WCJC Board of Trustees Strategic Planning Retreat Summary Retreat of October 18-19, 2013 Retreat of October 7, 2014 Retreat of March 5, 2015 Retreat of May 26, 2015 Purpose Purpose Purpose Purpose Two-day brainstorming session to identify strategic issues to address future challenges and opportunities in the coming decade Brief meeting to consider of name change and revision of strategic goals and strategies based upon last retreat Review proposed Strategic Plan goals and strategies for 2015-2025 plan, with focus on future of facilities in the next 10 years Review of previous retreats and presentation of Fort Bend County Engagement Action Plan Data Reviewed Data Reviewed Data Reviewed Data Reviewed Current Strategic Plan Updated SWOT data from Enrollment projections for Sugar Updated SWOT analysis with Strategic Planning Process Action Item Status Report previous planning retreat (see attached) Land, Richmond and Wharton campuses. focus on Fort Bend County (see attached) Key Performance Indicators Recommended changes to Population projections for Sugar Recommended changes to Environmental scan of Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats Strategic Plan goals and strategies based upon the results of the last retreat Land, Richmond/Rosenberg, Needville and Fulshear/Pecan Grove areas Strategic Plan goals and strategies based upon the results of the last retreat Demographic Trends Issues Discussed Issues Discussed Issues Discussed Issues Discussed Fort Bend County securing our Name change - President Plans to add more vocational Funding and other future & possible name change McCrohan lead discussion of programs at FBTC challenges for facilities Tax district expansion - possible possible alternate names for the Need for expansion of FBTC or expansion in Fort Bend Co. loss of control college to improve image and new Richmond campus on 59. Benefits of creating a Fort Program emphasis vocational recommended taking the word New facilities needed to make Bend advisory council programs vs academic transfer Junior out of the name. Wharton a destination campus Public schools- collaborations & Tax district expansion Need for further review of Need for more space at UH dual credit Strategic Plan goals and Sugar Land campus. program offerings Minority populations - growth and strategies Possible Fulshear campus Need to update Wharton outreach campus master plan Recommendations Recommendations Recommendations Recommendations 1. Secure our presence in Fort Bend County a) without expanding the tax base at this time, b) pursue a new campus in Fulshear, c) pursue increased facility usage and space at Sugar Land campus with U of H, d) pursue more articulation agreements with senior colleges. 2. Increase collaboration with public schools (dual credit, bridge programs) 3. Review vocational programs & give priority to academic transfer programs 4. Increase marketing to historically underserved populations 1. The idea of a name change remains open for discussion, but no action was recommended at this time. 2. The possibility of expanding the tax district remains open for discussion, but no action was recommended at this time. 3. The next Board Retreat should include a more in depth discussion of the proposed Strategic Plan goals & strategies. 1. Richmond - requested plan for vocational program development and facilities expansion to address workforce needs and increase enrollment. 2. Wharton - requested information on buildings and improvements needed to attract students to stay all day. 3. Sugar Land - requested the cost, options, for solving the space problem. 4. Fulshear - requested seeing a feasibility type study for Fulshear campus 5. Strategic Plan - approved goals and new campus mission statements 1. Develop a Fort Bend County Engagement Plan. 2. Next retreat should focus on Wharton campus.
Wharton County Junior College Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats Updated 2014 Environmental Scan October 7, 2014 Board of Trustees Retreat STRENGTH WEAKNESS OPPORTUNITY THREAT STRATEGY Growing Fort Bend County enrollment Approximately 90% of the service area population resides in Fort Bend County, resulting in high percentage (82%) of students being out-of-district Growth: 775k by 2025 College Education: 40% Md Family Income: $82k W=35%, H=22%, B=20% Asian=19%, Other=4% Out of space at Sugar Land campus Student headcount has been growing but is beginning to level off term student headcount 7600 7400 7200 7000 6800 6600 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 - term students by tuition-status In-district Out-district 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Percentage of continuing students that are taking 12 or more semester hours has dropped to 38.3%, resulting in declining contact hours Percentage fall full-time students by admission type 80% 60% 40% 20% First-time Continuing 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 terms Consider branding that strengthens connection to Fort Bend County Consider name change Consider expanding tax district Provide incentives for students to take more classes Tuition/fee incentives Better class schedules Expanded online course offerings Richmond campus lacks programs and facilities to meet student and community needs Lower contact hours per student will result in fewer completions and loss of revenue
