The Board of Directors approved the Association's Strategic Long-Range Plan (pdf) for the period July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2011 at its meeting in May. The plan was developed by the Association Governance and Membership Committee following a February planning retreat that included a variety of representatives from the membership and several staff. The new plan will be implemented on July 1, 2006. Details about the planning process are presented below and appear in greater detail in the document itself.
The six goals that comprise the plan were developed by consensus of participants in a planning retreat held in February 2005. While NASFAA policy does not require a Strategic Long-Range Plan, the Manual of Policies and Procedures frequently refers to such a plan, particularly in connection with NASFAA committees. In addition, one of the stated purposes of the Association Governance and Membership Committee is "to monitor and make recommendations regarding the association's Strategic Long-Range Plan."
The Association's formal long-range planning process began in 1986 with the first strategic long-range planning retreat. Out of the retreat came the first five-year plan, which was adopted by the Board of Directors in 1987. The plan has been updated in 1990, 1995 and 1999 for implementation in the succeeding five-year periods. The current Strategic Long-Range Plan, covering the years 2001-2006, is available on-line. Tools for development of the plans varied, but generally included Membership surveys, environmental scans, and governing documents. Meeting formats always included retreats that differed in size and composition, with participants representing the diversity of the Board and the Membership.
Developing the Current Plan. In 2003, staff drafted a Membership Survey in preparation for the next long-range planning cycle. The survey was distributed in the summer of 2004 and analysis was completed in the fall. Also in 2004, NASFAA's Research Committee oversaw an update to the Environmental Scan. The February 2005 retreat included the Executive Committee of the Board, the Association Governance and Membership Committee, and representatives of the Membership who had less experience with NASFAA and its activities.
Challenges Facing the Association. During the retreat, participants identified several challenges facing the Association in the next five years. The most significant challenges, in order of priority, include the need to:
- Reevaluate what NASFAA does, given an increasingly competitive environment
- Practice effective advocacy for financial aid programs
- Review limited resources both from a fiscal and human resource perspective
- Establish a leadership pipeline to encourage and develop new leaders and firmly establish their commitment to the financial aid profession
- Keep up with rapidly escalating changes in technology, student demographics, the economy, and job responsibilities of aid administrators
- Thoroughly review succession plans for senior NASFAA staff positions
Changes in the Structure of the Plan. Participants used the set of challenges presented above as a baseline for developing the goals of NASFAA's 2006-11 Strategic Long-Range Plan. In doing so, they focused on making the goals simpler and more understandable for those working on Association activities and committees. The goals were reduced in number from ten to six. They are not presented in order of importance; rather, they are to be regarded as equally important. Listed with each goal are activities suggested by retreat participants to help guide their implementation by NASFAA's committees. These activities are not intended to be prescriptive. Committee members are encouraged to think creatively about other activities and projects that may accomplish the goals with due consideration given to the current environment.
NASFAA's 2006-11 Strategic Long-Range Plan is located at http://www.NASFAA.org/pdfs/2005/Final2006SLRP.pdf.
Posted June 20, 2005 on www.NASFAA.org, Web Site of the
National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators
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