The 2016-2021 Strategic Plan was originally approved by the Los Rios Board of Trustees on May 11, 2016.
Los Rios updated its strategic planning process in 2021-2022 to include an annual reaffirmation of the vision, mission, and goals, as well as an annual reassessment of strategies to achieve stated goals and indicators of achievement. In the spring of 2022, the Los Rios Community College District reaffirmed the vision, mission, and goals outlined below. The Board of Trustees annually reviews progress towards indicators of achievement.
Vision Statement
Our vision is to transform the lives of students and enhance the vitality of our region.
Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide a vibrant learning environment that empowers all students to achieve their educational and career goals.
Our Values
Our values guide and inspire how we manage the Los Rios District, interact with our students, colleagues, and community, and establish programs that promote student success.
Students Are Our Highest Priority
- Student Access: We are committed to providing educational opportunities that serve the needs of the greater Sacramento region’s diverse population.
- Student Success: We support our students’ efforts to achieve success in their educational and career goals and as contributing members of society.
- Lifelong Learning: We encourage a limitless spirit of openness and intellectual curiosity as enduring pursuits.
- Student Support and Services: We promote a safe and supportive environment that serves the individual learning needs of all students.
Employees
- Safe and Secure Work Environment: We embrace an accepting, inclusive, and nurturing work environment that is free of threats and intimidation.
- Professionalism: We encourage, promote, and support the continuous professional development of all employees, acknowledging their unique contributions to creating a collegial workplace that is diverse in composition and thought.
- Well-Being: We believe in a work-life balance and support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our staff and faculty.
Community
- Serving the Community: We address the cultural, economic, and social needs of the region by building meaningful connections between our colleges and their communities.
Academic Excellence
- Quality: We strive to deliver the highest quality programs, services and activities.
- Academic Rigor: Los Rios’ educational standards emphasize critical thinking and writing, analysis and excellence in educational experiences, stimulating faculty members to challenge themselves and their students in an atmosphere that inspires thoughtful teaching and learning.
- Academic Integrity and Freedom: Los Rios is committed to academic integrity and embracing forthright, honest and ethical behavior.
Equity
- Social Justice: We acknowledge and embrace our responsibility to empower underrepresented segments of our community and to ensure that all populations have access, support, and opportunities to succeed.
Diversity
- Building Community: We recognize that diverse backgrounds and perspectives contribute to the Los Rios District’s strength as a dynamic, inclusive educational community.
Relationships
- Mutual Respect and Consideration: We believe effective working relationships are central to achieving our mission and employ an interest-based approach to solving problems through collaboration, empathy, mutual respect, and integrity.
Participatory Governance
- Encouraging the Contributions of All Our Members: All members of the Los Rios community can contribute to our organizational success and are encouraged to do so.
- Informed, Collaborative, and Integrated Decision-Making: We value informed decisions made by people with diverse perspectives who are close to the issues.
Sustainability
- Building a Culture of Sustainability: The Los Rios community is a wise steward of all its resources, protecting, preserving, and nurturing its people, its environment, its property, its capital, and its educational programs.
Innovation
- Fostering Innovation and Responsible Risk-Taking: Los Rios supports and invests in change that increases the effectiveness of our programs, the productivity of our work, and the successful outcomes of our students.
Integrity
- The Highest Ethical Standards: Los Rios values integrity, transparency, accountability, honesty, and professionalism, both in the workplace and the classroom.
Our Goals
To fulfill our mission and uphold our values, we will:
Indicators of Achievement
Access
- Early Momentum Metric:
- Restore and increase enrollment for all student populations
- Longer Term Outcome:
- Ensure that by 2027, the district’s student population mirrors the demographics of our service area
- Supporting Indicators:
- Increase enrollment overall for first-time students, full-time students, dual enrollment students, and adult learners (25+)
Progress, Momentum, and Success
- Early Momentum Metric (Priority Indicator):
- Reduce equity gaps in persistence
- Longer Term Outcome:
- Attain the Vision 2030/Roadmap Goal for Completion (Degrees and Certificates)
- Supporting Indicators:
- Increase overall course success, completion of math and English in the first year, the percent of students who successfully complete at least 15 units in their first academic year, the percent of K-12 students who complete 12 or more community college units, course retention, and persistence
Strategies
- Inventory and evaluate existing pathways and identify opportunities for improvement, expansion, and increased promotion to students.
