SCC Strategic Plan

Background

The Annual Survey from AAUW National always has the question, “Do you have a strategic plan?” 

 

The Summit College Club (SCC) is a branch of the American Association of University Women.  The mission of AAUW is to advance gender equity by empowering women through education that will lead to economic security.  Members of AAUW Summit College Club are also interested in women’s issues that can remove barriers to success.

 

The AAUW vision defines a community where every woman has equal access to opportunities, representation, respect, and resources in education and the workplace.

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The purpose of the SCC Strategic Plan is to identify goals that will support actions that assure the attainment of the AAUW mission and vision.

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National’s Strategic Priorities are:

1. Fund higher education.

2. Remove barriers to success

3. Strengthen AAUW’s reach

 

Methodology

The Strategic Plan consists of two main parts:  1) Strategic Plan Goals and 2) Operational Implementation that ties back to the listed goals.  Plans are for one to three years out.  Five years was thought to be too hard to predict.

 

The committee looked at the Five Star Program from National and incorporated most of it into the plan.  Items we did not think applied were not included and were placed at the end of the report.

 

Key Points in SCC Strategic Plan

After performing a thorough analysis of the internal organization strengths and weaknesses, as well as external opportunities, threats, and challenges, three strategic priorities were identified.  These strategic priorities were recognized as being the elements that were key to the long-term sustainability of SCC:

• Strengthening and improving administration and governance

• Retaining and increasing membership

• Improving programs and services to stakeholders

 

The SCC Strategic Plan identifies goals and objectives, action plans, responsible groups and performance metrics in the following areas: Leadership; Membership; Programs; Communications including External Relations; Recognition/Awards/Scholarships; Funding and Development Strategy; Operations; Partnerships and Alliances; and Public Policy and Advocacy. Continuing and new action steps were identified for each of these areas.  Implementing these action steps should help SCC become more adaptive to changing community and member expectations while preserving the core values that make the organization unique.

 

Leadership and Governance

The primary goal is to strengthen governance and ensure leadership continuity.  SCC will develop a succession plan, establish an annual nominating committee, and encourage shared leadership roles to distribute responsibilities.  Committees should include multiple members to maintain continuity and support collaboration.

 

Membership Growth and Engagement

Maintaining and expanding membership is essential to sustaining SCC’s mission and financial stability.  The strategic plan recommends focusing recruitment efforts first on Baby Boomers and Generation X over the next year or two, as these groups align well with SCC's vision.  After that, recruitment efforts can add Millennials and Gen Z groups.   Strategies include strengthening the membership committee, improving onboarding for new members, encouraging member participation in club activities, and increasing outreach through community events.  Analysis of the current and potential member demographics will aid in identifying strategies to retain and recruit new members.

 

Programs and Initiatives

SCC will continue offering educational and social programs that align with AAUW priorities and foster member engagement.  Monthly programs will remain central to SCC activities, supplemented by social events and collaborative initiatives with other AAUW branches.  Continued support for STEM programs, such as Tech Trek, will remain an important part of SCC’s mission.  Events that support AAUW’s mission and vision as well as traditional SCC activities should provide a wide scope of interests for both members and the local community.

 

Communications and External Relations

The Communications Committee will continue promoting the club through bulletins, social media, email, the website, and local print and digital media, and will remain aware of changing technologies as they become available.  Utilizing digital engagement and regularly sharing information from AAUW and AAUW-NJ will help increase visibility, attract potential members, and strengthen connections within the community.  The Communications Committee will continue to work towards efficient, clear, and consistent messaging of SCC and SCCF goals and activities.

 

Scholarships and Awards

Scholarships remain a cornerstone of SCC’s mission.  The organization will continue to fund scholarships for local high school students, women returning to education, and Tech Trek and NCCWSL programs.  Strengthening relationships with scholarship recipients and encouraging them to share their experiences will help demonstrate the impact of these programs.

 

Funding and Development (Financial Sustainability)

The annual book sale will remain the foundation's primary fundraising activity, while new fundraising committees will explore additional revenue opportunities for both the club and the foundation.  Efforts to retain and increase membership should help with predictable funding for the club, enabling long-term sustainability.

 

Partnerships and Alliances

The goal is to expand community connections and strengthen partnerships with libraries, schools, community organizations, and perhaps other women-led groups.  SCC recognizes that members of the community and other women’s organizations share similar missions and visions.  Increasing SCC’s outreach will further recognition of SCC goals.

 

Operations

An efficient organization enables better planning.  All procedures will be documented.  Electronic document storage will contain meeting minutes, committee reports, and governance documents.  Reports and documentation are essential to the operation of SCC and SCCF as well as to maintaining the history of the branch.

 

Public Policy and Advocacy

The goal is to increase engagement in policy issues affecting women.  Possible initiatives are collaborating with other branches or focusing on policy priorities relevant to women Baby Boomers and Generation X who are SCC’s primary first targets for membership.  Only one or two policies should be focused on initially to avoid a lack of focus.  Sharing AAUW’s mission and vision through branch activities and outreach is essential to informing members and the community of issues relevant to AAUW goals.

 

Conclusion and Looking Ahead

The strategic plan provides a framework to guide Summit College Club’s growth, strengthen its leadership and membership, and enhance its ability to advance equity for women and girls.  An operational plan will outline specific actions, timelines, and responsible persons/committee to implement these strategies.  The adoption of the Strategic Plan for the Summit College Club will support a membership committed to the future of the branch and supporting women’s needs as the future unfolds.