Strategic Planning Process Continues

There was a buzz in the air as members of the ten action teams and four standing committees gathered to begin the next phase of the Strategic Planning Process. Mike Whalen, chair of the Implementation Team, explained that the first task of this team was to review and group the action items identified by attendees at the August Summit. Objectives for each of the priority areas have been created and the action teams/committees will develop specific plans to address each objective.

The commitment of participants was evident as each shared his/her responses to the question: “Why does the focus of this action team/committee matter to me?” Woven throughout the comments was gratitude for the opportunity to play an active role in addressing key areas related to the College’s mission and vision.

Groups then reviewed and discussed a handout entitled “Principles for Healthy Collaboration – Three Expert Perspectives.” Each table group identified the principles they believed to be most applicable to the Mercy College community. Individuals “voted” on the principles that were posted on newsprint around the room. The “votes” were tallied and a composite is being prepared.

Following the large group session, individual teams met to begin their work utilizing the PLAN document that was distributed. Minutes from team meetings are posted on D2L. Teams will submit their first written report for the February 20 College Assembly.

Take a look at the slideshow below to see photos from the meeting and the action teams hard at work.

(Click on the icon in the lower right corner for full screen)

College Assemblies Provide On-Going Opportunities For Dialogue and Planning

Mercy College Assemblies were held on Monday, October 24, and Monday, November 21. Table groups had the opportunity to discuss reports from Leadership Council as well Interdepartmental Feedback reports from the IS Department, Division of Student Records, Library, Division of Humanities and Social Sciences, Division of Distance Education, and Division of Student Formation. The Interdepartmental Feedback process has served a twofold purpose: educating faculty and staff about the responsibilities of the department/divisions and providing affirmation for what is working as well as new ideas that might enhance the work of the department/division. There was opportunity for attendees to raise questions for clarification about the reports. The process has strengthened dialogue and has helped everyone to be better informed about the day-to-day operations throughout the College community.

Reports from the Strategic Planning Implementation Team were presented at both Assemblies. President Hayward has given three “charges” to the team:

• To hone the topics identified at the Summit 
• To develop institutional objectives in conjunction with Executive Staff and Leadership Council 
• To provide reports of the team’s work to the College community. 

At the November 21 Assembly, all faculty and staff were invited to join one of the Action Teams that have been created to develop specific action steps for each of the eleven institutional objectives identified by the Implementation Team. Objectives are related to classroom technology, diversity, service learning, healthy environment, facilities, scholarships and financial aid, budgeting process, professional development, new programs and services, retention of students, planned growth of the College, marketing, and the Youngstown campus. Data from the August 2011 Summit was used to determine priorities.

Each department and division within the College has developed its objectives related to the goals of the College’s Strategic Plan developed in August 2011.

Watch the video to hear Lori Edgeworth, Director of Career and Professional Development, provide a summary of these Assemblies from her perspective.

STRATEGIC PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION TEAM BEGINS WORK

President John Hayward appointed the following individuals to serve on the Implementation Team: Mike Whalen, chairperson; Deb Crowl; Sister Barbara Davis, SC; Lori Edgeworth; Dr. Karen Elliott, C.PP.S.; Heather Hoppe; Victor Monroe; Therese Pitzulo; Dr. Kim Watson. Dr. Steve Cady serves as facilitator/director for the work of the Implementation Team.

At the initial meeting of the team held on October 4, President Hayward presented three tasks to the team:

• To hone the topics identified at the Summit 
• To develop institutional objectives in conjunction with Executive Staff and Leadership Council 
• To provide reports of the team’s work to the College community 

The task of developing institutional objectives was the work of four team meetings (October 18, October 26, November 2, November 7, and November 16). Team members identified the following criteria as a basis for determining objectives:

• Objectives are to be broad enough to encompass more than one department/division within the College 
• Data from the August Summit support the identification of each objective 
• Our Youngstown campus is to be included in the development of action steps for each objective 

Executive Staff and Leadership Council reviewed the work of the Implementation Team prior to the presentation at the November 21 College Assembly. There was an “open invitation” to faculty and staff to volunteer to serve on one of the Action Teams, according to his/her interest in the indentified areas. A member of the Implementation Team and a member of Leadership Council will serve as co-chairs for each Action Team.

Action Teams were named in early December.

Mike Whalen, chair of the Implementation Team, provides an update on the work accomplished thus far (see video below).

First College Assembly of the 2011-2012 Academic Year Held on September 19

President Hayward and Sister Barbara Davis, SC gave a brief update about our August 16-17, 2011 Summit. Copies of the Strategic Plan V 2.0 as well as the summary of Summit documents and process were distributed. Full copies of all the Summit reports are posted on the Mercy 2020 course on D2L. A blog entry about the Summit has also been posted at mercy2020.com. President Hayward thanked everyone for their support of the Strategic Planning process and announced that he will be naming the Implementation Team within the week.

Below is a video clip of President Hayward giving the 2020 Update during the College Assembly.

During the question and answer period following the table review of department/division reports, question was raised regarding the plan to move forward with the “great ideas” from the Summit, in light of our budget issues. President Hayward responded that consideration of resources will surely be part of the development of action plans to meet our goals. We will continue to move forward with our plans.

Sister Barbara led the assembly in an activity entitled: “Inter-Departmental Requests: We Care Enough to Send the Very Best.” Each table group was asked to identify the things they would like the identified groups to start, stop, or continue to do differently in the future in order to ensure that we move forward together. For this discussion, the library, IS Department and Department of Student Records were the recipients of the responses from each table. A follow-up report will be given by each of these departments at the October 24 College Assembly identifying: (a) this is what we heard you say, (b) this is our progress to date, and (c) this is our commitment to you as we moving forward.

