Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #1:  clearly stated goals and objectives both institution-wide and for individual operational units, used for planning and resource allocation at the institutional and unit levels;

1. Is the college plan based on MGO?
2. How are the college plans and individual operation plans tied to MGO and resource allocation?
3. How do MGO influence the rationing of limited resources for competing initiatives?

Note: Refer to Characteristic #3 to avoid duplication here.

College Plan

List of Planning Committee members for the past 5 years

Staff evaluation based on college plan initiative accountability.

Operation and capital budget documents, process timetables and allocation criteria.

Departmental Needs Assessment Form

2003/2004 Operating Budget

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Elements #2: planning and improvement processes that are clearly communicated, provide for constituent participation, and incorporate the use of assessment results;

1. Is the process for planning clearly laid out?  Is it systematic?
2. How does academic planning fit into the college planning process?  To what extent are various constituencies participating in the planning process?  How are they selected?  How are their inputs sought and incorporated?
3. How are opportunities and threats identified for the planning process?  What inputs are considered in the planning process?  How are predictions of the impacts of plans made?  Is there a process to prepare the institution for change?

College Web-site, College Plan Communication Documents

ARC information system

List of Planning Committee members for the past 5 years and philosophy on the appointment of members

First Year Assessment of the College Plan,CCACCollege

Administrators, Report-September 30, 2002. Examples of  assessment tools, such as environmental scans and forecasts,
College Governance®Campus 

Council®CollegeCouncil/College Council 

Subcommittee®President’s Council®Board of  Trustees (if appropriate)®Policy/Procedure Update (if appropriate)

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #3:  objectives for improvement that are clearly stated, reflect conclusions drawn from assessment results, and are linked to mission and goal achievement, both institution-wide and for individual units;

1. What is the college planning assessment process and individual operational unit’s assessment process?
2. How is the planning process designed to incorporate findings from assessments?
3. Are plans and changes in plans consistently linked to MGO?
4. How is the planning process communicated and used at operational and tactical levels of the organization?

First Year Assessment of the College Plan, Staff Evaluations.

College Plan 2003/2005

College Plan, First Year Assessment of the College Plan, case study by campus, center or distance learning

Staff Accountability through evaluations and action items,  initiatives tied to areas of responsibility

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #4: well defined decision-making processes and authority that facilitate planning and renewal;

1. What processes are used to facilitate decision-making in the planning process?
2. Who retains authority in final decision-making?  How is that authority exercised?

Collective Bargaining unit agreements

Research Data(Ex. Bottom Lines),

CollegeGovernance®  CampusCouncil® CollegeCouncil/College Council Subcommittee®President’s Council® Board of Trustees (if appropriate)®Policy/Procedure Update(if appropriate)

Organization  Chart

Planning Discussion Process

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #5:  The assignment of responsibility for improvements and assurance of accountability;

1. How are assignments for implementing plans made?
2. How are persons responsible for implementation made accountable for their completion?
3. How is appropriate authority assigned to support implementation?
4. How are resources assigned to support implementation?
5. How is process on specific plans monitored?  How are adjustments made for barriers to completion?

College Plan Initiatives tied to responsible area.

Staff Evaluations

College Plan

College Plan Initiatives tied to budget, operating and capital  budget documents.

First year assessment of College Plan, Mid year Operating or Capital budget adjustments, Departmental Needs     Assessment Form 2003/2004Operating Budget

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #6: a record of institutional and unit improvement efforts;

1. What strategic initiatives is the college currently engaged in?
2. Demonstrate how these have or will result in institutional or unit improvements.

Annual Report, Case Study on Distance Learning,  by  Campus, and by Center Initiatives (Ex.U.S.Air Initiative, Career Links, WashingtonCrownCenter, DL, On-Line Tutoring)

Enrollment Data, Student Satisfaction Surveys

Case Studies will be used from the last 4-5 years to present and will be tied tothe College Plan Initiatives.

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Fundamental Element #7: periodic assessment of the effectiveness of planning, resource allocation, and institutional renewal processes;

1. How and with what frequency is the planning process assessed?
2. How are needed improvements incorporated into the planning process?

College Plan, Assessment of Plan Document.

CollegeGovernance® CampusCouncil® CollegeCouncil/College Council Subcommittee® President’s

Council® Board of Trustees (if

appropriate)® Policy/Procedure Update (if appropriate) 2003-2005 College Plan.

Professional Development Series.

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Summary Question:  Does the planning process as practiced 2/11/2003 by CCAC result in plans that have consistently led to significant improvements in the organization?

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Integrity, Fundamental Element #2: fair and impartial practices in hiring, evaluation, and dismissal of employees;

1. How do hiring policies and procedures at CCAC provide for fairness and equity? Are these policies and procedures the same for all constituencies? If not, to what are differences attributed?
2. How does CCAC evaluate faculty, administration and staff? What characteristics of that evaluation process provide for fairness and equity?
3. What policies and procedures are in place at CCAC regarding dismissal of employees? How does the College make certain that these are fairly and equitably applied?
4. How does CCAC assess the fairness and equity of these practices? Who determines what is ‘fair and equitable’?

HR Department policies and procedures manuals

Interviews with HR staff

Interviews with a random sample of administrators as to their practices with evaluation and dismissal of subordinates

Collective bargaining agreements

Relevant grievance outcomes

Public EEOC statements by college

Classified advertising examples

Union contracts

Previous salary leveling provisions

Employee handbooks

Fundamental Elements and Related Questions

Evidence/Methodology

Integrity, Fundamental Element #3: sound ethical practices and respect for individuals through its teaching, scholarship/research, service, and administrative practice, including the avoidance of conflict of interest or the appearance of such conflict in all its activities and among its constituents;

1. Does CCAC have a Code of Ethics?
2. Does it clearly define a standard of integrity? If so, how is it communicated throughout the college?  Is it comprehensive enough to convey the importance of integrity in every aspect of the culture of the college? Is it specific enough to be applied in every aspect of the college?

College Code of Ethics

Policy and procedures Manuals

Mission, Goals and Objectives

Planning efforts regarding issues of integrity
Interviews with top level administrators