- Implement an improved class scheduling system to better meet student needs.
- Promote communication channels that increase awareness of course offerings, deadlines, services, programs, resources, and events.
- Monitor student progress and proactively engage with at-risk students before key milestones (first semester, 30 units, 70 units, and so on)
- Develop a comprehensive recruitment and persistence plan to achieve enrollment goals
Indicators of Achievement
- Early Momentum Metric:
- Reduce equity gaps in course success
- Longer Term Outcome:
- Reduce equity gaps in degree and certificate completion
- Supporting Indicators:
- Increase the percentage of students who complete the FAFSA/CADAA application (as well as other financial aid award program eligibility)
- Reduce equity gaps in course retention
- Reduce equity gaps in term-to-term persistence
- Decrease unit accumulation
- Reduce equity gaps in CSU and UC transfers
- Reduce equity gaps in degree and certificate completion
- Ensure that the district’s student population mirrors the demographics of our service area
Strategies
- Develop and use culturally relevant curriculum and instruction
- Address the disproportionate impact of assessment, placement, and prerequisites
- Promote courageous conversations that address institutional barriers and systems of oppression
- Institute professional development programs that teach effective strategies for promoting inclusivity and social justice as well as mitigating bias inside and outside the classroom
- Increase recruitment outreach to diversify applicant pools
Indicators of Achievement
- Early Momentum Metric:
- Increase overall course success
- Longer Term Outcome:
- Reduce unit accumulation
Strategies
- Collaborate with faculty to develop a new faculty academy at each of the colleges
- Increase professional development opportunities related to teaching methods, equity, instructional technology, discipline-specific knowledge, and student services
- Explore the personnel review and evaluation process to improve the effectiveness of mentoring, peer input, and student evaluations
- Ensure that all classroom personnel, with a focus on new and adjunct faculty, have the necessary resources to engage in the improvement of curriculum, teaching, and learning
- Ensure each college has regular opportunities outside of FLEX to support the scholarship of teaching and learning
- Provide resources to enhance student learning outcomes, development, and assessment
- Improve the assessment-for-placement process through diagnostic assessment, multiple measures, and increased preparation prior to assessment
- Offer academic events, internships, and other opportunities for teaching and learning outside the classroom
Indicators of Achievement
- Early Momentum Metric:
- Restore and grow enrollment for student populations in career technical education programs that are aligned with the employment needs of our region
- Longer Term Outcome:
- Increase the number of Career Education graduates who are gainfully employed
- Supporting Indicators:
- Increase the number of certificate completions in CTE programs
- Focus on establishing or expanding programs that address workforce needs in healthcare, climate action, education, and early education
- Increase the percentage of CTE graduates earning median wages in their field
- Establish a baseline for credit for prior learning (CPL) offerings and increase these offerings annually
- Increase systemwide access and enrollment into direct-assessment competency-based education (CBE) programs
Strategies
- Develop regional advisory committees by industry sector to inform the program development process
- Assess current CTE program offerings and align them with emerging and current regional industry needs
- Increase dual enrollment for CTE programs
- Expand work-based internships and learning opportunities by integrating these activities into CTE courses and programs
- Increase marketing of CTE programs to students, employers, and community partners
- Increase support for CTE job placement services
Indicators of Achievement
- Early Momentum Metric:
- Ensure that the demographics of all employee groups (administration, faculty, and classified professionals) reflect the demographics of the students served by our district
- Longer Term Outcome:
- Increase participation in equity-minded and culturally responsive professional development and affinity group opportunities for employees, focused on race, gender, LGBTQ+ status, disability, and other historically marginalized identities
Strategies
- Increase staff and manager participation in professional development activities.
- Encourage broader participation in safety, health, and wellness programs and explore developing employee incentives for engaging in health and wellness programs
- Support leadership and career pathways for interested employees by utilizing professional development inventories and assessment tools and identifying cross-training and mentorship opportunities
- Coordinate and communicate college sustainability efforts to further implement best practices across the District
- Complete and implement a District Technology Plan
- Streamline business processes, including appropriate use of technology to improve workforce efficiency and better serve students
- Foster positive and respectful relationships across all constituencies
- Maintain competitive salary and benefits packages for the District workforce
Resources
View past strategic plans.