PERRYSBURG — After nearly eight months, Owens Community College has a draft strategic plan.
College President Steve Robinson presented it to the board of trustees at its meeting Feb. 5.
He said the plan was developed after months of engagement spent listening “to the hopes, aspirations and
priorities of our internal and external communities.”
The plan, with goals for the period of 2019-21, is expected to be adopted at the board’s working retreat
on Feb. 26. Actions items – mechanism to measure these goals — also will be shared that day.
“We are going to measure our objectives and track our progress against these goals,” Robinson said.
“We’re not starting from scratch, but there are a couple of new goals that have been added.”
The plan establishes six goals, each with key objectives:
• Increase enrollment, completion and student success (former goal)
The objectives include actively manage enrollment and drive increases in targeted student populations;
improve student retention and completion; measure and improve post-college student success, for example
employment and transfer; and create pathways to success for all students.
• Improve and enhance the student experience (new goal)
Objectives include improve student satisfaction and awareness of direct services and student life
activities on campus; and address and improve equity among students.
Not every strategy works for every student group, Robinson said. On campus, there are veterans,
first-generation students and under-represented groups, he said.
“We need different strategies for different groups of students, and we also want to measure the outcome
that (occurs) with those students,” Robinson said. “That’s the difference between equity and equality.”

• Develop workforce and labor market outcomes (former goal)
Objectives include addressing employment needs in relevant programs; enhancing and promoting co-op and
internship experiences; improving and promoting career and job placement services.
These is a huge emphasis from the state on these outcomes, Robinson said.
• Cultivate community image and advancement (former goal)
Objectives include growing and enhancing collaboration with area higher education, K-12 and community
organizations; advancing Owens as a partner of choice for regional industry and business; and addressing
community college stigma and redefine institutional image.
Addressing community college stigma is very important, Robinson said.
“I think this country is waking up to the fact that community colleges are an untapped asset. We have to
tell our story … and get out there ahead of preconceived notions.”
Trustee Ed Nagel wanted to know if something could be done on the national level to address this stigma.

Robinson said he has started a Twitter campaign, #NCCStigma, where he is culling national news stories.

“These are prejudices that die hard,” he said.
• Improve college culture and quality of life (new goal)
Objectives include measure and improve college culture and moral; address diversity and inclusion among
college faculty and staff; increase employee knowledge, skills and abilities through training and
professional development.
“This is a big one,” Robinson said. “We heard a lot of information internally and externally about
addressing employee moral and the kind of quality workplace that we have.”
• Build financial strength and capacity (former goal)
Objectives include improve and maintain core financial indicators; create growth in foundation,
fundraising and alumni; and maintain appropriate investment in facilities and technology.
“We had a lot of heavy lifting to do during fiscal watch,” Robinson said, adding the last objective shows
the college puts emphasis on more than money, but on making sure there is the right technology and
facilities for students.
“Our challenge in the next few years is to make sure we all work from the same playbook, not just what’s
in the three-ring binder and what we tell you here in the boardroom,” he concluded.
Robinson also presented a revised mission statement – which defines the college — as well as a revised
vision statement – which is an aspirational statement.
Twenty-six community input sessions were held with more than 250 people attending; with survey responses,
over 850 people participated in this process, Robinson said.