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Environmental Scan

Red Rocks Community College

VPI Office

Overview and Update

August 2013

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Environmental Scan Purpose The purpose of an environmental scan is

to support and inform the strategic planning process. A good environmental scan will help an organization understand and respond effectively to changes in their environments.1

1 Bryson, John M. Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations. 2004.

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Scan Objective

To collect external and internal information to help shape the academic and career/technical programs.Develop a comprehensive Academic Master

Plan. Provide a mechanism to manage academic

instructional programs and their effectiveness.

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Scan Timeline

The Scan was carried out over a six month period from January to June 2013.

A draft report is available for your review and input.

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4 Major Sections of the Report

RRCC service area demographic analysis

Literature review and analysis of labor market data. Utilized EMSI (Economic Modeling Specialists International)

Survey Business, Industry, Government, Civic, and Cultural Partners 4 year College Partners Students Faculty/Staff

Recommendations, Opportunities and Challenges

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Quick References/Key Highlights

Executive Summary Section.

RRCC Program comparison to EMSI labor market forecast for our service area.

Survey summary with common themes identified as strengths and/or opportunities.

Recommendations/Opportunities/Challenges.

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RRCC Program comparison to EMSI labor market forecast for our service area

Guide to reading the following table (slide #9): Office of Institutional Effectiveness provided RRCC FTE

by prefix for 2012-2013.

The Environmental Scan complier re-sorted the prefixes combining FTE for program comparison to EMSI labor market employment job outlook.

The labor market data is presented for your reference to compare current program FTE to potential job opportunities by program.

See the full report for a complete listing. The full report may be found on the RRCC portal.

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RRCC Program comparison to EMSI 5labor market forecast for our service area - Example

Prefix by Program 2012-2013

FTE

EMSI

# jobs2012

EMSI

# jobs2015

% of job

Change

ACC – Accounting 113.87 4162 4390 5.5% +

ACT (all) Auto Programs

50.87 1736 1755 1.0% +

BUS – Business 319.17 8300 8661 4.0% +

CIS (all) Computer Technology

387.27 6620 7150 8.0% +

HPW (all health) 396.60 3091 3470 12.2% +

ART/DAN/THE combined

294.6 78 79 1.2% +

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Survey results: Summary with common themes identified as strengths and/or opportunities

Guide to reading the following table (slide #11 - #14): Results from each of the four surveys were reviewed. Common themes were identified by the environmental

scan compiler. Common themes are presented as follows:

As either an “S” (Strengths) or an “O” (Opportunities) or both depending on the survey comments.

Relationship to: RRCC Strategic Plan initiatives CCCS System Strategic Plan goals AQIP categories

Potential action items are noted by theme as identified by the environmental scan compiler.

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I came in not knowing what to expect. First time in college. I am leaving totally prepared with a top notch education. College is the best thing i have ever done.. Student Survey Response 2013

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Survey results: Summary with common themes identified as strengths and/or opportunities

-Example: Business, Ind., Govt., Civic, Cultural Partners

Common Themes

S O RRCC Strategic Plan

CCCS Strategic Plan

AQIP Category

Potential Action Item

Program Growth – CTE

X X 1 *Employment Readiness

X X 1 SS3 1,3 *

Access to Education

X 1 SA1 1

Program alignment to industry

X X 1 SS1 1

Quality & Excellence

X OE 5

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Survey results: Summary with common themes identified as strengths and/or opportunities-Example: 4 year College Partners

Common Themes S O RRCC Strategic Plan

CCCS Strategic Plan

AQIP Category

Potential Action Item

Transfer Process X 1 SS2 1

Transfer – Student Readiness

X 1,3 SS2 1

Programs: Pre-Engineering

X 4 SS3 1

Access to education

X 1 SA1 3

Advisors/Advising X 1

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Survey results: Summary with common themes identified as strengths and/or opportunities-Example: Student Survey

Common Themes

S O RRCC Strategic Plan

CCCS Strategic Plan

AQIP Category

Potential Action Item

Positive Learning Environment

X X 1,3 SS3 1,3 *

Student Services

X X 1,3 SS3 3 Program Growth – CTE

X X 1 SS1, 2, 3 3

Faculty X X 1,4

Career Counseling

X 3 SS3 3

Flexible Course Schedule

X 3 SS3 3 *

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Survey results: Summary with common themes identified as strengths and/or opportunities-Example: Faculty/Staff Survey

Common Themes

S O RRCC Strategic Plan

CCCS Strategic Plan

AQIP Category

Potential Action Item

Faculty/Staff X X 1,4,5 Campus Organizational Structure

X 3 SS1, 2, 3 1,3 *

Student Support X X 3 SS3 1,3

Academic Master Plan

X 2 SS3 1,3

Administrative duties creep

X

Professional development

X 7 4

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Recommendations:Opportunities and Challenges

The environmental scan resulted in 9 recommendations which are presented in

two overlapping categories

Instructional Programs and Services

Operations

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RecommendationsInstructional Programs and Services

1. Develop a comprehensive Academic Master Plan utilizing career cluster analysis and labor market employment outlook for the RRCC service area.

2. Develop a process to integrate the use of EMSI labor market data in a periodic 3 year academic program review.

3. Develop a process to crosswalk RRCC enrollment, FTE, and completers to the EMSI labor market projected employment outlook for directed effort to offer certificates and degrees where students are most likely to obtain employment.

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RecommendationsOperations

1. Develop strategies to implement immediate outreach to the RRCC Hispanic community as current enrollment does not mirror the community population.

2. Align internal organizational decision making processes for institutional cohesiveness and communication. Specifically connect directed marketing and recruiting activity to enrollment management and the Academic Master Plan.

3. Develop strategies to address the external and internal environmental scan survey results where noted opportunities for improvement and/or growth are provided.

4. Utilize the environmental scan results to develop strategies for growth and/or sustainability looking both backwards and forwards to maintain a solid understanding of where RRCC is and where it plans to be in the future.

5. Review of the annual Denver Economic Development Corporation, Toward a More Competitive Colorado.

6. Commit to the completion of an environmental scan on a 3 – 5 year periodic basis to effectively respond to the communities RRCC serves.

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The following Environmental Scan documents will be available on the RRCC portal:

Power point Full Report “draft copy dated July 31, 2013” Surveys results including “How to read the

results” guide EMSI – labor market reports (Program, Occupation,

or Economic) Hard copy of report and survey available in VPI

Office.Environmental Scan compiled by:

Laura Solano

Laura.solano@rrcc.edu or

lolo002@comcast.net