Northwest Louisiana Technical College Mission, Vision, and Values Statements Mission Northwest Louisiana Technical College is an institution of higher education established to provide the citizens of northwest Louisiana with opportunities for educational, economic, professional, and personal development. Through a focus on high quality, relevant, career and technical education, the college supports economic growth and community development by educating and training students for entry and advancement in high-wage, high-demand industries. Vision Northwest Louisiana Technical College is a valued and integral partner in a prosperous and vital region. Values The beliefs that guide our actions, activities, and decisions as a college: Innovation: Encourage and reward new ideas, proactive thinking and use of evolving technology Collaboration: Work cooperatively in a supportive environment; make the best use of our resources by working collaboratively with community, business, education, economic, and nonprofit partners Accountability: Maintain effective and efficient programs and services; accept responsibility for our actions and follow through on our agreements Respect: Foster trust, courtesy and open communication; create an inclusive college community where all students and employees feel welcome and supported in achieving their goals Excellence: Focus on quality in programs and services; use both qualitative and quantitative data in making decisions Strategic Plan (2014 – 2019) To support the mission and vision of Northwest Louisiana Technical College, the following strategic priorities and goals have been developed for the period of 2014-2019. Strategic Priorities / Institutional Goals / Objectives I. Northwest Louisiana Technical College is a Key Economic Driver - Northwest Louisiana Technical College desires to be a catalyst for business and industry expansion in our area. We strive to become recognized as the primary provider of highly trained and skilled workers in our region. Northwest will be a key player in economic development efforts throughout the nine parishes of northwest Louisiana. a. We will anticipate and respond to employer needs. i. Maintain membership on boards, committees, alliances, and councils. ii. Review the efficacy of program and campus advisory committees. iii. Adopt flexible delivery methods that meet employer needs. iv. Research, develop, expand, and monitor program alignment to ensure each meets the needs of the workforce. v. Convene community and business leaders to create opportunities for excellence in educational and economic development. II. Student Recruitment, Retention, and Success - Northwest Louisiana Technical College desires to strengthen student recruitment while also improving retention and graduation rates. We strive to achieve a consistently high percentage of our graduates finding family-sustaining jobs in their field of study. a. We will position Northwest as the first choice for career and technical education in the region. i. Increase the number of students enrolled at each campus by 100%. ii. Expand dual enrollment programs at each campus. iii. Expand WorkReady U program activities on each campus. iv. Become a military-friendly college. v. Increase involvement in community to raise awareness and create connections. vi. Create teaching and learning environments that foster student success. vii. Develop and implement a powerful brand strategy. viii. Develop a comprehensive marketing and recruitment plan that tracks the effectiveness of various strategies. ix. Develop a social media strategy that engages existing and potential consumers. x. Establish key relationships with local media in each service area and maximize use of free media opportunities. b. We will provide the resources and systems students need to achieve their goals. i. Increase course completion in the first semester. ii. Develop an early warning system to help identify at risk students. iii. Implement a model to ensure all students are advised through graduation. iv. Adopt flexible delivery methods that meet student needs. v. Establish an activity fee to fund health and wellness, recreational, cultural activities and other services. vi. Develop an intramural sports program that provides recreational and social opportunities. vii. Enhance career services support for students, alumni, and employers. III. A Diverse and Inclusive Environment - Northwest Louisiana Technical College’s aim is to create an environment of inclusiveness, where students and employees are a mix of age, race, gender, religion, physical abilities, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status reflective of the workplace and our region. We strive to ensure that all feel valued and welcome. We seek to be a culturally competent organization. a. We will promote an environment of innovation and engagement. i. Provide a welcoming environment to all college visitors. ii. Increase communication, collaboration, and teamwork between/among divisions and campuses. iii. Provide opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to engage in community-building and community-serving activities. iv. Build a student body and employee base that is reflective of the communities in which our campuses exist. v. Provide opportunities for faculty, staff, and students to explore diverse topics of multiculturalism. vi. Develop an Ethos Statement for the college. vii. Review and revise the college’s grievance policies and procedures to ensure fairness and equity. IV. Enhanced Organizational Effectiveness & Engagement - Northwest Louisiana Technical College desires to solicit greater input into decision making through a more inclusive governance structure. We strive to improve our systems and processes to be as efficient and effective as possible. We seek increased communication, flowing vertically and horizontally both internally and externally. a. We will continuously improve our people, processes and learning environment. i. Ensure every employee receives professional development opportunities. ii. Research and pursue process efficiencies. iii. Utilize technology to improve business processes. iv. Engage in a review of organizational structure to explore cost-saving efficiencies. v. Demonstrate student learning by assessing core abilities and program outcomes. vi. Develop a shared governance system that engages faculty, staff and students in the decision-making process of the college. vii. Redesign the existing website with a view to improving appearance, content and functionality. V. New Resources - Northwest Louisiana Technical College desires to develop new sources of funding to support the college. We seek to establish a Foundation, increase scholarship opportunities for students, faculty, and staff, increase the number of grants, and grow our partnerships with business and industry. a. We will advance technical education through partnerships with external stakeholders. i. Design and build strong and engaged alumni presence. ii. Strengthen and further develop partnerships with business and industry. iii. Continue collaborative efforts with secondary and university partners. iv. Enhance engagement with and support from the community. v. Research and pursue alternative sources of funding. vi. Establish a Northwest Louisiana Technical College Foundation dedicated to securing resources to support strategic priorities. vii. Build capacity to pursue and manage grants and other external funding opportunities. Evaluating the Strategic Plan A critical step in the planning process at Northwest LTC is to monitor and evaluate progress. In the same way we check the signposts along a road when completing a journey, it is similarly important to check that we are progressing toward our strategic priorities. The Executive Leadership Team (ELT) will use a variety of reports to review progress towards meeting the strategic priorities, institutional goals, and objectives. Therefore, the strategic priorities will be assigned to members of the ELT who will ensure that those doing the work are keeping appropriate records so that progress can be assessed. This will involve, at the implementation stage of your plan, being clear what systems and structures are required to achieve the strategic priorities. Additionally, the identification of current status, targets, and the key performance indicators will give an indication of how well we are doing. The Northwest LTC Strategic Plan will be monitored and reviewed on an annual basis by the Executive Leadership Team. When reviewing progress towards achieving the strategic priorities, institutional goals, and objectives, the ELT will:  ensure that activities are kept within the parameters of the agreed strategic priorities, institutional goals, and objectives;  ensure that activities are consistent with the College’s vision, mission and values; and  keep under review internal and external changes which may require changes to the College’s strategy or affect its ability to achieve the objectives.