Standard One:

Institutional Mission

The institution has a statement of mission that defines the institution, its educational purposes, its students, and its place in the higher education community.

Descriptive Summary

The statements of vision, mission, beliefs, parameters, goals, rationale, and objectives are all included in the Strategic Plan of Victor Valley Community College, as adopted by the Board of Trustees and published in a document entitled, The Driving Force, Priorities for the 90s and Beyond. This publication is the guiding document from which all other official College publications derive their structure and rationale. The philosophy, mission and beliefs of Victor Valley College, as adopted by the Board of Trustees, are published in the 1998/99 Catalog. The 1998/99 Catalog includes a statement of philosophy (our corporate, philosophic and social beliefs), mission (our purpose), and guiding beliefs (a collection of beliefs which preface all actions). The philosophy of Victor Valley College is "Victor Valley College should be accessible to all people in the community who seek growth and can benefit from its programs, courses, and activities. The College’s educational, civic, social, and cultural programs will be designed to meet the needs of individual students as well as the community as a whole." The mission statement of Victor Valley Community College is, "We at Victor Valley College are committed to excellence in educational programs and services that are accessible to a diverse student population. We will continue to be an educational leader by striving for instructional excellence, being responsive to the needs of the community, and providing a nurturing learning environment." The vision, mission and beliefs of Victor Valley College are enhanced with the establishment of parameters, goals and objectives. Over the past six years, all of these elements have been systematically evaluated for relevancy, vision, effectiveness and desired outcomes. As the culture and climate for education changes, some items are altered. New elements are added or completed and removed as needed. The same is true for the parameters, goals, and objectives. All of this is accomplished with consensus from all constituencies of the College including students and a representative cross section of our community.

Self Evaluation

In August of 1997, the College family came together in general session to review the goals and objectives for the year. As a preliminary to this general session, a review of validity and scope of the mission statement was conducted. Each year this process is reexamined by several inter-related and cross represented groups. These groups include the College Board of Trustees, the President’s Cabinet, the Leadership Team, and College Assembly. All these groups meet monthly or semi-monthly. Each semester there is a Flex Day review and periodic Town Hall and Diversity Meetings.

Planning Agenda

None

1.2 The mission statement defines the students the institution intends to serve as well as the parameters under which programs can be offered and resources allocated.

Descriptive Summary

Our mission is accomplished through direction by the Board of Trustees, standards and procedures developed by the College Assembly, and program and curriculum development through the several primary functions as prescribed by code. Primary functions include transfer and general education, career education, transitional education, community education, community services, contract and custom educational services, economic development services and student and career development. All of these functions are accessible financially and geographically to our diverse population regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, handicap, age, or ethnic origin as prescribed by Affirmative Action requirements.

Self Evaluation

Anticipated changes in California’s legislative initiatives as they relate to Welfare Reform and Affirmative Action may require new college programs and services. The flexibility of our mission statement makes it possible to meet these changes in a proactive approach. The College has initiated new outreach programs which are designed to contact all constituencies and to encourage post-secondary education. The delivery of this information begins as early as the fifth grade and continues all the way through the entire age spectrum. In addition to new outreach programs, the College is providing special category funding and services through EOPS, CARE, New Horizons, Student Support Services Program (TRIO), VATEA, Tech Prep, One Stop Career Center, and CalWORKS. These programs are designed to make the transition as smooth as possible for all concerned.

Planning Agenda

None

1.3 Institutional planning and decision making are guided by the mission statement.

Descriptive Summary

Within the last few years, the College established, in accordance with AB1725, the College Assembly which serves as the review committee for planning, budget, policy and procedures. This group consists of all constituency groups in the College and includes our students.

