NTCC Changing?

What will Northeast Texas Community College look like in 2025? That is the question posed as NTCC undergoes its new strategic plan, Destination 2025.

The planning process began early this year as the NTCC Board of Trustees met for an annual retreat, where they decided that the college needs a fresh outlook for the future. This summer, a steering committee was appointed consisting of faculty, staff, students and community members. The group was tasked with developing a new mission statement, vision statement and strategic goals that support them. Tasked with compiling data and other research to aid in the strategic planning process was another environmental scanning group. Alan Carter, NTCC Professor of Accounting, was tapped to lead the strategic planning committee.

“I was honored to be asked to chair the strategic plan steering committee. Times have changed a lot since the college opened more than 33 years ago and it is important for us to update our strategic plan periodically so that our goals reflect our community’s needs and are relevant to the times,” Alan Carter, NTCC Professor of Accounting, said.

Their work resulted in an updated mission statement and ten proposed goals that they used as the starting point for soliciting more extensive feedback.

“The committees did an excellent job of drafting a new vision statement and a set of ten foundational planning themes. The next step was to reach out to various groups of stakeholders to seek broader input on these and ask for additional ideas on how NTCC can best go about achieving its mission,” Dr. Ron Clinton, NTCC President, said.

A survey was distributed out to the community, and more than 550 people answered. They sent separate studies to faculty and staff members.

“We wanted to get input from as many people as possible, and we felt that an electronic survey was the most effective way to accomplish that,” Clinton said. “We were very pleased to have so many responses from the community, and we are factoring that feedback heavily into the process as it moves toward completion.”

This week, the college hosted a strategic planning forum at the NTCC Culinary Arts School in Pittsburg. It brought together members of various college advisory committees, local school officials, the NTCC Foundation Board, and others. Clinton addressed the group by explaining the strategic planning process and breaking down the mission statement and goals. The groups were then asked to brainstorm ideas on several topics. Approximately 75 people attended.

“We had a very productive forum, and it was great to hear ideas from community members who had different perspectives on the future directions of the college. The Board and I feel strongly that NTCC’s success deeply intertwines with that of our area towns and schools. We all want a more prosperous, productive community and the college wants to do everything we can to contribute to that outcome.”

Student forums are being held later in the week to get input from current students. The strategic planning process completion is in early spring 2019.

“I look forward to seeing the final draft of the plan and putting it to action. The college has come so far in recent years, and I can’t wait to see how far we can progress by the year 2025,” Clinton said.

For more information on NTCC’s “Destination 2025” Strategic plan, please visit www.ntcc.edu/2025.