
Strategic Plan
We strive to maintain our institution-wide commitment to student persistence, learning, and educational attainment through the systematic assessment and evaluation of our institutional practices, policies, and programs.
Our Annual Plan, which is embedded in and published each year in our Strategic Plan, guides our evaluation and improvement process.
KCTCS Goals | OCTC Objectives - 2022-26
Approved by the OCTC Administrative Council April 18, 2022
Approved by the OCTC Board of Directors May 5, 2022
KCTCS-OCTC Infused Priority: ensure diverse, equitable, and inclusive campus communities
KCTCS Goal: Increase Learner Success | KCTCS Goal: Increase Employment Success | KCTCS Goal: Increase Organizational Success |
---|---|---|
OCTC Objective 1: Scheduling and Curriculum - The College offers coursework in timeframes and modalities that are responsive to student and community needs. OCTC Objective 2: Student Support - Meeting learners where they are with the services they need, the College's learner-focused faculty and staff help students reach their potential. |
OCTC Objective 3: Transfer - The College creates seamless pathways so students can make a successful transition to four-year colleges and universities. OCTC Objective 4: Careers - The College creates seamless pathways, including experiential learning opportunities, so students can make a successful transition to in-demand careers. |
OCTC Objective 5: Marketing and Image - The College inspires and enables individuals to reach their goals and shares their stories of success with the many stakeholders we serve. OCTC Objective 6: Recruitment and Outreach - The College engages with the community and expands partnerships for regional economic, social, cultural, and intellectual prosperity. |
OCTC Strategic Plan with Embedded Annual Plan for 2022-23
Executive Summary
Approved by the OCTC Administrative Council April 18, 2022
Approved by the OCTC Board of Directors May 5, 2022
KCTCS Goal: Increase Learner Success
OCTC Objective 1: Scheduling and Curriculum - The College offers coursework in timeframes and modalities that are responsive to student and community needs.
Metric for Success (KCTCS Key Performance Indicator): Academic Year Enrollment
Unduplicated total enrollment headcount (for credit) in most recently completed academic
year (summer, fall, spring). Reach target set by KCTCS.
Action Steps for 2022-23
- Assess winter session and bi-term course offerings and add new courses based on feedback
- Pilot Simple Syllabus
- Provide professional development to support class delivery that is simultaneously offered in-person and virtually, with class recording and transcription
- Provide co-curricular options that are virtual and in-person (and in some cases, both)
- Promote Handshake to assist students in their transition to careers
- Offer the Career and Life Skills Certificate program with a competency-based option
- Offer the GO CAREERS Business Administration degree coast-to-coast
- Complete the transition to Blackboard Ultra
- Implement the High School Nurse Track program
- Rollout the reimagined KCTCS Online
- Expand wi-fi on Downtown Campus to include all classroom areas (including the Art Studio)
- Explore processes for improving the awarding of credit for prior learning
- Monitor the opportunity for federal Pell grant funding for justice-impacted students
- Explore Detention Center training program as a credit-bearing or non-credit bearing program, including welding and other skilled trades
- Revise the online quality assurance process
- Attain 100% online faculty certification
- Transform more classrooms with technology to allow in-person/virtual delivery
- Implement the National Science Foundation grant-funded Industry 4.0 competency-based model
- Offer Intro to Native American Literature (Summer 2022)
- Participate in the Jobs for the Future/Competency-Based Education Network (JFF-CBEN) Equity Collaboratory second-year effort
- Implement Respondus test proctoring software
- Launch onsite English as a Second Language program at an employer partner site
- Offer Spanish for Healthcare workers course
- Expand Summer class offerings
- Offer Math and Science classes one night a week in a hybrid format
- Explore a competency-based electrical certificate
- Seek opportunities to embed ALIGN recommendations in both educational delivery and student support services
OCTC Objective 2: Student Support - Meeting learners where they are with the services they need, the College’s learner-focused faculty and staff help students reach their potential.
Metric for Success (KCTCS Key Performance Indicator): Two-Year Persistence Rate
Unduplicated percentage of students entering in the fall semester who earn a credential
at the initial institution by the end of the following academic year, transfer by
the end of the following academic year, or are still enrolled at the initial institution
at any time during the following academic year. Reach target set by KCTCS.
