Vision, Purpose, Mission, Values - Aiken Technical College

Vision, Mission, Purpose, Values, Strategic Plan

Vision

We envision Aiken Technical College as a catalyst for developing educated, engaged and employable individuals whose collective energy will be the driving force for prosperity and the quality of life in our diverse communities.

Mission

Aiken Technical College is a public, open-door, two-year, comprehensive institution of higher education established to provide citizens of greater Aiken County opportunities for educational, economic, professional, social and personal development. The College educates and trains students to provide an effective work force to support economic growth and community development through its focus on teaching and service.

Purpose

Consistent with its mission and values, Aiken Technical College is dedicated to achieving the following institutional purposes in an exemplary manner:

Secure the resources needed to support a projected annual enrollment of 3,500-4,500 credit students and 14,000 non-credit students.
Offer associate degree, diploma and certificate programs which provide students with the knowledge and competencies necessary for initial entry into and advancement in engineering technology, industrial technology, information technology, health, environmental, business and social service careers.
Prepare students for transfer to four-year institutions.
Collaborate with secondary and four-year institutions to facilitate transition among educational entities.
Construct curricula to address core competencies of written and oral communication, math, research, social/interpersonal, problem-solving, computer, and technical skills.
Develop customized training and technical assistance for public and private sector employers to further economic growth.
Deliver continuing education courses and special programs to address needs for occupational, vocational, and personal advancement.
Conduct developmental education to prepare students for the college experience.
Provide student support and counseling services to further individual student development and success.
Assist local communities, agencies, and educational institutions to meet specific challenges.

Our Values

ATC's core values define the College and provide the environment for all decisions and actions. These core values are:

Education - Education is the key to individual, community, and economic development in a complex technological society.
Commitment to Students - Students deserve the finest instruction, resources and services to enhance their growth and development.
Excellence - The College promotes excellence in personnel, programs and work environment while encouraging integrity, accountability and respect for individuals.
Community - Partnerships that develop solutions to community challenges are important to economic vitality and quality of life.
Diversity - Respect for diversity is an important part of the educational process.

2003-2008 Strategic Plan

Institutional Goal I
Empower our students through life-changing educational experiences to become productive and committed citizens.

Strategic Objectives

I.1	Create a student-focused environment to maximize student achievement.
I.2	Evolve curricula so that each student receives an education that meets workforce and transfer needs.
I.3	Graduate diploma and associate degree students who are able to perform in a technologically-complex society.
I.4	Implement the infrastructure to maximize student participation in citizenship and cultural experiences, and work-based and service learning opportunities.

Institutional Goal II
Create customized workforce development solutions for partnering companies to enhance their profitability and growth potential.

Strategic Objectives

II.1	Design innovative training curricula provided through flexible instructional delivery systems that address the human resource development challenges of business and industry.
II.2	Partner with economic development agencies to identify and develop programs of excellence to assist in the recruitment and growth of new and existing business and industry.
II.3	Identify, develop and market expertise niches that position the College to provide unique training opportunities.
II.4	Extend workforce development resources of College and business partners through strategic alliances.

Institutional Goal III
Achieve a College culture of excellence through the deployment of continuous improvement systems.

Strategic Objectives

III.1	Align the organizational leadership and structure, work force composition, and management style to support the evolving strategic direction of the College.
III.2	Develop a work force of excellence that exceeds customer expectations in the delivery of programs and services.
III.3	Develop and implement technology applications and customer service systems that achieve excellence in programs, services and operations.
III.4	Prioritize and allocate resources to develop and implement continuous improvement plans and strategic initiatives.

Institutional Goal IV
Deploy technology applications to enhance student learning, improve services, and achieve administrative efficiency.

Strategic Objectives

IV.1	Create a learning environment that integrates education-based technologies to increase student success.
IV.2	Develop a systematic training program to certify faculty and staff in the effective and efficient use of technology in the workplace.
IV.3	Provide appropriate infrastructure and connectivity to support technology application needs for the effective and efficient delivery of information.

Institutional Goal V
Partner with community initiatives to enhance the economic well-being of the region.

Strategic Objectives

V.1	Create alliances with community organizations to develop and implement services and programs that enhance quality of life.
V.2	Identify and assist under-served populations to improve their employability.