Vision 2030
A New State of College
Amidst a changing higher education landscape, we must assess Pikes Peak’s unique strengths and challenges to make intentional and measurable choices. We must ask ourselves, what will it take for Pikes Peak to thrive, not only over the next 5 years but for many years to come?
While Pikes Peak has made progress on many key performance indicators, we know that improving retention, student success, and graduation rates should always be at the forefront of our work. Improving these metrics not only benefits our students, but improves the College’s overall financial health, thus benefiting faculty, instructors and staff as well.
By the end of the strategic planning period, Pikes Peak’s retention, graduation and course pass rates should be equivalent to if not exceed those of the other urban Colorado Community College System (CCCS) colleges:
In striving toward this overarching goal and the strategic priorities below, PPSC remains committed to the College’s vision, mission and values statements:
Vision: Students succeed at PPSC.
Mission: Our mission is to provide high quality educational opportunities to all with a focus on student success and community needs.
Values: We value a community built on learning, mutual respect, and diversity.
Fall to Fall, IPEDS cohort, full-time, first-time, degree seeking only:
Fall to Fall, all students, full and part-time, including both degree and non-degree seeking students*
*IPEDS data tracks first-time, full-time, degree-seeking students. “All students” tracks degree and non-degree-seeking students, full and part-time, and is not limited to students in their first term. Thus, in the “all students” data, below-average retention rates among first-time students can be obscured by above-average retention rates among concurrent enrollment students, and there can be a wide range between full-time and part-time students.
(Fall 2019, graduated by Summer 2022, IPEDS cohort):
In early fall 2021, the Core Strategy Team (CST) was formed. This team, comprised of faculty, staff and administrators, led the strategic planning process from summer 2021 through fall 2022: analyzing data, gathering ideas and concerns from the College community, and assessing higher education trends. Additional details about the strategic planning process can be found in Appendix A of the downloadable strategic plan.
In support of the overall goal of improving retention,Each year the President establishes a working group dedicated to determining the focus goals for that year. That working group is charged with:
This goal focuses on creating an overall course schedule that enables students to complete degree requirements with minimal conflicts or delays. Strategic scheduling uses historic and projected enrollment data to build more student-friendly and efficient schedules. This work will align course offerings with our new campus-based divisions as well as the goal of maintaining efficient scheduling.
Strategic Scheduling Goal Leaders:
Kevin Hudgens
Rob Hudson
This focus goal is desgined to create a Tuition Assistance program for employees that does not rely on a reimbursement model. The focus goal group will create an up-front payment program, which will alleviate the out-of-pocket burden for employees and should increase use of the program.
Employee Tuition Plan Goal Leaders:
Kim Hennessy
Darlene Melby
The Adult Learners Task force will seek strategies and tactics to increase adult learner enrollment, retention, and completion. Credit for Prior Learning, short-term intensive programs, alternative modalities and scheduling are among the strategies this group is considering . This Focus Goal builds on the work of and formalizes the College’s commitment to the Adult Learner Task Force.
Adult Learner Goal Leaders:
Gary Walker
Heather Pierce
This focus goal group seeks to develop employee engagement and campus culture. We recognize that the nature of work and higher education shifted during the pandemic, and so this group's focus will be understanding, embracing, and improving on what our institutional culture is and can be now and in the future. The focus goal group will seek consensus on strategies and tactics that build community, a sense of belonging, and a shared sense of purpose while also understanding and supporting the altered institutional work environment that has evolved over the past four years.
Employee Engagement and Campus Culture Goal Leaders:
James Gellenbeck
Maria Mesa