During the strategic planning process of 1995-96, The Driving Force: Priorities for the 90s and Beyond was revised. This document provides guidance and direction for Victor Valley Community College District as we move into the next century. The vision and principles set forth in this document ensure that Victor Valley College will be both proactive and responsive as it continues to provide the highest quality educational programs and services to the citizens of the High Desert. This 1995/96 version is the fifth adopted by the Board of Trustees and delineates the basis for program planning and budgeting of the District as it meets the challenges of the dynamic decade of the 90’s. This publication addresses the anticipated trends and needs of the decade which is the gateway to the 21^st Century. It is a dynamic document, symbolic of the times, and will be updated annually to meet the ever-changing educational and technological demands of the District. The process described in this document utilizes the collegial model (College Assembly) to review and deliver to the Board of Trustees planning, budget, policy and procedures recommendations consistent with the Strategic Plan.

The strategic planning process began with the Board of Trustees of Victor Valley College determining its own goals for the District. Following the establishment of the goals, the District embarked upon the strategic planning process which lasted sixteen months. By the time the process was concluded, over one hundred College employees and local citizens had participated. Input was delivered by use of participatory workshops, public forums, and individual work groups. All segments of the Strategic Plan are designed to support the entire mission and to guide the planning and budgetary decision-making process. As previously stated, the Strategic Plan is, by design, a dynamic document which embodies flexibility to meet new legislative challenges.

Self Evaluation

In the survey of faculty, staff and administrators who participated in the development of the strategic plan,⁵ over 70 percent either agree or have no opinion that institutional planning, budget development and decision making are guided by the College’s mission statement. The process used in the development of the mission and vision statement involved nearly everyone at the College as well as members of the community. The strategic planning process was made up of representatives of all groups. Goals and objectives were determined by this group during this process. Budget, policy, administrative, and operation decisions are made in concert with the goals and objectives

of the strategic plan which is the mechanism used to advance the mission of the College.

In the faculty and staff survey, 58 percent agreed that institutional planning and decision making are guided by the College’s mission statement while one-fourth were neutral and 14 percent disagreed. The vision statement, a recommendation from the last self-study was developed and circulated to the campus community. It is a document used in the planning process. The College’s Planning and Budget Process includes a philosophy statement that planning be based on the mission. The planning committee has followed both the letter and the spirit of the policy in its actions.

Planning Agenda

None

1.4 The institution evaluates and revises its mission statement on a regular basis.

Descriptive Summary

An annual review of the goals and objectives for Victor Valley College is conducted by the Board of Trustees, the administration, and the College Assembly. This review also results in an analysis of the College’s mission statement. The College’s mission statement is in accord with Education Code Section 66010.4.

Self Evaluation

The Strategic Plan calls for annual review and revision of all its elements including the mission statement. This is being done at every level of the institution through the Board of Trustees, the administration, and the College Assembly. We are committed to continue evaluating and revising the entire plan including the mission statement as necessary on a regular basis as shown in the annual update time line (Annual Update-The Planning Process, The Driving Force Priorities for the 90s and Beyond).

The review of the Strategic Plan is done throughout each year. Where necessary, changes, additions, and revisions are made to reflect change for the future. Annual reviews are conducted in several forums. These forums include College Board of Trustees, President’s Cabinet, (Vice Presidents and Deans), Leadership Team, College Assembly, Flex Day review and a series of Town Hall meetings. All of these forums meet regularly throughout the year. These annual updates will ensure that the plan will not become a document put on the shelf. The annual review helps the organization know what parts of the action plans have been accomplished in the past year. In some cases entire objectives and action plans will have been accomplished, often earlier than anticipated.

Occasionally, something will occur during the year causing an objective to no longer be appropriate in which case it will be deleted and a new one substituted. In the year since the previous plan was approved by the board, new opportunities may have presented themselves and so new objectives need to be added (i.e. Welfare Reform) to the plan. We believe change will happen and the mission of the College can be altered to meet new challenges. We are always planning for the future.

The Accreditation Self Study Report will be sent to the College Assembly, the administration and the College Board of Trustees for their review. Planning Agenda items will be incorporated into future strategic plans.

Planning Agenda

1. The College will incorporate the Accreditation Self-Study Planning Agendas into the appropriate plans of the College, i.e., Strategic Plan, Educational master Plan, Facilities Plan, and/or other planning documents.

Standard One Documents Cited: