Prioritization Background, Part 3

The plan for a program prioritization committee called for a broadly representative group with members from all sectors and levels of the college, from higher level administrators to front-line personnel. We put out a call for nominations (via Survey Monkey) which included a description of the kind of work that would be involved, a timeline, and an emphasis that serving on the committee would require the ability to have a neutral “institution-first” perspective that precluding acting as a proponent for a particular area of the college.  

From an extensive pool of nominees, the planning committee ultimately seated a large and diverse group of nearly 30 volunteer members. Criteria for appointment to the committee included having balanced representation across all sectors of the college (though not necessarily every single department or program), representation from higher and lower levels of personnel, a clear understanding and commitment to the work and collaborative spirit of the process, and, if necessary, a consideration of the number of “votes” an individual received. Members of the original Self-Reflection Committee, which had been formed as a precursor to prioritization and with the same broad diversity of membership, were given the option of continuing as a member of the prioritization committee, and those volunteers formed an initial core that was fleshed out by additional nominees.

After some consideration, the planning committee decided to include all deans (both academic and non-academic), both for their strategic insight and to ensure an equitable balance of viewpoints and interests. The committee also included many faculty members (including a mix of full-time and adjunct faculty and department chairs), administrative support personnel, advisors, technical professionals, and a student representative. The executive leadership (President, Provost, Vice President for Enrollment Administration and Student Success, and Vice President for Administrative Services/CFO) are not members of the committee. However, they will receive the committee’s final recommendations and will develop and communicate an action plan in response.

Read the job description for the committee members and view a list of the Achieving Strategic Balance committee members.

Additional Articles on This Topic

Prioritization Background, Part 1 - Definitions and Rationale

Prioritization Background, Part 2 - History

Prioritization Background, Part 4 - Values

Prioritization Background, Part 5 - Timeline