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Strategic Planning Conference 2015

As part of an effort to develop a new institutional four-year strategic plan, Harper College held a residential Strategic Planning Conference on March 4-6, 2015.

The current economic times reflect a changing global environment – one characterized by increased competition on an international stage. The social and economic health of our regional community and the global competitiveness of our local businesses will increasingly depend on our ability to prepare a world class workforce. The ability of our district residents to earn a family supporting wage will depend on access to and completion of a higher education credential.  

We are bringing together educators, community and business leaders, and other strategic thinkers to help us define broad directions for the College and ensure that we are critically aligned with our community partners.  The ultimate goal of the conference is to drive the strategic directions and goal themes for our new plan.  We at Harper are committed to doing our part. This convening allows for important dialogue with businesses, students, educators, and elected officials. Only by engaging in dialogue can we hope to maintain and build upon the standard of living that our community has come to expect 

Below are resource materials that provide context for an understanding of the issues facing Harper College and its students. These resources highlight best practices in higher education and community colleges as well as document the results from four Dialogue Sessions held by the College in the fall of 2014 to launch the discourse of and reflection on these issues. The Dialogue Sessions included presentations from industry experts, as well as expert panelists of Harper faculty and staff who responded to the presentations.  Employee feedback was a critical component of these sessions and included discussion, input groups and survey opportunities. All of the resources provided have been summarized for your convenience with links provided to the original documents for those who prefer a detailed picture of the issues. 

First, we provide Harper College institutional information. Next, resources were identified to provide context for the conference discussions. These resource materials are presented to align with the order of the conference agenda and the presentations they inform.

Conference Presentations

Welcome and Opening

Dr. Ken Ender, President, Harper College
Dr. James Applegate, Executive Director, Illinois Board of Higher Education

Higher Education in an Era of Change

Dr. Jim Griesemer, Professor and Dean Emeritus
Director, Strategic Issues Program, University of Denver

Aligning Workforce and Community Needs

Ms. Karin M. Norington-Reaves, CEO, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

What Excellent Community Colleges Do

Mr. Josh Wyner, Vice President and Executive Director of the College Excellence Program, The Aspen Institute

Completion by Design

Ms. Susan Burleson, Vice President, Student Success and Communications, and Mr. Michael Westmoreland, Faculty, Davidson County Community College

The resource outline:  

Institutional Information

Higher Education in an Era of Change Resources

Aligning Workforce and Community Needs Resources

What Excellent Community Colleges Do Resources

Completion by Design Resources

College Resources

For more information about the Strategic Planning Conference, contact:

Dr. Maria Coons
Chief of Staff, Vice President of Workforce, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness
847.925.6143 
mcoons@harpercollege.edu