Excellent reputation as a transfer college: High transfer rate High six-year graduation rate Nominated for Aspen Prize* *41.5% of fall 2005 first-time degree-seeking student cohort had transferred to a four-year institution with 12 or more credit hours by fall 2009. WCJC offers flagship vocational/technical programs. Nursing Dental Hygiene Nuclear Power Technology Process Technology Nursing and Dental Hygiene have been repeatedly cited for outstanding licensure rates and high admissions standards. Nuclear Power Technology has received international recognition for excellence. 79% of students transferring are doing so without completing core. Limited vocational/technical program enrollments Academic Year Contact Hours 2500000 2000000 1500000 1000000 500000 0 Academic Courses Technical Courses 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14 Offer incentives for students to stay at WCJC longer More programspecific transfer agreements with senior colleges Expand core course offerings Block schedule core courses Tuition discount Better align vocational/ technical programs to area needs Focus on service area priorities Reduce or eliminate costly, low enrollment programs Focus on STEM transfer programs Early attrition to senior colleges may continue or worsen Dissatisfaction among community and business leaders Competition from other community and technical colleges
Sugar Land campus is located in strategic area on UH Sugar Land campus Sugar Land Campus fall unduplicated headcount 1,748 2008 2,133 2009 2,458 2,659 2,982 3,008 3,109 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 While Sugar Land campus is outgrowing its current facilities, Wharton and FBTC campus enrollments are declining. Enrollment 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Enrollment Growth 2008-2014 Sugar Land 3109 WHA 1729 FBTC 1302 Work with UH on master plan for new building on Sugar Land campus Consider shifting some programs to FBTC campus to relieve Sugar Land crowding Develop new Facilities Master Plan for Wharton campus to enhance residential life and expand high demand programs Programs will not be able to expand to meet demand. Insufficient class sections will limit enrollment. College image may suffer 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Diverse student body 2014 Student Ethnicity 1% White 12% Black 41% Hispanic Equity need to address needs of rapidly growing Hispanic population (now 35%), many of whom are first generation, low income Hispanic headcount 1,664 1,865 2,008 2,225 2,352 2,513 2500 Develop marketing, community outreach and student services to attract and retain this populations Growing Hispanic population may turn elsewhere for their college education 35% 11% Asian Other ethnic 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Wharton County Junior College Envisioning the Future of Fort Bend County March 5, 2015 Board of Trustees Retreat Goal 3: Implement a systematic plan for facilities development and utilization that considers functionality, convenience, access and aesthetics to promote learning Strategic Vision Questions #1: Should WCJC open any new campuses to meet growing service area needs? Two areas of major growth in the WCJC service area are Sugar Land and the Fulshear/Pecan Grove area Student headcount at Sugar Land increased 46% from 2009-14. 2,133 Sugar Land Campus fall unduplicated headcount 3,109 The Fulshear/Pecan Grove area has grown by 17% from 2009-2014. Fulshear/Pecan Grove Population 84,957 Growth 2009-2014 72,920 Things to consider: Both WCJC and UH Sugar Land are running out of space, and UH may need space in the building WCJC now occupies. Consider building a new, larger campus on the ground of UH Sugar Land or in some other Sugar Land location. The town of Fulshear has doubled in size in the last five years, and the entire area bordered by 99 and Westpark Tollway is growing rapidly. South Katy is nearby and growing faster than Sugar Land. 2010 Population of Richmond/Rosenberg/Needville/Fulshear area = 166,610 2010 Population of Sugar Land Area = 200,026 Demographics: The population of Sugar Land grew by 13% from 2010-2014. The population between Richmond and Fulshear grew by 14% from 2010-2014.
Strategic Vision Questions #2: Should WCJC expand or significantly improve facilities at existing campuses to better serve and attract more students? Student headcount at FBTC decreased by 17% between 2009-2014 1582 FBTC Enrollment Growth 2009-2014 1465 1445 1386 1392 1302 Semester Hour enrollment at FBTC decreased by 27% between 2009-2014 12,153 FBTC Semester Hours 10,879 10,432 9,508 9,394 8,898 09 10 11 12 13 14 Things to consider: Much of the loss of enrollment at the FBTC is due to student migration to Sugar Land campus. Consider expanding facilities at FBTC to accommodate high-demand technical programs such as Process Technology, Electronics, LVN nursing and EMS. Consider shifting some academic programs to FBTC campus to relieve Sugar Land crowding. Demographics: The Richmond/ Rosenberg, Needville, and north to Fulshear grew at a 17% rate from 2009-2015, and the area population is 83% that of Sugar Land. Student headcount at Wharton decreased by 11% between 2009-2014 1950 Wharton Enrollment Growth 2009-2014 2086 1941 1946 1748 1729 Semester Hour enrollment at Wharton decreased by 18% between 2009-2014 20,546 Wharton Semester Hours 22,510 19,964 19,953 17,571 16,935 09 10 11 12 13 14 Things to consider: Consider developing a new Facilities Master Plan for Wharton campus to enhance residential life and make Wharton a destination campus, including a new student center and additional dormitories. Consider making the Johnson building expansion a high priority and expand facilities for other flagship programs that bring prestige to WCJC. Consider international programs in these areas and feeder programs with UH Victoria. Demographics: The population of the WCJC service area outside Fort Bend County continues to show a slow decline, but growth of Hispanic population will reverse this trend after 2020 among college-going age groups.