Putting Our Priorities into Action

This page provides a text-only version of the planning PDF documents.

Scottsdale Community College Instructional Plan 2023-2027

Vision: Promote student success through active, innovative, relevant, and inclusive instruction.

Mission: Actively engage students in supportive, distinctive, active, culturally relevant, and challenging learning experiences.

Purpose: The purpose of the Scottsdale Community College (SCC) Instructional Plan is to help students reach their full potential and to meet their lifelong educational, professional, and personal goals. The SCC Instructional Plan provides guidance in the planning of instructional activities and learning support. It is designed to align with SCC’s Strategic Plan, the Governing Board’s Objectives, and the Chancellor’s Goals.

Goal #1: Increase equitable student retention, persistence, and completion.

  • Strategy 1.1 Increase student retention and course completion for underserved students.
    • Action 1.1.1 Increase academic support for gateway courses in English, Math and Science and other disciplines where success disparities are evident.
  • Strategy 1.2 Develop and implement guided pathways/tracks for students.
    • Action 1.2.1 Develop both traditional and flexible pathways to enhance student retention and completion.
  • Strategy 1.3 Align the class schedule to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.
    • Action 1.3.1 Implement the revised SCC Course Delivery Model based on enhancing flexibility and access for students.
  • Strategy 1.4 Increase access to academic student support services.
    • Action 1.4.1 Align student support services with course scheduling and student demand.
    • Action 1.4.2 Increase offerings of courses, certificates and degrees with affordable and no-cost learning materials.
  • Strategy 1.5 Develop Baccalaureate degree programs that are aligned with market needs.
    • Action 1.5.1 Create at least one Baccalaureate degree program through a data-informed, shared governance based selection process.
  • Strategy 1.6 Increase the diversity of SCC faculty and staff to better reflect the diversity in the student body.
    • Action 1.6.1 Amend hiring processes that result in more diverse faculty and staff hiring pools.

Goal #2: Enhance teaching effectiveness and student learning.

  • Strategy 2.1 Support and promote academic standards of excellence and rigor.
    • Action 2.1.1 Expand faculty professional development to support innovative pedagogy and teaching delivery, application of new technologies and curricular updates.
  • Strategy 2.2 Enhance and increase student learning assessment at SCC.
    • Action 2.2.1 Participate and complete HLC’s Assessment Academy as part of the Institutional Quality Initiative.
  • Strategy 2.3 Expand faculty-student interactions outside of the classroom.
    • Action 2.3.1 Expand peer tutoring, student clubs, service learning and student research.
  • Strategy 2.4 Integrate courses with external support services, supplemental instruction.
    • Action 2.4.1 Complete a pilot (to help determine scalability) that fully integrates courses with external support services such as supplemental instruction.

Goal #3: Increase workforce opportunities and enhance workforce experiences for students.

  • Strategy 3.1 Enhance workforce experiences for students.
    • Action 3.1.1 Create additional experiential learning experiences (internships, externships, apprenticeships etc.) for students that lead to gainful employment.
    • Action 3.1.2 Finalize the planning and development of the SCC Workforce Connection focused on partnerships and experiential learning.
  • Strategy 3.2 Increase non-credit offerings.
    • Action 3.2.1 Increase the number of non-credit offerings that align to strategic needs of SCC partners.
  • Strategy 3.1 Develop new or expand existing workforce programs (associate degrees or certificates) that are aligned with student demand and market needs.
    • Action 3.3.1 Engage with SARA (State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement) for teaching specific programs out of state where feasible.
    • Action 3.3.2 Create new associate degree and/or certificate programs that are high demand and employment ready.
    • Action 3.3.3 Create new stackable fast track (micro-credentials) programs to meet industry need and student demand.

Goal #4: Enhance transfer student enrollment, retention and success.

  • Strategy 4.1 Increase dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment offerings.
    • Action 4.1.1 Increase the number of dual and concurrent offerings that align with SCC transfer programs.
  • Strategy 4.2 Expand experiential learning for transfer students.
    • Action 4.2.1 Strategically expand Service Learning and Liberal Arts & Sciences internships
  • Strategy 4.3 Enhance and expand GPS career exploration.
    • Action 4.3.1 Enhance and expand GPS exploration of careers in Liberal Arts and Sciences.
  • Strategy 4.4 Improve student retention and completion among students whose goal is to complete a four year degree.
    • Action 4.4.1 Increase 2+2 partnerships to enhance pathway completion at SCC.
    • Action 4.4.2 Expand access to learners through flexible offerings/class schedules.

Goal #5: Engage in continuous improvement and enhance institutional effectiveness.

  • Strategy 5.1 Amend the Unit Strategic Planning (USP) Process and Implement the Four Disciplines of Execution (4DX).
    • Action 5.1.1 Improve alignment of planning and budgeting processes and incorporate the Four Disciplines of Execution into the USP process.
  • Strategy 5.2 Successfully apply for Grants intended to support underserved populations (Title III, Title V).
    • Action 5.2.1 Apply for a Title III grant to leverage federal funding to enhance programmatic efforts that support underserved students.

