Strategic Planning Updates, Reports, and Archives

Colleagues,

Following is an update on strategic planning efforts at Seattle Colleges.

Feedback Activity Participation 
A significant part of the work of Phase II: Input, Feedback, and Review, our current phase in the strategic planning process, has involved gathering input and feedback from our stakeholders. Over the past months, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee has hosted feedback activities designed for this purpose. Efforts were made to involve student leadership, employee unions, faculty governance, deans and directors, and other identified community members.

We offer sincere thanks to the nearly 1,700 students, employees, and members of the external community who participated districtwide.

• More than 1,300 completed surveys.
• Nearly 250 attended open forums.
• Well over 100 participated in focus and discussion groups.
• A number of interviews were held with external experts.

Emerging Themes 
The Strategic Planning Steering Committee will continue to review, assess, and refine the data compiled from these feedback activities, but from initial assessment, five recurring overarching themes have emerged as priorities.  

• Academics/Programs, including program offerings, degrees, and academic supports
• Employees, including hiring/staffing, onboarding, employee retention, and professional development
• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Community (EDIC), including centering anti-racism, identifying and reporting bias and discrimination, building a diverse workforce, and community building
• Organizational/Operational Optimization, including districtwide and interdepartmental collaboration, transparency, communication, technology use, and evaluating processes, policies, and procedures
• Student Experience and Services, including affordability, supporting basic needs, first-year experience, career services, and community building

What’s Next? Transitioning to Phase III 
These themes will help inform the development of the goals and objectives of the updated strategic plan, which is the work of Phase III: Strategic Plan Development. This work will take place over Spring and Summer Quarters and will begin with the Strategic Planning Steering Committee and the board of trustees’ subcommittee on strategic planning in select activities. Refinement will continue into Fall Quarter, with the goal of adopting a new, board-approved strategic plan by the end of 2024.

Thanks, again, to everyone who has been involved in this important process. We invite you to keep up with progress on the work and reports posted to the Strategic Planning Updates and Reports webpage.

For Reference

• Strategic Planning Steering Committee
• Strategic Planning Process Plan

Regards,

Greg Dempsey, Jr.  
Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness   
South Seattle College 

Dear Seattle Colleges District Community,

I hope this email finds you well. On behalf of our Seattle Colleges Strategic Planning Steering committee, I wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your participation in the recent strategic planning feedback activities. Your valuable insights, contributions, and thoughtful feedback will be instrumental in shaping and informing the goals and priorities for our next districtwide strategic plan.

The success of our strategic plan is a direct result of the collective wisdom and engagement of our employees, students, and community members. Your dedication to providing feedback through surveys, open forums, and focus groups has truly been appreciated. Your input will play a pivotal role in guiding our decisions and actions for the future of our organization.

Over the next six weeks, the districtwide institutional effectiveness team will collaborate closely to analyze the results and findings from these activities. The insights from this analysis will directly inform discussions within the strategic planning steering committee, guiding the establishment of our next strategic plan's goals and priorities. Following finalization, we will provide an update announcing these goals, outlining the next steps, while also providing access to the analysis and key findings of the feedback activities.

Once again, thank you for your commitment and contributions to this important phase of our strategic planning work. We look forward to sharing the outcomes in the very near future. My best,

Greg 
Greg Dempsey, Jr. 
Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness 
South Seattle College 

​Dear Seattle Colleges Employees,

I hope this email finds you well. As we embark on an exciting journey to shape the future of Seattle Colleges through the development of an updated strategic plan, I am excited to send you this invitation to participate in our Employee Strategic Planning Survey (highlighted link below).

A strategic plan is like a roadmap that helps us set goals and priorities for the next several years. For reference, here is the most recent district-wide strategic plan. Your input and insights are invaluable as we chart a course for our colleges’ growth and development. This survey is a crucial step in gathering feedback from our diverse community of staff, students and community members, ensuring that all voices are heard and considered in the strategic planning process.

The survey is designed to give us feedback and information on:

• Setting goals and priorities for our next strategic plan
• Addressing challenges and opportunities for growth

Your participation in this survey is essential to ensure that our strategic plan reflects the collective vision of our community. Your insights will help shape the future of Seattle Colleges as a whole and of North Seattle College, Seattle Central College, and South Seattle College, individually. Your responses will help enable us to better serve our students, faculty, and staff.

I encourage you to take the time to share your thoughts and ideas. Your responses will remain confidential, and aggregated data will be used to inform our strategic planning efforts. To participate, please open this survey link and complete it by Friday, March 1st, 2024.
(Note: the survey link is available in the email each employee received.)

