Amarillo College is laying out an ambitious roadmap for its future, with leaders proposing a five-year strategic plan that aims to improve student outcomes, strengthen the regional workforce and prepare the institution for its 100th anniversary in 2029.
During a special meeting Tuesday, the Amarillo College Board of Regents reviewed the proposed plan, which would guide the college through 2031. Regents discussed the framework but did not take action. The strategic plan, along with related budget considerations, is expected to return for approval at upcoming board meetings.
The proposal outlines five priorities that will shape the college's direction over the next five years: empowering students to achieve their purpose, building the workforce that powers the Texas Panhandle, promoting teaching and learning excellence, stewarding resources to sustain and expand the college's impact, and preparing for Amarillo College's centennial.
"We're going to be dedicating resources to this, and so our strategic plan should align with what we're going to be doing," AC President Jamelle Conner told regents during the meeting.
Before discussing the plan's goals, the board worked together to refine draft versions of Amarillo College's mission, vision and value statements. Those statements are expected to be presented for formal approval in August.
The proposed mission statement says Amarillo College is committed to "transforming lives through learning, creating opportunities for student success, and nurturing prosperity for the Texas Panhandle."
Its draft vision declares, "Amarillo College: Every learner succeeds. Innovation thrives. Communities flourish."
The proposed values — integrity, curiosity, accountability, relevance and engagement — will be represented by the acronym ICARE.
The strategic plan includes measurable benchmarks designed to track the college's progress over the next five years. Among the biggest goals is improving success rates for first-time college students. Amarillo College hopes to raise its three-year graduation rate from 31% to 41%, increase the transfer rate from 17% to 22% and improve first-time student retention from 61% to 71%.
Regents also discussed the future of the Badger Bound program, which provides eligible students with free tuition and fees. The current draft calls for increasing the number of Badger Bound-eligible students from about 600 to 1,100. Regent Michele Fortunato noted the college had previously estimated it would reach that benchmark much sooner, prompting Conner to say the target would be reevaluated to better reflect the program's projected growth.
Preparing students for careers remains another major focus of the plan. Amarillo College wants to increase by 10% the number of graduates from workforce programs who earn a livable wage within one year of completing their studies. The college also plans to expand participation in internships, clinicals, co-ops, practicums and other earn-and-learn opportunities by 10%.
Other workforce goals include reaching a 90% employer satisfaction rate with Amarillo College graduates, hosting at least 6,000 visitors annually at the Innovation Outpost and launching at least one applied bachelor's degree program with its first student cohort enrolled during the five-year period.
The proposal also emphasizes expanding academic opportunities. Amarillo College plans to grow its STEM Scholars program beyond science, technology, engineering and mathematics by adding at least two new academic programs. The initiative currently supports first- and second-year students pursuing STEM degrees as they prepare to transfer to four-year universities.
Artificial intelligence is also included in the college's long-term vision. Under the proposed plan, all faculty members would receive AI training, with at least half incorporating AI-supported practices into their classrooms over the next five years.
Conner said the college also intends to strengthen its financial future by improving operational efficiency, aligning resources with institutional priorities and expanding the use of data to guide decision-making.
The final pillar of the strategic plan looks beyond day-to-day operations and toward Amarillo College's centennial in 2029. The college plans to mark the milestone with events throughout the year, a celebration on the anniversary date and the launch of a centennial capital campaign aimed at supporting the institution for its next century.
