Approvals:
11/28/05
USF-SM Campus Board

2/20/06 ACE Work Group

3/2/06
USF Board of Trustees

THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS

Strategic Planning Committee

In December 2004, a standing Strategic Planning Committee was established to conduct the planning process.  The “scope of the work” involved producing a detailed 60-month plan focused on (1) consolidation of existing strengths; (2) initiation of program options that are fiscally viable, academically sound and responsive to community needs; and (3) description of support service and infrastructure for operational viability.  To formulate such a plan required consideration of likely changes in the socio-economic environment that will impact the future.  The integrity of such a plan also demanded both a detailed budget for fiscally sound operations and metrics for measuring the progress in goal fulfillment.  The resulting plan was to serve as a foundation for amendment of the Campus Master plan describing facilities needs as well as indicate the planned continuing relationship with New College of Florida with specific reference to the provision of library facilities for the campus community.

The process of inquiry included a review of current campus operations, a collaborative idea-generating exercise for all faculty and staff that produced over 400 responses, a survey of the campus workplace, a survey of the student body to establish its concerns for the future, a review of leading planning ideas by the Community Leadership Council and a focus group meeting arranged by the Economic Development Councils of Sarasota and Manatee Counties.  In total, over 300 individuals contributed to the process of planning.

An internal website was established to ensure full sharing of ideas and information.  All appropriate planning documents from the University of South Florida, the Florida Board of Governors and the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) were placed on the website.  Community documents such as the recent Suncoast Workforce Development Board report on workforce needs were incorporated into the planning review process.  In combination, the inquiry was characterized by sufficient breadth to permit identification of reasoned choices and the setting of important goals.