The document discusses creating a strategic plan for a library unit that aligns with the priorities of the College of Southern Nevada. It provides context about CSN, noting its size, diversity, and core themes in its institutional strategic plan of student success, quality, diversity, and access. The document then offers guidance on developing a unit strategic plan, including establishing parameters, using an inclusive process, setting doable and aspirational goals, structuring goals, and assessing goals. It emphasizes aligning unit goals with institutional goals and priorities, using data to measure success, and closing the assessment loop by determining next steps once goals are achieved.

1. Collaborate to Strategically Align
with Student Success Initiatives
2016 Innovations Conference, Chicago, Illinois
March 2016
College of Southern Nevada
Ted Chodock – Librarian

2. CSN Basics
Large Urban Community College
3 main campuses plus online & 6 sites
18,288 FTE / 33,867 Head Count
Ethnically Diverse: HSI and MSI designations

3. What has your unit done with
strategic planning?
• We need to do it, but haven’t started
• We’ve started, but need some pointers
• Created a strategic plan that is gathering dust
somewhere
• Time to make a new one

4. What are your institution’s priorities?
March 2016

5. What are your institution’s priorities?
Mission Statement
March 2016
The College of Southern Nevada creates opportunities
and changes lives through access to quality teaching,
services, and experiences that enrich our diverse
community.

6. What are your institution’s priorities?
Mission Statement
March 2016
The College of Southern Nevada creates opportunities
and changes lives through access to quality teaching,
services, and experiences that enrich our diverse
community.

7. What are your institution’s priorities?
Vision Statement
The College of Southern Nevada is a premier learning institution:
• Promoting student success through excellence in teaching and
learning,
• Providing a highly educated, civically engaged, and skilled
workforce,
• Using innovative technology and available resources effectively,
• Increasing alternative funding sources,
• Acting environmentally responsible, and
• Emphasizing fact-based decision-making and accountability to all
stakeholders.
March 2016

8. What are your institution’s priorities?
Vision Statement
The College of Southern Nevada is a premier learning institution:
• Promoting student success through excellence in teaching and
learning,
• Providing a highly educated, civically engaged, and skilled
workforce,
• Using innovative technology and available resources effectively,
• Increasing alternative funding sources,
• Acting environmentally responsible, and
• Emphasizing fact-based decision-making and accountability to all
stakeholders.
March 2016

9. Core Themes
CSN’s Strategic Plan Core Themes:
Student Success
Quality
Diversity
Access
What are your institution’s core themes?
March 2016

10. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Establish parameters
Develop an inclusive process
Set two types of goals
• Doable
• Aspirational

11. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Establish parameters
Brainstorm

12. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Establish parameters
Brainstorm within the core themes
 What are we already doing?
 What could/should we do in the future?

13. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Develop an inclusive process

14. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Develop an inclusive process
• Include all stakeholders
• Build in opportunities for less powerful
groups to contribute
• Separate brainstorming from synthesis

15. Centers for Academic Success Values Statement
•Students: providing a safe and open environment for
students to develop academically
•Tutors and Learning Assistants: helping each develop their
own unique and effective skills while maintaining an
approachable demeanor
•Faculty: collaborating to ensure quality services and
academic excellence
•Collegiality: requiring an atmosphere founded on mutual
respect and cooperation between the diverse groups of
tutors, students, faculty and administration

16. Centers for Academic Success Values Statement
•Students: providing a safe and open environment for
students to develop academically
•Tutors and Learning Assistants: helping each develop their
own unique and effective skills while maintaining an
approachable demeanor
•Faculty: collaborating to ensure quality services and
academic excellence
•Collegiality: requiring an atmosphere founded on mutual
respect and cooperation between the diverse groups of
tutors, students, faculty and administration

17. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Set two types of goals
• Doable
• Aspirational

18. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Set two types of goals
• Doable – easy wins build confidence
• Aspirational
• may become doable over a 2-3 year
period
• worthwhile even if not currently possible

19. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Set two types of goals
• Doable – “Investigate and offer simple
options for online payments of library
charges.”

20. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Set two types of goals
• Doable – “Investigate and offer simple
options for online payments of library
charges.”
This was already in the works at the
time.

21. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Set two types of goals
• Aspirational
• may become doable – “Expand
availability of Chat service into online
environments such as library databases
or Canvas.”

22. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Set two types of goals
• Aspirational
• may become doable – “Expand
availability of Chat service into online
environments such as library databases
or Canvas.”
It took two years due to technical barriers

23. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Set two types of goals
• Aspirational
• worthwhile – “Participate in outreach to CCSD
librarians and teachers to increase
understanding of their curriculum and
approaches to teaching information literacy
concepts.”

24. Creating the Unit Strategic Plan
Set two types of goals
• Aspirational
• worthwhile – “Participate in outreach to CCSD
librarians and teachers to increase
understanding of their curriculum and
approaches to teaching information literacy
concepts”
We haven’t done it yet, but we’re still working
on it!

25. Structuring a Goal
Unit Goal

26. Structuring a Goal
Institutional Goal

27. Structuring a Goal
Unit Goal Institutional GoalIN ORDER TO

28. Structuring a Goal
Unit Goal: Expand
availability of Chat
service into online
environments

29. Structuring a Goal
Institutional Goal:
Students will have
access to support
services they need

30. Structuring a Goal
Unit Goal: Expand
availability of Chat
service into online
environments
Institutional Goal:
Students will have
access to support
services they need

31. Assessment
Assess using a core theme as a parameter.
What data would indicate improving
access, quality, diversity, or student
success?
How will you know if you are successful?

32. Assessing Chat: Core Theme is Quality
Assessment
Activity
Indirect Measure Where will
evidence be
gathered?
What results
would indicate
success or
failure?
Assess Chat
service quality
Optional exit
survey for Chat
interaction
Via LibAnswers
exit survey option
(satisfaction ratings
and general
comments)
Over 85% of exit
surveys rated as
good or great and
steady or
increasing rating
over time.

33. Closing the Loop
What do you do next?
What happens when you have achieved your
goal?
How do you close the loop?

34. CSN West Charleston Campus Library
Discussion and Questions
Contact Information: Ted Chodock
ted.chodock@csn.edu
702-651-5509