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Policy 5001
Annual Planning Policy

Date of Current Revision: January 2007
Responsible Officer: Senior Vice President for Student Affairs and University Planning
  1. PURPOSE

    The purpose of this policy is to outline the annual planning process for James Madison University's academic and administrative units and place the process within the context of the university's mission statement, defining characteristics, visions and goals.

  2. AUTHORITY

    The mission statement, defining characteristics, and visions and goals articulate both the purpose and the planned future for James Madison University. They were developed from the efforts of the Madison Commission and presented to the President in April 2006.

  3. DEFINITIONS

    Mission:
    The statement that succinctly defines the ultimate purpose for James Madison University.

    Defining Characteristics:
    Statements summarizing the type of institution that James Madison University strives to become during the planning years 2006-2012.

    Vision:
    The statement accompanying each characteristic that provides a rationale for that characteristic.

    University Goals:
    Established by division heads, with contributions from administrators, faculty members, staff members and students, these goals collectively describe current initiatives being pursued to achieve the university’s mission statement and defining characteristics.

    Objectives:
    Ways in which academic/administrative units intend to achieve a specific university goal or pursue the department's/office's mission statement.

  4. APPLICABILITY

    This policy is applicable to all academic and administrative units.

  5. POLICY

    One of the university’s 17 characteristics addresses the university's planning process.
  6. PROCEDURES

  7. 6.1 An effective planning process contributes to the identification, achievement and assessment/evaluation of the objectives of academic/administrative units. 6.2 Mission statement 6.3 Objectives 6.4 Steps To Reach Objective: (from Planning Database) 6.5 Assessment/Evaluation Methods: 6.6 Objective Accomplishments(Year-end) 6.7 Use of Assessment/Evaluation Results for Program Improvement:
  8. RESPONSIBILITIES

    Division heads are responsible for implementing this policy within their divisions.

    Each department is responsible for the day-to-day management of its objectives.

  9. SANCTIONS

    Employees who violate this policy are subject to discipline commensurate with the severity and/or frequency of the offense and may include termination of employment.

  10. EXCLUSIONS

    None.

  11. INTERPRETATION

    The authority to interpret this policy is given to the president, who normally delegates it to the senior vice president for student affairs and university planning.

Previous Version: January 2004
Approved by the President: April 2002