Thank you in advance for your participation and dedication to the success of Seattle Colleges. Together, we can build a brighter future for our institutions and the communities we serve.

Best regards,

Greg Dempsey, Jr.  
Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness   
South Seattle College 

Dear South Seattle College,

As you know, we recently started the important work of developing an updated districtwide strategic plan for Seattle Colleges. With wide and diverse representation from all of our colleges and the district, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee began its work in Fall Quarter.

While providing guidance and oversight, this committee will ensure that the new strategic plan reflects a common purpose, vision, and goals that can be achieved over time. The members of the committee will not be working in a vacuum. To ensure that the plan is both comprehensive and inclusive, they are developing a series of feedback activities so the many voices and viewpoints across our colleges can offer input. Planned activities include:

1. A districtwide survey
2. Two open forums (face-to-face and zoom) at each college
3. Student leader focus groups at each college
4. Union focus groups

You Are Invited to Take Part

I want to personally invite each of you to take part in these activities. Offer your thoughts and viewpoints. Voice your opinions and concerns. Share what you think we do well and what we can do better. The process of creating a new strategic plan is an opportunity to build a better Seattle Central and a better Seattle Colleges District.

Districtwide Survey

This survey is a crucial step in gathering feedback from our diverse community of staff, students and community members, ensuring that all voices are heard and considered in the strategic planning process. The survey is designed to give us feedback and information on:

• Setting goals and priorities for our next strategic plan
• Addressing challenges and opportunities for growth

The survey will remain open from 2/16 to 3/1. Please watch for an email from scdplanning@seattlecolleges.edu on Friday, February 16th inviting you to participate.

Open Forums

Facilitated by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, these open forums will provide an opportunity for you to engage with your colleagues to help identify potential goals, priorities and strategies for the Seattle College's next 5 - 10 year strategic plan. Be ready to actively engage and provide your thoughts and ideas. Refreshments will be served for the in-person session. You only need to attend one of the following forums:

• March 5th 2:30 - 4pm in Person

     OR

• March 7th 2:30 - 4pm via Zoom

Student Leader Focus Groups

Facilitated by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, these focus groups are intended to better understand the needs of our students and how that informs our future priorities and planning. These will be scheduled during the months of February and March.

Union Focus Groups

Facilitated by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, these focus groups are intended to go deeper into current challenges and opportunities facing the Seattle Colleges. These will be scheduled during the month of March.

For Reference

Information about the progress of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee and the development of the updated strategic plan will be posted regularly to the strategic planning website.  

Thank you for all you do!

Sincerely,

Bradley Lane, Ph.D.
Interim President | Seattle Central College 
Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness | Seattle Colleges 

Dear South Seattle College,

As you know, we recently started the important work of developing an updated districtwide strategic plan for Seattle Colleges. With wide and diverse representation from all of our colleges and the district, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee began its work in Fall Quarter.

While providing guidance and oversight, this committee will ensure that the new strategic plan reflects a common purpose, vision, and goals that can be achieved over time. The members of the committee will not be working in a vacuum. To ensure that the plan is both comprehensive and inclusive, they are developing a series of feedback activities so the many voices and viewpoints across our colleges can offer input. Planned activities include:

1. A districtwide survey
2. Two open forums (face-to-face and zoom) at each college
3. Student leader focus groups at each college
4. Union focus groups

You Are Invited to Take Part

As president of South Seattle College, I want to personally invite each of you to take part in these activities. Offer your thoughts and viewpoints. Voice your opinions and concerns. Share what you think we do well and what we can do better. The process of creating a new strategic plan is an opportunity to build a better South Seattle College and a better Seattle Colleges.

Districtwide Survey

This survey is a crucial step in gathering feedback from our diverse community of staff, students and community members, ensuring that all voices are heard and considered in the strategic planning process. The survey is designed to give us feedback and information on:

• Setting goals and priorities for our next strategic plan
• Addressing challenges and opportunities for growth

The survey will remain open from 2/16 to 3/1. Please watch for an email from scdplanning@seattlecolleges.edu on Friday, February 16th inviting you to participate.

Open Forums

Facilitated by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, these open forums will provide an opportunity for you to engage with your colleagues to help identify potential goals, priorities and strategies for the Seattle College's next 5 - 10 year strategic plan. Be ready to actively engage and provide your thoughts and ideas. Refreshments will be served for the in-person session. You only need to attend one of the following forums:

• March 4th 2:30 - 4pm in Brockey Center (JMB). Face-to-face

     OR

• March 6th 2:30 - 4pm via Zoom

Student Leader Focus Groups

Facilitated by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, these focus groups are intended to better understand the needs of our students and how that informs our future priorities and planning. These will be scheduled during the months of February and March.

