Planning is a tool to help us, as a large and complex institution, to think and to act in focused, analytic, and ultimately effective ways in response to a variety of opportunities, issues, and situations. Planning is not "The Answer." It is only a process by which we may help define what the truly pressing questions are and how we can best respond to those questions. As such, the planning process and its results are often used by administrators in decision-making at various administrative levels. Furthermore, our plans and planning process are crucially important vehicles by which Western responds meaningfully and in a timely fashion to a number of pressing external initiatives, including those promulgated by the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education and our regional accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

At the departmental or unit level, the planning process can (if done well and in good spirit) contribute to defining common goals and outlining some positive steps that lead to program improvements and achievements to which all department/unit members may contribute and take pride in.

The Planning Process Schedule

Because the planning process intersects and contributes to the budget development process at the University, departments and units develop Action Plans on a two-year rolling schedule. That means that by October 15 of each year, each department and unit (as designated by the appropriate vice president) will develop Action Plans for the following fiscal year, which runs from July 1-June 30. For example, in the fall of 2001, Action Plans will be developed for the 2002-2003 FY. The new Action Plans may include budget requests, which will be fed into the division's budget request for the following fiscal year.

At the same time, departments and units may update the Action Plans for the current fiscal year, although this update will not include any budget requests because the year's budget has already been made. For example, in the fall, 2001, departments may update Action Plans for 2001-2002 in accordance with developments since those Plans were made the preceding year.

The Action Plans will be filed on-line (See specifics below). One important principle of planning at Western is to focus on substance instead of burdensome paperwork and reports. The on-line forms are designed to be relatively easy to fill out and to submit. The real work of planning should be the collective thinking, discussion, and agreements by the members of a department or unit on that department's best, most productive courses of action. The on-line form is simply a record of the results of that meaningful planning.

Once the Action Plans are submitted on-line by the departments and units, they are available for review by the appropriate next-level administrator (usually a dean or director). The dean or director may suggest revisions to a department's Action Plans.

By October 15, all Plans at the University are to be completed and available for review, approval, and action by vice presidents or division heads.

Near the end of each fiscal year, departments and units will file on-line progress reports, Year-End Assessments. These reports give the departments and units the opportunity to gauge their progress on activities in their Action Plans, and they may be used by administrators in further planning and decision-making.

Dr. James Flynn
Planning Office
1 Big Red Way
Western Kentucky University
Bowling Green, Kentucky 42101
(270) 745-3250
Fax: (270) 745-5442
james.flynn@wku.edu