Five Dimensions of Quality: A Common Sense Guide to Accreditation and Accountability

CHAPTER 10GOALS AND PLANSWhere Are You Going? How Will You Get There?

While your college’s purpose defines what it is and why, its goals define its destinations: where it will be at some future point. Those destinations can be expressed in two ways.

• A vision is a compelling narrative description of your college’s destinations that inspires and engages stakeholders, such as potential students, alumni, and community residents, and helps them understand and support your college.
• Key or strategic goals are more concrete statements of your college’s destinations that provide pragmatic guidance to your college community as it plans and makes decisions. Clear statements of goals also help major donors and investors understand where your college ...