Garrett College has launched a five-year strategic plan focused on community connections, innovative and sustainable programs, and the maximizing of college resources.
“We wanted to identify three overarching goals that could guide the college’s efforts over the next five years,” said Dr. Kelli Sisler, who chaired the 11-person Steering Committee that oversaw development of the Fiscal Year 2026-30 strategic plan. “In order to do that, we tried to get as much input as possible from our students, employees, community partners, and the general public.”
Sisler noted the steering committee reviewed extensive data sets, along with input gathered from surveys and focus groups, to guide its process. The Steering Committee recommended changes to the college’s mission and vision statements, as well as the three overarching strategic goals, to the Garrett College Board of Trustees.
The final approved goals were:
- Enhance connections with the community;
- Offer innovative, sustainable programs that adapt to changing student and community needs to enable student success; and
- Maximize human, technical, physical and fiscal resources to support the College’s strategic objectives.
“I would like to thank the members of the steering committee for their insight and dedication,” said Garrett College Board of Trustees Chair Jason Rush, who represented the trustees on the strategic plan steering committee. “Community input is vital for the college to be able to fulfill its mission in the community, and the collaboration between these stakeholders was essential for it to be successful.”
Paul Edwards, who represented the Garrett County Commissioners on the steering committee, was also pleased with the final document.
“I’m proud of the work that has been done on the strategic plan,” said Edwards. “I think it sets high but attainable goals and objectives that will see the college through the next decade.”
Internal work groups comprised of college faculty, staff, and administrators then developed 15 objectives designed to implement the goals. Sisler said the work groups are also developing measurable outcomes with defined targets so that “the college can evaluate its progress in achieving the goals outlined in the plan.”
Dr. Richard Midcap, Garrett College’s president, said the college used a plan development process similar to the one employed to develop the FY2021-25 strategic plan.
“We were incredibly successful at implementing the last strategic plan because we took time to thoughtfully develop a plan that could direct the College’s efforts and could be easily evaluated throughout the five-year process,” said Midcap. “That convinced us to use the same process with the new plan.”
The complete Garrett College FY2026-30 Strategic Plan may be accessed at https://www.garrettcollege.edu/strategic-plan.php.
