Applied learning projects and programs are serving as a driver for advancing sustainability in communities around the world. The challenge, however, is that many of the projects and programs are only reaching a small portion of their full potential to influence change. This guide was developed to respond to that challenge, and to help scale the…

The transition from school to adulthood is a pivotal time in the lives of all students. For a student with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), change of any kind can be challenging, and a transition as momentous as this can seem especially daunting. Thoughtful planning, sound information, and open communication will help parents support young adults…

As part of its work to advance the multiple pathways approach to high school education, the James Irvine Foundation engaged the Bridgespan Group to develop a framework for assessing the nature and needs of the fields in which nonprofits operate. These agents of change often struggle to understand how to focus their field-building investments and…

Successful school district management, this book says, depends on including needs assessment in the planning process. Part 1 discusses the advantages of using needs assessment in management. Relevant terms are discussed in part 2, while part 3 examines specific steps towards utilizing a needs assessment process. Part 4 discusses the six steps to…

A discussion of portfolio analysis in college planning, a technique of determining the attractiveness and competitiveness of given academic courses, looks at the correctness of the technique and its application in the strategic planning process. Data from a British university illustrate the procedure. (MSE)

This paper describes how various formal planning approaches were developed and applied at Pennsylvania State University. Phases (horizontal reduction, vertical reallocation, strategic planning, and strategic management) are identified as are principles including planning for change on the margins and continuity, providing for feedback, and…

A discussion of planning for college and university centennial celebrations, or other milestone anniversaries, looks at reasons for creating a major event; objectives of early planning sessions; considerations in event design; scope and budget; use of consultants; appointment of an archivist; individual event planning; and fitting events to the…

Suggestions for making the academic planning process at the higher education level more productive include being realistic about what can be accomplished; carefully reviewing past planning efforts; preparing others for change; structuring change over time; and tailoring the model to the circumstances of the changes to be made. Substantive…

This annotated video transcript follows the discussion of six experts in community relations and charter schools. The panel was convened as part of an initiative to identify the specific needs of charter-school founders and to develop a leadership-training program designed to address those needs. Each member of the panel shared his or her insights…

A framework for strategic planning within academic departments is outlined. Elements include analyzing the strategic situation of all constituencies (department, institution, competitors, students, student employers), development of mission statement and departmental objectives, development of strategic market-target and curriculum options,…

This handbook is designed to aid the extension state director in determining high priorities, allocating resources, and planning future programs. It has four sections. Section I provides a clear definition of long-range plans and their relationship to major programs. Section II is for extension staff with responsibilities for identifying emerging…

The guide, developed by the Secondary Transition and Employment Project (STEP) in Idaho, is for junior and senior high teachers of disabled students and provides strategies to aid in the transition of students from school to the community. Section I of the manual contains short-term transition strategies, for use with students graduating within a…

An instructional improvement program in Hinsdale School District, Illinois, succeeded by emphasizing formative evaluation, administrator evaluation, and long-range planning. Participants learned that a new program should be consistent with district goals, focus on staff development, and acquire top-level commitment and resources. (CJH)

This guide uses the planning process at the University of Maryland, College Park, as an example of comprehensive campus-wide planning for institutional and programmatic diversity goals. Five planning principles are identified: (1) accountability, (2) inclusiveness, (3) shared responsibility, (4) evaluation, and (5) institutionalization. Chapters…

This book is a how-to manual on creating an alumni relations program, including starting an alumni association. Brief sections address the following topics: defining purpose, launching the organization, establishing a membership policy, establishing a budget, writing a mission statement, creating a long-range plan, working with the development…