Copiah-Lincoln Community College recently released its 20/20 Vision Strategic Plan, which was approved at a recent board meeting.

The plan, which encompasses the years 2015-2020, explores ways Co-Lin will continue to adapt to the demands of the counties it serves.

“This plan has been the result of months of data collection from various constituent groups concerning areas of focus for the next five years,” Co-Lin President Ronnie Nettles said.

The effort included input from the President’s Cabinet, which is comprised of faculty, administrators, students and board members.

“This year, the Cabinet chose the theme of ‘stewardship’ to begin each strategic initiative with, because essentially, everything we do at the college is stewardship of some form,” Nettles said.

To ensure student success and access, Co-Lin plans to expand online course offerings and help ensure students have a thorough introduction to the eLearning component. They plan to incorporate e-books and increase computer labs for instructional purposes.

To promote this effort the school will work to improve infrastructure by increasing broadband service and wireless access. The school will also work to ensure students and faculty have access to information about how new products work as well as training opportunities.

To help first-year students make the adjustment to community college, Co-Lin will establish a Student Success Center/Academic Support Lab. The service will also provide students with all the services Co-Lin has to offer.

Co-Lin also hopes to create diversity among the programs offered to the community. This will be achieved by developing new governmental, business, industry and community partnerships. The Co-Lin Foundation and the Alumni Affairs department will continue developing relationships with its members.

The college also plans to expand entry and exit points for technical students. These students will be able to complete programs faster as well as successfully enter the workforce.

Over the next five years, Co-Lin will work to improve customer service training district-wide with all existing employees and new hires.

The college also plans to create a position for an individual to identify, secure and assist in managing alternative revenue streams.

Building improvements planned include a new student union area on the Natchez campus and wellness trails for the Natchez and Simpson County campuses.

“My goal as president is to assure that we are good stewards of the resources that we have been so fortunate to have to promote student success at Copiah-Lincoln Community College,” Nettles said.