What are your plans for the future?  Do you want to run a 10K?  Are you planning to have children?  Would you like to own a home?  We all recognize the importance of making plans for the future.  Usually those plans center around our age, health, what we plan to accomplish, and is based in part on what is currently going on in our life.  Businesses must also map out a plan for the future.  Knowing the right audience, what the market will bring, and how to position themselves positively to capitalize on opportunities are crucial to steady growth.  Unfortunately with poor planning lives and businesses can fall apart.  The same holds true for educational institutions.  It is sufficient to say that most universities, colleges, and secondary schools aren’t “going out of business” in the economic downturn.  Nevertheless, not including the current economic times and the climate of our nation in future planning could result in multiple failed opportunities and ultimately represents bad business practices.

When students are planning for college it is becoming increasingly important to investigate what jobs are available and what fields are emerging prior to enrollment.  With the cost of college tuition, a college degree is quickly approaching one of the largest investments a person will ever make.  People wouldn’t put a large sum of money into a bank or stock without understanding the return on investment.  The same holds true for a college degree.  Especially in the current economic state, it is crucial to use an education as a step in securing a strong future as part of a long term plan.  The students of today are educated consumers looking for a school that meets their needs based on research.

Educational leaders charged with managing change must use their eyes and ears to determine what programs will be necessary to sustain these incoming students.  What jobs are disappearing?  What fields are holding a shortage?  What new jobs will be created based on current government spending and agendas?  Answers to these questions should dictate what a school’s future offerings look like.  In addition, schools must look at evolving technology and determine to integrate it into teaching methods, course delivery, and alternative learning environments.

Now is the time for educators to be proactive in creating new strategic plans to move their educational institutions into the next decade.  We are citizens of a new world filled with green initiatives, cleaner air, more technology choices, and unlimited access to almost everything.  It is up to the education community to investigate all the options and get moving!

At eLearningToolBox.com we provide a set of tools to help educational leaders be strategic and proactive.  FacultyFinder.com can be used to efficiently identify qualified, experienced faculty.  READI is a strong tool for helping students to be successful thus boosting retention rates.  PostCourse.com allows leaders to collect the disseminate useful metrics about course quality.  Let us know if you would like to discuss how your school can use these tools in its strategic plan.

Economic Downturn Part 2 – Program Planning for the Future