The strategic planning process builds on our long-standing focus on student success. It began with a detailed review of demographic data, student information, enrollment patterns, and student achievement. This information is on the Assessment page of this Website. Another important consideration was the Strategic Plan for the California Community College system. This information was disseminated campus-wide and shared at every level.

Butte College conducted a Strategic Planning Workshop on January 19, 2007. Participation was open to the entire campus community and many community partners engaged in the process as well. At the workshop the participants used the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process to determine what Butte College should look like in 2012. This process is different than problem solving. Problem solving focuses on identifying what the college is not doing well and fixing these issues. Appreciative Inquiry focuses on building upon what the college already does well to determine what it will be in the future.

The outcome of the Strategic Planning Workshop was Succeeding Together -2012.

This document provides five Strategic Initiatives that serve as the District's long term strategic direction. These are:
• Inspiring Passion Through Collaboration
• Focusing on Student Success;
• Valuing a Culture of Learning;
• Enhancing an Innovative, Flexible, Responsive, and Accountable Culture; and
• Modeling Sustainability

After the workshop Succeeding Together - 2012 was disseminated campus wide and reviewed with each constituency group and at several campus-wide forums. The college then conducted a Strategic Planning Workshop Reunion on April 6, 2007. At this meeting the document was updated and modified based on the input received. Afterwards the changes were again disseminated campus-wide, reviewed by constituency groups and the Board and at another set of campus-wide forums.

The District Strategic Plan includes background on the college, Succeeding Together - 2012, and establishes, in general terms, the process for implementing the five Strategic Initiatives.

As part of the college's ongoing process of self-improvement the Vice President for Planning and Information develops, coordinates, and disseminates a Continuous Improvement Calendar each year. The intent of this document is to keep the college in compliance with the accreditation standards by establishing timelines for reviewing each activity or plan that is critical to accreditation.

The Educational Master Plan has been approved by the Board. The Educational Master Plan includes the college's annual Strategic Direction. Each year the Educational Master Planning Committee reviews and refines the Educational Master Plan.  The last review and refinement occurred on September 3, 2009.  The updated plan was then reviewed by the constituent groups and approved.

As part of the process to refine the Educational Master Plan, the Educational Master Planning Committee reviews the implementation of the previous version of the Educational Master Plan. The Educational Master Plan Review documents the results of this review.

The Student Equity Plan was developed by the Student Equity Committee, approved by the Academic Senate, and ultimately approved by the Board in 2009.  This plan is reviewed and refined annually by the Student Equity Committee.  The Student Equity Plan Refinement documents the results of the latest review and refinement. 

The Technology Master Plan was developed by the Technology Council and approved by the Board in 2009.  This plan is reviewed and refined annually by the Technology Council. The Technology Master Plan Refinement documents the results of the lastest review and refinement.

The Facilities, Human Resources, and Equal Employment Opportunity Plans are being developed.  These plans will be posted on the site when completed.

As part of it is annual planning process, the college conducts a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknessess, Opportunities, and Threats) Analysis based on the Balanced Scorecard, the Demographic Snapshot, and other Envirnomental factors.  This analysis is used to inform the refinement of the Educational Master Plan and other institutional plans and in the development of new plans.

Each year programs and areas develop unit plans based on the Strategic Direction, program review results, and program data. The Unit Planning Guidance describes the current process to include the guidelines for prioritizing unit plan requests for resources.

As part of the Planning, Budgeting, and Assessment process the college prioritizes the resource requests from the unit plans. The Augmentation List provides the latest prioritization results.

Each year based on the Strategic Direction, unit plans, and resourcing decisions each area defines measureable objectives for the upcoming year.

Periodically Planning Updates are disseminated to keep the campus informed about the status of the Planning, Budgeting, and Assessment process.