1I2 Culture and Infrastructure Role in Setting Targets and Selecting Processes for Improvement

STI fosters a culture of being student centered. The mission of educating for employment and lifelong learning is well understood and embraced by all staff. Therefore, virtually all discussions for improvement feature students, their learning, faculty instruction, and support services which will improve those experiences.

Through STI’s strategic planning process, specific strategic goals, stemming from the institute’s mission and key performance indicators , are set by the Administrative Team and STI Council. The AQIP Futures Team and AQIP Information and Analysis Team both provide initial input to this process. Program faculty, working with the Academic Administrative Team, develop action projects for the program. Action projects are designed to achieve the performance indicators and are prioritized as part of the budget process. Adjustments and recommendations for program performance indicator targets are developed at this time. All changes are submitted to the Administrative Team for review and approval. This continuous quality improvement process is monitored by the Vice President of Student Affairs and Institutional Research, and the HLC/Assessment Coordinator coaches the program teams as they develop action projects.

STI has found that its culture and infrastructure have worked well in determining specific processes to improve and has found positive results from the changes.