Strategic Plan

Grow to exceed 10,000 students who complete degrees, certificates, or other credentials annually while closing equity gaps.

• Expand the use of high-impact practices that accelerate completion and transfer pathways that propel students into economically mobile careers.
• Foster a culture of belonging for students of all backgrounds by offering convenient, relevant, and holistic approaches to instruction and student support.
• Extend debt-free pathways and other affordability initiatives that enable students to pursue and advance in their careers.

Adapt to expand opportunities for residents, employers, and other community members.

• Optimize the college’s enrollment strategies, locations, teaching modalities, and programs to meet the changing demographics and needs of the communities we serve.
• Ensure students can access affordable education-to-career pathways from all starting points, including K-12, career/technical education, career change, and other circumstances.
• Accelerate the college’s anticipation of and response to competitive changes to the region, such as new technologies, industries, or other factors.

Enhance excellence in teaching and student support through a sustained focus on evidence-based practices that drive student outcomes.

• Utilize data about the student experience to inform continued improvements to teaching practices, the learning climate, and the curriculum.
• Help students address challenges that may impact their health, well-being, and other dynamics by connecting them with resources.
• Provide professional development opportunities for faculty and the student-support team that advance best practices aligned with community needs.

Partner with employers to cultivate a comprehensive talent ecosystem that powers inclusive economic mobility and central Ohio’s growth.

• Serve as the region's talent innovation hub, where employers and the college collaborate to address the future of work.
• Fuel economic mobility so that all individuals we serve have access to sustainable, high-wage careers.
• Enable career growth for adult learners who are upgrading their skills or transitioning industries, as well as those involved in entrepreneurship and small business expansion.

Accelerate secondary to post- secondary pathways for all central Ohio that lead to careers aligned with labor market needs.

• Leverage the Central Ohio Compact and K-12 partnerships to ensure that academic programs lead to economically viable career credentials.
• Scale innovative instructional and student support practices that prepare students for post-secondary learning and high-wage careers.
• Adapt to support the changing demographics of our community, including the growing number of new Americans.

Advance regional priorities through the college’s leadership role as a community partner, connector, and convener.

• Advance strategic alliances with local, state, non- profit, K-12, higher education, and other institutions to address community and workforce needs.
• Utilize our national leadership role to attract grants or other resources that support community needs.
• Use our internal resources and capital to advance regional priorities, including economic mobility.

Utilize partnerships to enhance holistic support for students and the Columbus State experience.

• Develop and grow high-impact partnerships that enhance students’ access to core services, such as transportation, housing, food, and child care.
• Partner on initiatives that improve the services, amenities, and the general environment in and around Columbus State.
• Enable Columbus State students and employees to demonstrate community leadership through service and other activities.
• Collaborate on service-learning and other activities that strengthen students’ and employees’ civic connections.
• Provide students and employees with opportunities to enhance leadership skills through partnerships with civic and community organizations.

Enable Columbus State students and
employees to demonstrate community
leadership through service and
other activities.

• Collaborate on service-learning and other activities
  that strengthen students’ and employees’
  civic connections.
• Provide students and employees with opportunities
  to enhance leadership skills through partnerships
  with civic and community organizations.

Champion a collaborative and inclusive culture where we learn from one another’s perspectives and lived experiences to advance our mission.

• Recruit, hire, retain, and promote people committed to our diverse students and community, as reflected by Columbus State’s mission, vision, and values.
• Foster a culture of mutual respect and shared responsibility, in which each individual acts on opportunities to improve what we do.

Provide individual improvement opportunities that enhance career growth, belonging, and satisfaction.

• Provide ongoing opportunities for personal learning, growth, and impact to benefit Columbus State and the broader community.
• Invest in robust programs, systems, and structures that enable employees at all career stages to experience personal and professional growth.
• Enhance team-building opportunities that heighten the sense of belonging and shared mission.