I. The Chair reported on the status of the focus group project.

A. The Chancellor has given his endorsement of the project. At present, the starting date will be after September 1 with the first focus groups meeting starting in October/November.

II. The Chair reported on a meeting with Bob Zeigler and Linda O'Nave, co-chairs of the District Strategic Planning Team (DSPT).

A. A proposed planning process from the Focus Group Project Steering Committee was given to the co-chairs. The flow chart provides for the development of a district strategic plan which is then monitored by the DSPT.

1. The information from the focus group project will be one of the four data sources providing information to the DSPT.

2. The movement toward the district's strategic goals will be evaluated and this information will also provide data to the DSPT.

B. The Focus Group Project Steering Committee made the proposal so there would be a way to incorporate the data generated into the planning process at the district level.

C. Additionally, it is important the district and the colleges are moving in the same direction since that impacts allocation of resources.

III. There was discussion centered on whether or not the college mission statement should be modified.

A. It was discussed that if there was a feeling the mission should be changed, a process needs to be established that the college community is involved in that change.

1. The chair suggested the portion of the mission that would need this formal and extensive process is the first two sentences. The bulleted statements are simply examples of how the college can fulfill it's mission. Steve Castañeda questioned whether that was true for if the bulleted statements were taken from the old "Role and Scope" of SAC then changing that portion of the mission page should also be a part of the formal process.

B. Several members suggested modification because the mission was unclear in the areas of distance learning, interpersonal communication skills, the meaning of civic responsibility and global awareness. Additionally, several felt that some of the bulleted statements referenced activities that were not found in the mission.

C. Discussion then centered on the definitions of the words in the mission statement and that we can define those words as needed.

1. June McManus move: "That a committee be formed to rewrite the definitions of the words in the mission statement so the concerns expressed at the meeting would be addressed in the new definitions." The motion passed.

a. The Chair appointed a committee after asking for volunteers.

(1) Committee members are: The Chair of the Faculty Senate (The Chair will call the first meeting), June McManus, Helen Torres, Allan Nowotny, and Tom Hoy.

b. The committee is to present the definitions at the September 15 Planning Council meeting.

IV. The next meeting will be April 28, 2:00 in VATC 120 A. The objective of the meeting is to discuss opportunities and threats we should consider in developing strategic goals for the college. V. Meeting was adjourned at 3:00