To Compose a long range planning goal:

1. from the “long range planning goal” menu, click the “create long range goal menu”
2. on the “create new long range goal” menu, type/paste a short goal title or label into the top text box
3. in lower text box, type or paste a single complete sentence, describing the goal (use a verb and an object to indicate what will or should happen to what or whom when or if the goal is successfully achieved)
4. click the “create” button to save the new planning goal to the data file

To modify or delete a long range planning goal:

1. from the long range planning goal menu, click either the “modify” or the “delete button to open a screen where the relevant actions may be inserted.
2. clicking the modify button opens a “modify” screen; from the modify screen, edit text as in a word processor and click “modify” button to save the new text.
3. clicking the delete button opens a verification request, click “yes” to delete the goal entirely.

More About long range planning goals:

Long range planning goals for a unit, typically limited to a half dozen items or so, should be rather general in nature and broad enough so that different initiatives or objectives working towards those goals might be identified in sequence over several years. Planning goals should lead towards a generalized change in condition desired for the university (and the unit’s contribution to it) that might be accomplished over 3-7 years if the supportive annual steps (i.e.: immediate planning objectives) are successfully implemented. Normally, planning goals would not change in the short term but rather would be supported and furthered by additional short term objectives implemented each year or two.

The goal statement should be a complete sentence and include an action verb and a direct object, indicating what will happen and to whom or what—so that progress towards achieving the goal can be measured somehow. (A “goal” statement that cannot be measured, is not yet a goal statement—it may be a topic or an issue or a platitude, but it is not yet an achievable goal!)

Long range planning goals should be derived directly from to the unit’s formal mission, as documented by its leader and approved by his/her supervisor. They should develop ways to enhance or improve service specified either in one of the unit’s primary functional tasks or a functional task characterizing another unit in the organization (listed in the Strategic Planner on the “Functional Task” window.)

Typical long range planning goal that might be adopted by various units, each working on different objectives over time might be:

Improve freshman retention in the university.

Make college more affordable for students from modest income families.

Improve “customer service” towards students, minimizing complaints received.

Increase the accuracy and completeness of data collections.

Enhance the image of the university in the region.

Make time-to-degree more efficient for working first-generation college students.

Reduce student need to transfer seeking academic program variety.

Improve the campus network by reducing down time and increasing speed

(Notice: each of the above goals might easily be measured by comparing before and after conditions to evaluate success with the goal.)

Like the unit’s mission statement and functional tasks, long range planning goals should be explicitly approved by a unit leader’s supervisor since they will frame efforts to create change in the University. Supervisory approval should be signaled by a suitable entry on the comments’ page under the long-range goal window. Similarly, unit leaders should work with unit staff to form a strong supportive consensus around these planning goals. Unit staff might similarly leave stakeholder comments on the comments’ page illustrating their thoughts and/or support.