Lindsey Karwacki

The Maine Community College System (MCCS) strategic plan addresses challenges in college going and completion rates, an aging population, and rapid technological change impacting Maine's workforce. The plan focuses on three priorities: 1. Access and Attraction: increasing enrollment of recent high school graduates and adults; 2. Student Success: improving student retention and completion rates, particularly focusing on math pathways and holistic student support; and 3. Lifelong Learning and Workforce Development: strengthening workforce training programs, aligning them with employer needs, and creating pathways from short-term training to post-secondary credentials. The plan aims to increase the number of individuals served by MCCS, improve student success rates, and strengthen the alignment of MCCS programs with Maine's workforce needs.

The Washington County Community College's strategic plan, "Envision the Future," addresses the challenges and opportunities facing the college in a region experiencing population decline, economic hardship, and low educational attainment. The plan focuses on strengthening partnerships with the University of Maine System and other institutions, expanding online and flexible course offerings to better serve the geographically dispersed population, enhancing student support services, improving facilities, and promoting economic development through workforce training and collaboration with local businesses and agencies. The college aims to increase enrollment, improve student success, and contribute to the economic vitality of Washington County by addressing the needs of a diverse population, including traditional and non-traditional students, and the growing senior population.

The strategic plan emphasizes academic and instructional excellence by improving transfer processes, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, enhancing professional development in instructional design, and aligning learning outcomes. It focuses on community partnerships and economic development by increasing workforce participation, expanding access for underrepresented communities, and developing high-tech labs. The plan also aims for continual quality improvement through AI integration and data transparency, promoting engagement, inclusion, and belonging by improving the dining experience and expanding campus presence. Additionally, it seeks financial sustainability by establishing a foundation and optimizing the budgeting cycle, while ensuring facilities, infrastructure, safety, and security through maintenance, renewable energy implementation, and enhanced security measures.

The 2013-2018 Strategic Plan for Washington County Community College addresses the challenges of a declining population, high unemployment, and economic hardship in Washington County, Maine. The plan focuses on strengthening the college's role in regional economic development by improving workforce skills, expanding collaborations with businesses and other institutions, and enhancing student support services. Key areas of focus include expanding online education, increasing articulation agreements with four-year institutions, developing customized training programs for local industries, and addressing the needs of a growing senior population. The plan aims to increase enrollment, improve student success rates, and contribute to the overall economic vitality of the region.

The 2019-2024 Strategic Plan for Washington County Community College (WCCC) focuses on improving student success, enhancing workforce development, and addressing declining enrollment. Key initiatives include strengthening partnerships with high schools and community organizations, expanding online learning opportunities, implementing a new early alert system for at-risk students, creating an Advocacy and Resource Center to support student needs, developing new academic programs aligned with workforce demands, and enhancing data collection and analysis to inform decision-making. The plan also emphasizes improving completion and persistence rates, renewing workforce development efforts, and closing the skills gap in Maine. Specific strategies include targeting adult learners, particularly those with some college but no degree, and creating matriculation pathways from industry to college programs.