Experience 2027 Strategic Plan | Western Technical College

Western Technical College

Experience 2027 Strategic Plan

Student success is the hallmark of Experience 2027. At Western, student success means the college is student-ready. It means that all employees have the commitment and the capability to serve greater numbers of traditionally underserved students.

The plan’s four strategic directions and corresponding strategic goals align with the College’s key results and are designed to help the College achieve outcomes that place Western in the top 25 percent of WTCS colleges by 2025 (25X25). High-level strategies will guide division, department, and individual growth plans and day-to-day priorities.

Strategic Direction Foundation Statements were developed to guide the goals and high-level strategies. Strategic Goal Measures were established to track the College’s progress toward the goals.

First Choice Service

first choice serviceStrategic Goals:
  • Increase student engagement with student support services from score of 48.6 to 52 by 2027.
  • Increase the transition of learners with a high school credential to a Western credit program within the first year from 16.4% to 19%.
  • ​Increase average credit load per term for part-time students from 6 to 8 by 2027.
Strategies:
  • Increase K-12 on-ramps to increase the percentage of high school students who transition to Western within the first year.
  • Configure and schedule programs to reduce time-to-completion to accommodate the part-time learner.
  • ​Implement strategic enrollment management (SEM) model.
     

Workforce and Community Engagement

workforce and community engagementStrategic Goals:
  • Infuse work-based learning and community-based learning in 100% of associate degree and technical diploma programs (initial milestone achieved).
  • Implement a comprehensive and responsive workforce sector development strategy by 2027.
  • Implement a comprehensive partnership framework by 2027.
Strategies:
  • Optimize program designs to incorporate intentional work-based learning and community-based learning experiences.
  • Optimize Regional Learning Centers (ongoing).
  • Strengthen existing and develop new short-term, credit and non-credit, micro-credential and digital badge pathways.
  • Implement partnership management software.
     

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

equity, inclusion and supportStrategic Goals:
  • Eliminate course completion, retention, and graduation equity gaps between Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Native American students and white students by 2027.
  • Increase enrollment of program-declared students of color from 12.8% in 2018 to 15% in 2025 (milestone achieved).
Strategies:
  • Implement Guided Pathways college-wide to incorporate 7-week shortened sessions.
  • Infuse evidence-based, equitable practices in all programs and general education disciplines (ongoing).
  • Infuse poverty-informed practices throughout the college (ongoing).
  • Create environments that foster a greater sense of belonging for students and co-workers.
     

Co-worker Engagement

employee engagementStrategic Goals:
  • Increase engaged co-workers from 35% in 2017 to 60% by 2027 (initial milestone achieved).
  • Increase digital readiness and improve operational efficiency in priority workflows (as measured by AI survey).
Strategies:
  • Implement co-worker engagement action plans college-wide using the Gallup Q12 feedback.
  • Provide an opportunity for all co-workers to establish professional goals, review progress, and receive feedback and support from their supervisors in a structured format (ongoing).
  • Implement a leadership development framework.
  • Pilot AI agents in priority workflows.
  • Implement artificial intelligence training by 2027.
     

Additional Information