Strategies & Goals 2004

Priority Goals:
Northeast Higher Ed.District

Future Planning:
Northest Higher Ed. District

A thoughtfully produced presentation was shared with over forty groups of people across the region who almost unanimously acknowledged that, indeed, we needed to relate to each other in new ways. More importantly, they agreed that we could trust the strong Iron Range tradition of interdependence and hard work to make things happen. This was the beginning of a realignment of resources, people and ideas. Along the way, True North leaders made it clear that this was "a low threshold, inclusive and collaborative" strategy for the greater good of the region. True North was not interested in replacing, removing or taking over for any of the people or organizations who came to the table.

archived 2003 Goals

• Perform comprehensive environmental scan. [Access and Opportunity]
• Validate strategic planning as a way of recognizing full college potential.
  [Fully Integrate the System]
• Increase community interaction and engagement. [Community Development and Economic Vitality and Advocacy]
• Promote leadership development through provost selection and follow-up mentorship.
  [Fully Integrate the System]
• Restructure administration using accepted organization development principles.
  [Fully Integrate the System]
• Analyze data trending (budget, demographics, enrollment, … etc.)
  [Advocacy]
• Standardize budgeting processes and documentation (Green and White Sheets).
  [Advocacy]

• Develop a rural policy agenda to be adopted by the Rural Community College Alliance.[Advocacy]
• Secure a JOBZ designation for Northeast Minnesota demonstrating higher education’s important role in creating new rural jobs.
  [Community Development and Economic Vitality]

C. Advance the True North initiative as a regional strategy

• Leverage additional non-state resources.
  [Advocacy]
• Align regional partners through a TechNorth Prep Center event, and Investor Group recruitment strategy.
  [Community Development and Economic Vitality]
• Revitalize two rural community main streets through active promotion of TechNorth Prep Centers.
  [Community Development and Economic Vitality]

• Grow on-line learning offerings and programs.
  [Access and Opportunity]
• Create an e-learning technician program.
  [Quality Learning Programs]

• Complete the Annual Advancement Committee Agenda by June 30, 2004
  [Advocacy]

• Grow customized training opportunities.
  [Community Development and Economic Vitality]
• Distribute e-learning and instructional technology methods to a larger market.
  [Fully Integrate the System]
• Develop a plan to remedy infrastructure challenges.
  [Advocacy]

• Position NHED colleges to become intermediary institutions with a defined and federally funded role as catalysts and communicator for economic growth.
  [Advocacy]
• Become the convener/facilitator for creating a vision, setting goals, and moving to action in building healthier communities.
  [Community Development and Economic Vitality]
• Take responsibility for coordination of a multi-sector plan leading to niche programming.
  [Quality Learning Programs]

C. Advance the True North initiative as a regional strategy

• Formalize the education/business relationship.
  [Community Development and Economic Vitality]
• Perform worker skill and productivity assessments.
  [Quality Learning Programs]
• Align government, health and social services, P-16 education, community infrastructure and the economy for regional growth.
  [Community Development and Economic Vitality]
• Change the pattern of interaction between college personnel and those external to each organization.
  [Advocacy]

Interdependence

• Demonstrate why colleges need each other across Northeast Minnesota.
  [Fully Integrate the System]
• Enable Centers of Distinction to emerge at each Northeast Higher Education District College.
  [Quality Learning Programs]
• Enhance Higher Learning Commission accreditation by continuously improving quality initiatives.
  [Fully Integrate the System]
• Promote college autonomy and different college missions.
  [Fully Integrate the System]

Program Sharing

• Remove barriers for moving content among institutions.
  [Quality Learning Programs]
• Create incentives for Programs of Distinction to serve the entire region.
  [Quality Learning Programs]
• Align like programs among institutions.
  [Quality Learning Programs]
• Reduce unnecessary duplication.
  [Fully Integrate the System]

Cost Effectiveness

• Share as much as possible (from President to Affirmative Action Officer).
  [Fully Integrate the System]
• Reduce costs through scalable initiatives.
  [Advocacy]
• Institutionalize a “better practice” philosophy and strategy implementation. (Continuous Improvement)
  [Fully Integrate the System]
• Utilize technology appropriately.
  [Fully Integrate the System]

Technology Integration

• Utilize additional instructional technology methods.
  [Fully Integrate the System]
• Build “better practice” instructional design and delivery options.
  [Access and Opportunity]