Glossary of Terms

Action Item: A specific activity or project on a plan that serves to meet institutional goals and/or strategic priorities.

Ancillary Plans: Other strategic plans both inform and are informed by the Institutional Strategic Plan (e.g. Strategic Enrollment Management Items from Ancillary plans are considered for inclusion in the annual plan).

Annual Plan: The “work” plan. Action items are developed per fiscal year based on the Strategic Priorities to carry out the Strategic Plan. Influenced by data and Ancillary Plans.

Assessment Implementation Cycle: A period of time for which assessment data are collected and analyzed, from which action plans are developed and reported.

Continuous Improvement: An ongoing process of using data to evaluate operations, initiating improvements based on data, and using data to evaluate improvements.

CQR Process: Comprehensive Quality Review Process, a comprehensive evaluation of the institutional conducted in the final year of an accreditation cycle.

HLC: Higher Learning Commission, the regional accreditor of Kaskaskia College.

Institutional Goals: Derived from the mission, these are “what we do” fundamentally as an institution. These goals are the basis for all planning at the institution.

Institutional Strategic Plan: An overarching document that guides institutional operations in achieving the Institutional Goals. Typically, these plans are for a duration of 3 to 5 years.

Key Performance Indicators (KPI): A value that measures how effectively an organization is achieving its goals and/or outcomes.

Outcome: The result or expected outcome following the completion of an action or intended action. Outcomes are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely.

Planning Cycle: A period of time for which plans are developed based on data analysis, actions carry out the plans, and effectiveness of the plans is assessed.

SCIGA: South Central Illinois Growth Alliance, a non-profit organization committed to initiatives that grow the fivecounty region.

Shared Governance: A process by which various stakeholders make contributions to decision-making at an institution.

Strategic Priorities: Primary area(s) of focus during an institutional strategic planning cycle.

WIOA: Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, an act designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market.

WHO WE DO IT FOR