Probation Area 5.C: Strategic Planning

Task: As stated in the HLC action letter, Highlands must provide evidence that the institution has ameliorated the findings of non-compliance identified in this action that resulted in the imposition of Probation, Core Component 5.C:

1. completed integrated planning process;
2. accomplishments attained for the Strategic Plan-HU Vision 2020, as endorsed by all governance groups and approved by the Board of Regents; and
3. sustained processes for strategic plan implementation, implementation of established budget procedures, and sustained accountability reporting.

More information was provided in the HLC action letter:

The University is out of compliance with Criterion Five, Core Component 5.C, “the institution engages in systematic and integrated planning,” for the following reasons:

• The University is not engaging in a regular and effective process of planning as required by this Core Component because:
  • the 2009 Comprehensive Evaluation Report identified strategic planning as an area of concern; since that time, the University has not demonstrated a sustained implementation and evaluation of accomplishments of its strategic planning activities, as evidenced by its discontinuation of 2009-2014 Strategic Plan implementation; and
  • the University’s strategic planning implementation stopped after receiving HLC feedback to a Monitoring Report in 2012 and has only recently been resumed; and
• While the University in its August 2016 response described efforts to initiate a strategic plan, that effort is very recent and has not yet demonstrated evidence of a robust planning process and a completed strategic plan.

Resolution: Highlands needs to accomplish things to resolve Probation Area:

1. Formally approve the HU Vision Strategic Plan through all governance groups, including Board of Regents.
2. Design an integrated planning process.
3. Implement the strategic planning process.
4. Sustain the strategic planning process, budget process, and accountability reporting.
5. Demonstrate accomplishments attained via the strategic planning process.

Department and Unit Strategic Plans 2016-2017

Department and Unit Strategic Plans 2017-2018

Executive Strategic Plan