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Strategic planning has become the cornerstone of how we advance our mission to Educate. Inspire. Connect. Our journey began in 2017 and continued in 2021 when we refreshed our plan amid pandemic disruptions and growing awareness of social justice issues. The resulting 2023-26 Strategic Plan reflected our evolution and deepened commitment to equity and student success.
In academic year 2025-26 the College community embarked on a revision process in order to create Strategic Plan 3.0 under the leadership of President George Timmons, reflecting our commitment to ensuring that the transformative work we do every day continues to evolve and respond to our students and community. Strategic planning at HCC is how we honor our past achievements while boldly shaping our future.
MISSION
Educate. Inspire. Connect.
VISION
Holyoke Community College aspires to be a college of academic excellence known for helping students overcome barriers to success.
STUDENT EXPERIENCE STATEMENT
Holyoke Community College commits to delivering a transformational student experience characterized by:
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A student-ready environment with connections that draw people, services, and resources together to address students’ needs and ensure their success;
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An affordable, relevant education designed to ensure equitable student outcomes, resulting in career and transfer opportunities that enable all students to thrive;
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An approach to educating the whole person that consistently meets students where they are and engages them in real-world learning experiences; and
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A vibrant, diverse, and inclusive college community that enriches the learning experience, delivers unwavering encouragement, and builds lifelong connections.
Faculty and staff of Holyoke Community College commit to support this transformative experience through:
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Accessible, guided, and intuitive services that support and inspire students and their families;
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Culturally responsive practices that promote equity within and beyond the classroom;
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Technology, data, and predictive analytics that enable HCC to deliver personalized, proactive, and responsive programs and service; and
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An agile and supportive culture that recognizes the importance of professional development to build knowledge, skills, and a deep understanding of our students.
VALUES
Kindness, inclusion, and trust are the foundations of the work that we do together. Innovation and collaboration enable us to explore and implement the ideas that will shape our future.
Innovation: We empower each other to explore, share, and actualize our ideas to continuously improve the HCC experience for all. We do this with creativity and agility by keeping an open mind, taking risks, evaluating outcomes, and learning from mistakes.
Collaboration: We work as a community to develop and achieve common goals through an open exchange of ideas. We do this by encouraging wide-ranging participation, intentional communication, and the pursuit of diverse perspectives and expertise.
Kindness: We approach all interactions with empathy and in consideration of one another’s needs. We act with the highest levels of professionalism, respect, and civility as we seek common ground and strive for mutual understanding.
Inclusion: We provide a fair and welcoming environment where all voices are heard and meaningfully included to contribute to the growth and success of HCC. We take intentional action, challenge our assumptions, foster belonging, and respect the uniqueness of individuals and diverse groups.
Trust: We assume the best in others, prioritize transparency, and communicate with honesty, clarity, and consistency. We do this thoughtfully by including all stakeholders in the decision-making process and following through with our commitments.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKS
STRATEGY 1 - TEACHING and LEARNING: Enhance and expand innovative teaching and learning practices that result in a quality education for all.
STRATEGY 2 - EQUITY and STUDENT SUCCESS: Collaborate with the communities we serve to increase equity.
STRATEGY 3 - WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT and TRANSFER: Align program outcomes with workforce demands and student needs for employment and transfer.
STRATEGY 4 - FINANCIAL SUSTAINABILITY: Create a sustainable model for long-term financial stability and growth.
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