Strategic Enrollment Management Plan 2024-2027

Strategy 1 Streamline the Experience – Student Ready Solutions for All 

  • MCCCD College Goal #1 MCCCD attracts, recruits, engages, and enrolls more students.
    • KPI #1 Increase annual new-to-Maricopa student enrollment (headcount) from 1756 (2023-24) to 1850 (+5.4%) by 2027.
    • MCCCD College Activity 1.1.A Identify and achieve college determined optimal enrollment targets.
      • Milestone
        • 1.1.A.1 Define and identify student populations by June 2025.
        • 1.1.A.2 Develop tailored outreach efforts to address the specific needs and interests of the targeted student populations by June 2026.
    • SCC College Activity 1.1.B Improve enrollment processes by establishing an informed communication plan, instituted across campus, alerting students of timelines, resources, interventions, and student development opportunities.
      • Milestone
        • 1.1.B.1 Conduct an inventory of current communication messages, target audiences, and platforms leveraged by June 2025.
        • 1.1.B.2 Develop and implement a comprehensive communication plan that streamlines messaging to current, future, and potential students by June 2026.
        • 1.1.B.3 Establish a dedicated contact center to support and enhance communication to current, future, and potential students by June 2026.
        • 1.1.B.4 Create best practice communication templates for faculty and staff by June 2026.
    • SCC College Activity 1.1.C Establish systems and processes that create greater course schedule clarity for students.
      • Milestone
        • 1.1.C.1 Implement Ad Astra to optimize course scheduling by June 2026.
        • 1.1.C.2 Implement a process for departmental collaboration to balance course offerings based on modality/day/time by June 2025.
        • 1.1.C.3 Enhance the college website to optimize access to course and program information by June 2025.
        • 1.1.C.4 Align course offerings to ensure predictability for completing a certificate or degree pathway by June 2025.
    • SCC College Activity 1.1.D Expand dual and concurrent enrollment opportunities, with a targeted focus on high schools.
      • Milestone
        • 1.1.D.1 Document and optimize internal dual enrollment processes by June 2025.
        • 1.1.D.2 Develop a comprehensive concurrent enrollment plan and process for prospective high schools by June 2025.
    • SCC College Activity 1.1.E Increase community awareness, perception and knowledge of SCC programs, services through strategic community involvement.
      • Milestone
        • 1.1.E.1 Prioritize outreach in community engagement events that support the college’s mission by June 2026.
        • 1.1.E.2 Partner with community organizations, non-profits, businesses, and Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community to promote SCC programs and services by June 2025.
        • 1.1.E.3 Enhance social media platform presence to highlight college updates, success stories, and key information about SCC programs and services by June 2026

Strategy 2 Optimize Student Success – Remove Barriers

  • MCCCD COLLEGE GOAL #2 MCCCD retains and supports students to reach their academic, personal, and/ or professional goals.
    • KPI #2 Increase annual retention rates from 53% to 55% (+2%) by June 30, 2027.
    • MCCCD College Activity 2.1.A Identify and achieve college-determined optimal retention rates.
      • Milestone
        • 2.1.A.1 Implement a holistic set of early alert and support services to support our student populations in gateway and critical courses by June 2026.
        • 2.1.A.2 Design student connections including the integration of cultural identity and awareness that fosters a sense of belonging for our student populations by June 2026.
        • 2.1.A.3 Ensure access to basic needs resources such as food pantries, housing assistance, and other services to support the holistic needs of students by June 2025.
        • 2.1.A.4 Develop a one stop webpage for all support services by June 2025.
        • 2.1.A.5 Develop an improved program review cycle that encourages faculty to examine success data and frequent use of dashboards by June 2026.
    • SCC College Activity 2.1.B Establish comprehensive career services leveraging the explore, equip, engage and evolve continuum model, including work-based learning experiences.
      • Milestone
        • 2.1.B.1 Identify career and service learning opportunities that provide students with workforce experiences by June 2025.
        • 2.1.B.2  Identify community partners who can provide career development opportunities by June 2026.
        • 2.1.B.3 Integrate career opportunities into selected courses that promote workforce connections by June 2026.
    • SCC College Activity 2.1.C Establish a student-centered framework that facilitates successful enrollment and completion of first college-level courses.
      • Milestone
        • 2.1.C.1 Identify a student support services peer mentorship model to support key areas of the student life cycle by June 2025.
        • 2.1.C.2 Develop academic peer mentorship opportunities in first year courses or first year student experiences by June 2026.

Strategy 3 Committed to Completion – Mission Accomplished

  • MCCCD COLLEGE GOAL #3 MCCCD graduates and transfers more students.
    • KPI #3 Increase annual graduation/transfer rates from 21% to 24% (+3%) by June 30, 2027.
    • MCCCD College Activity 3.1.A Identify and achieve college-determined optimal completion rates.
      • Milestone
        • 3.1.A.1 Review course completion data across various modalities and formats to identify areas of improvements by June 2025.
        • 3.1.A.2 Determine the optimal course completion rates with the goal of reducing gaps by June 2025.
        • 3.1.A.3 Implement new and enhance existing professional development for instructional best practices by June 2026.
    • SCC College Activity 3.1.B Establish support systems for student populations, including first generation, Veterans, and Pell students.
      • Milestone
        • 3.1.B.1 Solicit student feedback to identify support services needed for our student populations by June 2026.
        • 3.1.B.1 Provide culturally responsive support services that recognize and address the unique needs of students June 2025.
    • SCC College Activity 3.1.C Eliminate financial barriers to student success.
      • Milestone
        • 3.1.C.1 Expand access to financial aid resources for students to foster greater access to college opportunities by June 2026.
        • 3.1.C.2 Increase the use and awareness of OER and other cost effective options for students within the classroom by June 2026.