Union Focus Groups

Facilitated by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, these focus groups are intended to go deeper into current challenges and opportunities facing the Seattle Colleges. These will be scheduled during the month of March.

For Reference

Information about the progress of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee and the development of the updated strategic plan will be posted regularly to the strategic planning website.  
 

Thank you for all you do,

Sayumi Irey, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)  
Acting President  
South Seattle College

Dear Seattle Colleges Siegal Staff,

As you know, we recently started the important work of developing an updated districtwide strategic plan for Seattle Colleges. With wide and diverse representation from all of our colleges and the district, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee began its work in Fall Quarter.

While providing guidance and oversight, this committee will ensure that the new strategic plan reflects a common purpose, vision, and goals that can be achieved over time. The members of the committee will not be working in a vacuum. To ensure that the plan is both comprehensive and inclusive, they are developing a series of feedback activities so the many voices and viewpoints across our colleges can offer input. Planned activities include:

1. A districtwide survey
2. Two open forums (face-to-face and zoom) at each college
3. Student leader focus groups at each college
4. Union focus groups

You Are Invited to Take Part

As Chancellor of Seattle College, I want to personally invite each of you to take part in these activities. Offer your thoughts and viewpoints. Voice your opinions and concerns. Share what you think we do well and what we can do better. The process of creating a new strategic plan is an opportunity to build a better future for the Seattle Colleges.

Districtwide Survey

This survey is a crucial step in gathering feedback from our diverse community of staff, students and community members, ensuring that all voices are heard and considered in the strategic planning process. The survey is designed to give us feedback and information on:

• Setting goals and priorities for our next strategic plan
• Addressing challenges and opportunities for growth

The survey will remain open from 2/16 to 3/1. Please watch for an email from scdplanning@seattlecolleges.edu on Friday, February 16th inviting you to participate.

Open Forums

Facilitated by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, these open forums will provide an opportunity for you to engage with your colleagues to help identify potential goals, priorities and strategies for the Seattle College's next 5 - 10 year strategic plan. Be ready to actively engage and provide your thoughts and ideas. 

• March 4th 10:30am - 12:00pm via Zoom

Student Leader Focus Groups

Facilitated by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, these focus groups are intended to better understand the needs of our students and how that informs our future priorities and planning. These will be scheduled during the months of February and March.

Union Focus Groups

Facilitated by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, these focus groups are intended to go deeper into current challenges and opportunities facing the Seattle Colleges. These will be scheduled during the month of March.

For Reference

Information about the progress of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee and the development of the updated strategic plan will be posted regularly to the strategic planning website. 

Thank you for all you do.

Sincerely,

Rosie
Dr. Rosie Rimando-Chareunsap
Seattle Colleges - Chancellor

Dear North Seattle College,

As you know, we recently started the important work of developing an updated districtwide strategic plan for Seattle Colleges. With wide and diverse representation from all of our colleges and the district, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee began its work in Fall Quarter.

While providing guidance and oversight, this committee will ensure that the new strategic plan reflects a common purpose, vision, and goals that can be achieved over time. The members of the committee will not be working in a vacuum. To ensure that the plan is both comprehensive and inclusive, they are developing a series of feedback activities so the many voices and viewpoints across our colleges can offer input. Planned activities include:

1. A districtwide survey
2. Two open forums (face-to-face and zoom) at each college
3. Student leader focus groups at each college
4. Union focus groups

You Are Invited to Take Part

As interim president of North Seattle College, I want to personally invite each of you to take part in these activities. Offer your thoughts and viewpoints. Voice your opinions and concerns. Share what you think we do well and what we can do better. The process of creating a new strategic plan is an opportunity to build a better North Seattle College and a better Seattle Colleges.

Districtwide Survey

This survey is a crucial step in gathering feedback from our diverse community of staff, students and community members, ensuring that all voices are heard and considered in the strategic planning process. The survey is designed to give us feedback and information on:

• Setting goals and priorities for our next strategic plan
• Addressing challenges and opportunities for growth

The survey will remain open from 2/16 to 3/1. Please watch for an email from scdplanning@seattlecolleges.edu on Friday, February 16th inviting you to participate.

