Strategic Plan for Equitable Student Success

The Strategic Plan for Equitable Student Success is a living document that guides the development of annual work plans. At the beginning of the 2022-2023 academic year, the College adopted a set of strategic goals and objectives to determine the trajectory of the college in accomplishing its mission. These strategic goals and objectives, which are aligned with the college’s Mission Fulfillment Report, have an overarching purpose to drive equitable student success.

Much work led to the development of the Strategic Plan for Equitable Student Success. The goals and objectives adopted in September 2022 were informed by other past and current work plans developed by the college, including:

• Strategic Enrollment Management plan
• Equity plan
• Degree Pathways work plan
• Title III work plan
• Departmental Institutional Effectiveness plans
• Program Improvement plans

As part of the planning process, the college wrote a new Mission, Vision and Values which were adopted by the Board of Trustees in October 2022.

In alignment with the Mission, Vision, and Values, the four broad goals that anchor the Strategic Plan for Equitable Student Success and  will be used to focus actions for the next three to five years  are:

1. Access – Increase equitable and representative access to postsecondary educational and career opportunities that lead to social and economic mobility in Highline’s service area.
2. Learning – Increase equitable learning, retention, completion and transfer rates, and improve labor market outcomes using evidence-based innovation and high-impact practices in and out of the classroom.
3. Community – Increase breadth and depth of partnerships with K-12, other postsecondary institutions, community-based organizations, employers and government that align with Highline’s strategic priorities and contribute to economic and social vibrancy of communities it serves.
4. Culture & Capacity – Become an anti-racist college through intentional development of employees, facilities, and systems that support student success and close equity gaps.

For each goal –– access, learning, community and culture & capacity –– Highline leadership identified a series of objectives, creating a framework for the Strategic Plan for Equitable Student Success.

Strategic Planning council

The Strategic Planning Council acts as Highline’s strategic planning oversight committee for the Strategic Plan for Equitable Student Success. This council is comprised of faculty, staff and student representation. The council integrates the college’s formal governance structures, including Executive Cabinet, Deans and Associate Deans, Division Chairs, and representatives from HCEA, WPEA, Faculty Senate, Associated Students of Highline College, Institutional Effectiveness Committee, Assessment Committee, Institutional Research, Title III, and the Public Information Officer.

The council is responsible for overseeing and holding accountable those involved in the strategic planning process.