Commitment to the on-going work of Strategic Planning process continues to be a high priority for the Mercy College community.

View Strategic Plan V2.0 - Click Here
View the Mercy 2020 Summit Summary - Click Here
View the Inter-Departmental Requests (Valentine) Handout - Click Here

Mercy College Summit Summary - A VIEW OF THE SUMMIT

Over 150 participants gathered for the Mercy 2020 Summit held on August 16 and 17 at the Sullivan Center, Gesu Catholic Parish, in Toledo. Representatives from the Mercy College Board of Trustees, Board of Directors for the Mercy College Foundation, Mercy College Alumni Association Board, Mercy College Auxiliary Board, and the student body along with all faculty and staff of the College brought the purpose of the days - “A View from the Summit…..Your voice in our future success” – to life.

Processes throughout both days led us to the creation of our Strategic Plan Version 2.0 – Mission, Vision, Values, and Goals – based on the initial plan prepared by the Strategic Planning Committee in April (version 0.0) and refined by our Leadership Council at an all day retreat on June 21 (version 1.0). As each statement was presented Wednesday morning, participants were asked to give a thumbs up (yes, I accept), thumbs down (no, I do not accept), or thumbs in the middle (I’m not sure) sign. Literally the room was a “sea” of thumbs up and gave testimony to the intense dialogue that had occurred on Tuesday. 

In many ways the Summit was a culmination of months of preparation on behalf of Executive Staff, Leadership Council, Strategic Planning Committee, and Design Team working with all faculty and staff. Yet, too, in many ways the Summit was a beginning. Now the process continues as we develop and clarify specific action plans both at the institutional and departmental/division levels related to each of the goals. The high level of commitment and support from Summit participants is indicative that we will indeed accomplish what we set out to do. We have a “view” and our voices “in our future success” have been heard.

Enjoy the slide show overview of the Summit!

Please take time to review the key documents from the Summit posted on D2L: https://mercycollege.desire2learn.com/d2l/lp/homepage/home.d2l?ou=7609

1. Strategic Plan Version 2.0 
2. Summit Summary Reports and Update 
3. Overview of the Glads, Mads, and Sads – statements as well as “votes” 
4. “Voting” on the action steps for each goal sorted by number of “green dots” received 
5. Summary of evaluations from day 1 and day 2

A View from the Summit - Your Voice in Our Future Success

Members of the Design Team (students Craig Cousino, Deena Cowell, Julie Ziegler; faculty and staff: Deb Crowl, Sister Barbara Davis, SC, Lori Edgeworth, Sister Karen Elliott, C.PP.S., Barb Eyler, Susan Klarr, Lee Krähenbühl, Therese Pitzulo and Dr. Steve Cady, our consultant) met three times during the summer months to plan the agenda and processes for our Summit.

MERCY 2020 SUMMIT

Tuesday, August 16

7:30 to 8:30 a.m. – hot breakfast and registration

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Summit

Wednesday, August 17

7:00 to 8:00 a.m. – hot breakfast and registration

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon – Summit

Box lunch provided at noon

Location: 

Sullivan Center at Gesu Catholic Parish

2049 Parkside Blvd.

Toledo, OH 43607

Map

These days will provide all participants, including students, alumni, and members of the Mercy College Board of Trustees, Foundation Board, Alumni Board, and Auxiliary Board, in addition to faculty, staff, and administration, the opportunity to examine the current status of our College and to create the Strategic Plan which will move us into our preferred future. Our plan will include our Mission, Vision, Values, Goals, and specific action plans to address each goal. 

Central to the work of this day and a half experience is the belief and reality that EVERY voice is important and needed as we plan for our future success. 

Throughout this year some 40 members of the College community have been engaged in the preparation of our Summit: Executive Staff, Leadership Council, Strategic Planning Committee, and Design Team. Each of these individuals have contributed their insights and collectively we are excited for the Summit to begin! We look forward to engaging with all of the Summit participants on August 16 and 17. 

View the video below to hear what members of the Design Team have to say about what excites them about the upcoming Summit.

Summer Strategic Planning Update

Mercy College’s Leadership Council gathered at Walbridge Park on Tuesday, June 21, for a Strategic Planning Retreat. The purpose of the day was to draft version 1.0 of Mercy College’s Strategic Plan to be presented to participants at the Mercy 2020 Summit on August 16 and 17. This version was developed based on the initial plan created by members of the Mercy 2020 Steering Committee.

The opening activity engaged individuals in filling in events on a time line dating from 1920 to the present. Noted were things occurring in the world, at Mercy College (Mercy School of Nursing), within one’s department or division at Mercy, and in one’s personal life. This time line provided interesting data for small group discussions throughout the day.

Work teams rotated to five stations to discuss these areas:

1. Significant events in the history of Mercy School of Nursing/Mercy College and a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis of the College.
2. Mission and Vision Statements for the College
3. Goals 
4. Core Values and Learning Outcomes
5. Strategic Planning Form and Guidebook – tools that will be used in the implementation of our Strategic Plan

Toward the end of the day, the leader for each “station” shared the day’s discussion with the whole group. Lastly all participated in the process of writing the mission, vision, values, and goal statements for version 1.0 of the Strategic Plan. Please review the video below

MERCY 2020 SUMMIT

Tuesday, August 16

7:30 to 8:30 a.m. – hot breakfast and registration

8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Summit

Wednesday, August 17

7:00 to 8:00 a.m. – hot breakfast and registration

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon – Summit

Box lunch provided at noon

Location: 

Sullivan Center at Gesu Catholic Parish

2049 Parkside Blvd.

Toledo, OH 43607

Map