Valarie Avalone, director of planning, recently presented “Integrated Planning: Can It Really Be Achieved?” with Robert P. Delprino, Associate Professor of Psychology at Buffalo State College, at the Society for College and University Planning’s (SCUP) International Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. The session discussed integrated planning as a comprehensive, collaborative approach, including strategic, facilities, academic, and human resources planning which promotes institutional viability. While integrated planning is the desired outcome, its real attainment is often more elusive. While integrated planning has gained popularity as a concept, in practice it often falls short due to deficiencies in the planning process. Factors that hinder the integration of planning include: placement of planners in the organizational structure, skill set of planners and appreciation of an institution’s past, present and future. In preparation for their presentation, Avalone and Delprino conducted a national survey of SCUP members.
In addition Avalone facilitated a session with George Boggs, former President of the American Association of Community Colleges. She also convened the session” Planning and Accreditation” presented by Elizabeth H. Sibolski, President, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and Barbara E. Brittingham, President/Director of the Commission, New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Avalone is currently serving her second year as Director At-Large with Expertise in Community Colleges on the SCUP Board. In addition she serves on the SCUP Community College Advisory Group and is considered a master teacher in SCUP’s Planning Institute. SCUP is an international society of 5,000 higher education planning professionals which provides knowledge and resources on integrated planning for higher education, with a particular focus on academic, strategic, fiscal, facilities and infrastructural planning. MCC was also represented at the conference by Darrell Jachim-Moore, Assistant Vice President, Administrative Services.
Lynn Rivers
Institutional Planning, Effectiveness & Accountability
08/11/2011 |