023.

Keith Myers and Dr. Chrissy Coley from CampusWorks offered a details of the process, including a timeline, during the Town Hall. They have assisted other community colleges with strategic planning.

The strategic plan will be used to set priorities and ensure the best use of resources. The task force will examine the community college and higher education landscape to help identify STCC’s strengths and areas of need. The group will engage local and regional community leadership to understand current and future priorities.

The task force will use existing references to frame its work. Sources include:

• The STCC/NECHE Self Study
• The STCC Campus Master Plan
• The STCC IT Master Plan
• The STCC Academic Plan
• The state Department of Higher Education “Equity Agenda” framework

Upon completion of its work, the task force will submit a plan to be endorsed by the STCC Board of Trustees and approved by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education.

About Springfield Technical Community College

STCC, the Commonwealth's only technical community college, continues the pioneering legacy of the Springfield Armory with comprehensive and technical education in manufacturing, STEM, healthcare, business, social services, and the liberal arts. STCC's highly regarded workforce, certificate, degree, and transfer programs are the most affordable in Springfield and provide unequaled opportunity for the vitality of Western Massachusetts. Founded in 1967, the college – a designated Hispanic Serving Institution – seeks to close achievement gaps among students who traditionally face societal barriers. STCC supports students as they transform their lives through intellectual, cultural, and economic engagement while becoming thoughtful, committed and socially responsible graduates.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jim Danko, (413) 755-4812, jdanko@stcc.edu

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