Open Forums

Facilitated by the Strategic Planning Steering Committee, these open forums will provide an opportunity for you to engage with your colleagues to help identify potential goals, priorities and strategies for the Seattle College's next 5 - 10 year strategic plan. Be ready to actively engage and provide your thoughts and ideas. Refreshments will be served for the in-person session. You only need to attend one of the following forums:

• March 11 1:30 to 4:30pm via Zoom

     OR

• March 12th 3:00 - 4:30 pm in Person

Student Leader Focus Groups

Facilitated by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, these focus groups are intended to better understand the needs of our students and how that informs our future priorities and planning. These will be scheduled during the months of February and March.

Union Focus Groups

Facilitated by the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, these focus groups are intended to go deeper into current challenges and opportunities facing the Seattle Colleges. These will be scheduled during the month of March.

For Reference

Information about the progress of the Strategic Planning Steering Committee and the development of the updated strategic plan will be posted regularly to the strategic planning website.  

Thank you for all you do.

Rachel Solemsaas, Ed.D
Interim President
North Seattle College

Colleagues,

Bridge Plan Update  
A status report on the 2023-24 Bridge Plan was provided to the Seattle Colleges Board of Trustees at the December 14, 2023, meeting. The report offers an update of the progress, milestones, challenges, and next steps of the ten strategies. Read the full report.

Major highlights include:

• Overall, the six student success strategies have all made progress. Most notably, financial aid consolidation, program mapping and placement are the closest to completion.
• The Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Community’s focus will be on the finalization and implementation of the 2023-2025 Racial Equity Plan.
• District Finance and Operations has completed its departmental reorganization and continues to work on standardization of budget submittal and reporting. The 2022-23 fiscal year ended with a districtwide surplus balance of $1.1 million.
• Seattle Colleges Foundation is ahead of schedule toward its $50M Equity Can't Wait Campaign total goal and is raising the goal to $60M.

Strategic Planning Website 
A new round of strategic planning for our district and colleges is now in its initial stages. In addition to information about the process and steering committee, the Strategic Planning website has been updated to include information from recent Strategic Planning Steering Committee meetings. On the Updates and Reports webpage you will find summaries of the committee's recent activity:

• 2023-2024 Strategic Planning Process Project Plan
• Steering Committee Meeting Minutes of Wednesday, Nov. 15., 2023
• Compiled notes from a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) Analysis 
   

Plan to Participate in Upcoming Strategic Planning Activities 
Following a set of guiding principles for data and feedback framework, the Strategic Planning Steering Committee will invite employees to participate in feedback activities related to strategic planning. These activities are planned for Winter Quarter 2024 and will help the committee develop and refine priorities and related strategies for the new strategic plan. Activities will likely include surveys, listening sessions or forums, and interviews. Watch your email for announcements about these opportunities to participate.

Thank you.

Bradley Lane, Ph.D. 
Interim President | Seattle Central College 
Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness | Seattle Colleges

Greg Dempsey, Jr. 
Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness 
South Seattle College

Seattle Colleges Colleagues,

A steering committee has been established to guide our efforts as we embark on a new strategic planning process during the 2023-24 academic year. This committee will coordinate the development of an updated districtwide strategic plan. Committee members were selected with an attentive focus on ensuring diversity and having a wide, inclusive representation from across our colleges. Each member of the committee has agreed to take part in this important work, and we welcome their perspectives and expertise.

Seattle Colleges Strategic Planning Steering Committee

The Strategic Planning Steering Committee held its first meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 15. It will meet again on Thursday, Dec. 14. Plans call for the committee to meet at least twice each quarter.

Follow-Up from Convocation 
At Convocation on September 19, a presentation highlighted the strategic planning process and the status of the bridge plan in place until the new strategic plan is adopted. During the presentation, a dynamic poll offered some initial thoughts from those who attended. The steering committee looks forward to using those responses to help inform next steps. View a video of that presentation along with the results of the dynamic poll.

Opportunities for Involvement in the Strategic Planning Process 
An important part of the strategic planning process involves developing opportunities for our stakeholders—including students, faculty, staff, partners, and communities—to take part in the larger strategic planning process and to offer feedback. It is expected that several subcommittees will also be necessary as part of the process. Those subcommittees will work through the steering committee and will provide additional opportunities for involvement.

We invite you to watch for opportunities to engage and hope you will take an active role in the process as it moves forward.  

For Further Information 
Please see our website: www.seattlecolleges.edu/strategic-plan. And watch for additional information from our email account, SCDPlanning@seattlecolleges.ed.

Thank you!

Bradley Lane, Ph.D. | (he/him) 
Interim President | Seattle Central College 
Vice Chancellor for Institutional Effectiveness| Seattle Colleges