Action Steps for 2022-23
- Support the development of a new and streamlined admissions application
- Ask questions about the needs of special student populations on a regular basis to better support students in their studies and meet the needs of Perkins V
- Develop an online orientation/virtual Pathfinder Day
- Rollout new assessment and placement guides that include placement based on HS GPA and the statewide requirements of the Council on Postsecondary Education
- Broadcast a regular Experiential Learning Center update in a television news format
- Address opportunities for improvement based on the Council for Postsecondary Education review of our Diversity Assessment Plan
- Re-establish the Multicultural Student Association
- Complete the first cohort of the ACE (Academic Career Exploration) Program (in partnership with the Owensboro Black Expo) with Owensboro High School
- Expand the second cohort of the ACE Program to Daviess County Public Schools
- Expand the number of international student Designated School Officials to three
- Open the Career Closet
- Implement auto-awarding certificates for interested programs
Improve and automate the application for graduation - Implement the new preferred name function once it is available in PeopleSoft
- Explore how to use a TAO-like service, such as Credible Mind from the Owensboro Health and River Valley
- Refine the changes to the FYE 100 diversity component based on feedback
- Explore a specific assigned academic advisor for URM students
- Improve accessibility to buildings
- Implement the accessibility award for faculty
- Implement Brainfuse online and virtual in-person tutoring
- Launch partnership with the Family Scholar House for follow-ups with students in need
- Create an orientation to academic expectations for dual credit students
- Pilot a process for supporting underserved populations on SAP appeal
KCTCS Goal: Increase Employment Success
OCTC Objective 3: Transfer - The College creates seamless pathways so students can make a successful transition to four-year colleges and universities.
Metric for Success (KCTCS Key Performance Indicator): Post-KCTCS Outcomes
Percentage of non-returning credential earners (degree, diploma, certificate) in one
academic year that enroll at a four-year institution or are employed and earn a wage
greater than or equal to the federal poverty level in the following academic year.
Reach target set by KCTCS.
Action Steps for 2022-23
- Explore potential campus initiatives in support of the Council on Postsecondary Education Essential Skills Graduate Profile Academy
- Implement a new “Beginner’s Basics” professional development opportunity as the pre-requisite session for entry into the Master Advisor sequence
- Explore how to use the new KCTCS Guided Pathways
- Reinvigorate the Associates in Fine Arts Programs, including transfer pathways with KWC and Brescia (e.g., Graphic Design) and Technical Theatre certificate transfers with the Technical Theatre BA at WKU
- Facilitate additional four-year partner visits to classrooms to share the power of the BA/BS
- Offer tours of universities/colleges as Merit events
- Develop a Master Advisor supplemental session about transfer advising for technical program students
- Explore the transfer application of a second Cultural Studies course
- Improve the acoustics in the Pathfinder Den
- Host an annual RN-BSN fair
- Develop transfer pathways for the Commonwealth West Healthcare Workforce Innovation Center
- Increase awareness about transfer opportunities for URM students
- Explore transfer agreements with HBCUs
OCTC Objective 4: Careers - The College creates seamless pathways, including experiential learning opportunities, so students can make a successful transition to in-demand careers.
Metric for Success (KCTCS Key Performance Indicator): Targeted Industry Sector Credentials
Credentials awarded in academic programs aligned with the Kentucky Workforce Innovation
Board’s Targeted Industry Sectors (Healthcare; Manufacturing, Transportation, Distribution,
and Logistics; Information Technology, Business, and Finance; and Construction). Reach
target set by KCTCS.
Action Steps for 2022-23
- Develop the plan for the Commonwealth West Healthcare Workforce Innovation Center
- Admit the first class of the Career and Life Skills Certificate program
- Pursue approval of the Career and Life Skills Certificate program as a Comprehensive Transition and Postsecondary program with the US Department of Education
- Implement new Perkins V Career Pathways
- Seek federal financial aid and VA approval for the new Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) certificates
- Implement a Plumbing FastTrack program
- Incorporate experiential learning opportunity discussions into academic advising
- Maximize experiential course credit for work experience
- Implement Pathway 2 for Surgical Technology
- Offer an Automotive certificate at Henderson County HS
- Expand CDL student sponsorship opportunities and placements
- Explore the creation of a Commercial HVAC certificate
- Research the potential for a Respiratory Care program
- Establish more placement sites for internships
- Assist incoming refugees (and potential refugees) with entering educational programming at OCTC
- Host an Allied Health Job Fair
- Explore other potential new healthcare-related programs, e.g., Biomedical Equipment Maintenance, Infusion and Catheterization Technicians, Nuclear Medicine Technicians, and Advanced Imaging Technicians, Advanced EMT, Paramedic Tech partnership with Paducah
- Explore how to use the new KCTCS Guided Pathways for career preparation
- Implement the direct admit initiative for Nursing
- Explore a Graphic Design Certificate
KCTCS Goal: Increase Organizational Success
OCTC Objective 5: Marketing and Image - The College inspires and enables individuals to reach their goals and shares their stories of success with the many stakeholders we serve.
