Strategic Plan 2023-2027
We want your input
Key Imperatives
As part of the Strategic Planning process, we have collected ideas and feedback to determine our top priorities needed to fulfill our Mission to improve people’s lives through learning over the next five years. Four main categories emerged to become our draft Key Imperatives. Please review the proposed Key Imperatives and provide feedback by clicking the Give Feedback button below.
Proposed Key Imperatives
Lifelong Learning
Create a lifelong meaningful and mutual relationship with the College.
ECC Experience
Cultivate a welcoming destination for students, employees and our community.
Academic Excellence
Deliver instructional practices and curriculum to ensure student-centered learning.
Funding our Future
Position the college to remain affordable while ensuring long-term financial stability.
Vision, Mission, Shared Values, and Philosophies
We also collected ideas and feedback on our guiding statements for the next five years and updated our shared values. Please review the proposed statements and provide feedback by clicking the Give Feedback button above.
Proposed Vision, Mission, Shared Values, and Philosophies
Proposed Vision
Where we are heading.
To be the first choice for everyone to learn, grow, and dream in a culture that ensures access, fosters success, and advances innovation.
Proposed Mission
Why we exist.
The Mission of Elgin Community College is to improve people's lives through learning. In our decisions and actions we empower…
- STUDENTS to reach their goals in an equitable and welcoming environment;
- EMPLOYEES to thrive and fully use their collective talent; and
- Our COMMUNITY to transform and enrich the world.
Proposed Shared Values
What we believe.
- Excellence
- Freedom of Inquiry
- Ethical Practices
- Accountability
- Collaboration
- Holistic Approach
Proposed Philosophies
How we approach our work.
- Learning
- Equity
- Diversity
- Inclusion
- Justice
Frequently Asked Questions about Strategic Planning
ECC President, Dr. Sam, convened the current Strategic Planning Team in fall 2021. He charged the Planning and Institutional Effectiveness Office to organize and lead it. The Strategic Planning Team consists of 28 members who represent students, faculty, staff, administration, and trustees.
Planning activities began in fall 2021 and will continue through spring 2022.
Key activities taking place during this time include: gathering ideas, translating ideas into language, and revising and refining the language. In addition, public input is solicited throughout this process. These activities culminate in a new Strategic Plan to be adopted in June 2022.
Planning Phases from 2021 to 2022
- Gather Ideas from October 2021 to February 2022.
- Validate and Affirm from December 2021 to March 2022.
- Outline and Organize from January to April 2022.
- Write and Revise from March to April 2022.
- Edit and Deliver May to June 2022.
The new strategic plan will begin in July 2022 and end in June 2027.
This span covers 5 fiscal years/budget cycles.
The actionable components of the Strategic Plan are the Key Imperatives.
Key Imperatives are defined as the measurable, long-term intentions that frame our work. Each year, the President’s Cabinet uses the Key Imperatives to set an Operating Plan which details specific initiatives to be carried out. The Operating Plan, in turn, informs department plans, budgets, and individual performance goals of employees. Operating Plans for the current and past years appear on the College’s employee portal at my.elgin.edu (an employee login is required).
Ideas for the Strategic Plan come from many internal and external sources. Internal sources include reflections on ECC’s own data (both our strengths and gaps) related to:
- Student success
- Institutional performance (including financial, program, process, and human resources data)
- Perceptions and attitudes (including survey and focus group data)
- Self-reflections (e.g., reflections on equity, diversity, and inclusion efforts)
External sources include current research on higher education, national, state, and regional reports, and reflections on practices happening at other institutions. Finally, members of the Strategic Planning Team bring their own expertise and insights to inform our plan.