The Role of Strategic Planning in Community Colleges:A Study of the Perceived Benefits of Strategic Planning in Maryland Community Colleges

Community colleges spend considerable amount of time and resources on strategic planning. They engage in strategic planning for a variety of reasons ranging from responding to changes in the external environment to increased expectations for accountability from external agencies such as regional accreditation agencies. While there is no shortage of evidence about the involvement of these organizations with strategic planning, very little research exists about the benefits community colleges derive from engaging in strategic planning. This dissertation explores the relationship between strategic planning and perceived institutional benefits in Maryland community colleges.