Metric for Success (KCTCS Key Performance Indicator): Employee Retention Rate:
The retention rate of regular KCTCS employees during the academic year. Reach target
set by KCTCS.
Action Steps for 2022-23
- Promote changes to the Dual Credit Scholarship/Work Ready Dual Credit Scholarship program to high school counselors, students, and parents
- Partner with local colleges to host a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion event
- Refresh the side of the Academic Building facing the parking lot
- Have a regular walk-around of campuses to ensure we are putting our best face forward
- Develop a comprehensive student life cycle communication plan
- Improve lighting in parking lot P4 and lakeside
- Redo program videos to highlight new technology, furniture, faculty, and staff
- Update all program webpages
- Remove all pdf, MS Word, and MS Excel files from our website
- Install new campus entryway digital signage
- Update Campus Center wall graphics/photos
- Expand security camera installation to parking lots
- Install more door/wall wraps
- Add digital displays in high traffic areas
- Wrap the CDL truck
- Create an annual Impact Report for the OCTC Foundation
- Partner with the Owensboro Times to enhance our digital presence
- Formalize the Integrated Communications Workteam
- Enhance our social media presence with student social media ambassadors
- Replace flags/banners around campus
- Reinitialize the Cultural Competency Workgroup initiatives
- Explore CPE Cultural Competency Certification micro-credential for faculty, staff, and students
- Support a third staff member’s participation in the Council on Postsecondary Education’s Academic Leadership Development Institute
- Explore hosting an Art Market on the Downtown Campus coinciding with the Farmer’s Market
- Pilot a summer flex work schedule
- Present at the KCTCS Innovations Conference
- Feature faculty/employee images and info on our website
OCTC Objective 6: Recruitment and Outreach – The College engages with the community and expands partnerships for regional economic, social, cultural, and intellectual prosperity.
Metric for Success (KCTCS Key Performance Indicator): Alternative Revenue:
Annual dollar amount of financial contributions from grants, contracts, advancement,
and other external sources and endowment income. Reach target set by KCTCS.
Action Steps for 2022-23
- Fold the SEM plan and strategic plan into one another and build upon all the SEM efforts underway
- Use the SEM team to assess monthly unit/office updates on SEM action steps and suggest responsive strategies
- Achieve the SEM Key Performance Indicators
- Join the KCTCS shared services initiative for prospect management
- Review and revise prospective student communications
- Publish the Office for Diversity newsletter each semester
- Promote the new Pathfinder Den webpage
- Host the Sixth Annual OCTC Donor Celebration
- Host the Sixth Girls Empowerment Trail Blazer event
- Sponsor Rooster Booster in October
- Expand Alumni Appreciation events
- Provide AMTEC summer training for KDE instructors
- Host an enrollment event for prospective Hispanic students
- Publish an integrated calendar that catalogs all events on campus
- Improve the campus visitor experience
- Partner with Beverly’s Hearty Slice for a free pizza outreach event
- Produce video testimonies of healthcare professionals of color
- Invite Neblett Center and Girls Inc. to campus for the Alcoa STEAM workshop
- Host CPE Summer Bridge program Level-Up 2.0 and hire PT coordinator and assistant
- Host employer CDL sponsorship events
- Explore the installation of an electric charging station for vehicles on campus
- Plan standardized tours of various lengths and focused on different guided pathway areas
- Utilize the Cobra II car in community and recruiting events
- Investigate new scholarships with an emphasis on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- Pilot the scholarship awarding platform in Blackbaud RENXT Software in conjunction with KCTCS
For a PDF version of this document, please contact Katie Powers.
Staff and Faculty may view archived strategic plans on SharePoint.