SWOT Analysis Report FINAL
SWOT Analysis Report FINAL
SWOT Analysis Report FINAL
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction........................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Background................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Purpose ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................................... 2
Regional Data Overview and Implications ........................................................................................................................... 3
Demographics............................................................................................................................................................... 3
Labor Market Trends.................................................................................................................................................... 4
Strengths Assessment ........................................................................................................................................................... 4
Rigorous Academic Programs ...................................................................................................................................... 4
Employee Commitment/Engagement ........................................................................................................................ 4
Physical Infrastructure ................................................................................................................................................. 4
Employer Support Foundation .................................................................................................................................... 5
Sustainability Initiatives/Practices............................................................................................................................... 5
Weaknesses Assessment ...................................................................................................................................................... 5
Data Availability, Integration and Alignment .............................................................................................................. 5
Communications and Marketing ................................................................................................................................. 5
Academic Counseling ................................................................................................................................................... 6
Business Process Confusion......................................................................................................................................... 6
Education Pathways Barriers and Transparency ........................................................................................................ 6
Opportunities Assessment.................................................................................................................................................... 6
Employer Engagement/Work-Based Learning ........................................................................................................... 6
Articulation Options/Partnering with Universities ..................................................................................................... 6
External Image Improvement ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Diversity of Entering Students ..................................................................................................................................... 7
Data-Informed Student Success .................................................................................................................................. 7
Threats Assessment .............................................................................................................................................................. 7
State Funding................................................................................................................................................................ 7
Federal Funding and Policy Uncertainty ..................................................................................................................... 7
Enrollment Levels ......................................................................................................................................................... 7
Perception of College ................................................................................................................................................... 8
Increased Higher Education Options........................................................................................................................... 8
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................................................................. 8
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INTRODUCTION
Background
The Joliet Junior College Strategic Planning Committee and Thomas P. Miller and Associates (TPMA) Team
have developed this Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis report to
organize and appropriately reflect data received through surveys, facilitated sessions, and quantitative
sources for use in the Strategic Planning process. The purpose of the SWOT Analysis is to highlight
emerging themes from the data gathering process that will serve as a focus for the development and
implementation of goals and strategic priorities.
The SWOT Analysis is a high-level look at where Joliet Junior College (JJC) can build on current successes
and focus on implementing continuous improvement methods to correct current weaknesses or threats.
Based on the information compiled in the SWOT Analysis, the JJC Strategic Planning Committee and the
TPMA Team will then turn to drafting a Strategic Plan that will incorporate all of the data, feedback, and
information gleaned to-date from data sources, as well as internal and external stakeholders.
Purpose
The purpose of the JJC SWOT Analysis is to identify both the internal and external factors that may impact
JJCs performance over the next three to five years. More specifically, this SWOT Analysis serves as a
bridge between the data and feedback gathering process and the first draft of the Strategic Plan. By
conducting a SWOT Analysis, the JJC Strategic Planning Committee and TPMA Team can validate both
what is working and what is concerning for internal employees and external stakeholders. This, in turn,
will lead to a Strategic Plan draft that incorporates the appropriate mission, vision, goals, and strategic
priorities where specific organizational activities can be implemented that lead to improved performance
and success in delivering a quality education to a diverse student body.
Executive Summary
Using the extensive employee, student, employer, and community feedback gathered, and after analyzing
this data and both regional economic and demographic data, a concise understanding of JJC strengths,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats has emerged and is concisely displayed in the graphic below.
Much overlap exists between the four quadrants, and many of the elements intertwine and should be
seen as such, rather than standing alone.
JJCs strengths lie in the fact that it is meeting its core missionstrong academic programsand has both
physical and people assets that serve as an important foundation from which to build. In particular, JJC
has employees who are committed to the mission of JJC and want to further improvements that will
increase organizational performance and student success.
JJCs weaknesses are primarily process driven issues that need attention. The importance of addressing
these weaknesses needs to be underscored as improvements in organizational performance and
employee morale/satisfaction can be realized.
JJCs opportunities are externally-centric elements that provide JJC with areas of focus that will build on
current strengths and provide improved opportunities and options for students to progress through their
academic experiences.
JJCs threats are externally-centric elements that must be understood and managed as JJC implements
improvements, new initiatives and continuous improvement processes.
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STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
EMPLOYEE COMMITMENT/ENGAGEMENT
PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
ACADEMIC COUNSELING
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES/PRACTICES
OPPORTUNITIES
THREATS
STATE FUNDING
ARTICULATION OPTIONS/PARTNERING
ENROLLMENT LEVELS
PERCEPTION OF COLLEGE
WITH UNIVERSITIES
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STRENGTHS ASSESSMENT
Rigorous Academic Programs
By all accounts, JJC has strong and rigorous academic programs that provide students with the
knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to further their education through transfer or enter
immediately into the workforce upon completion of the program. Student interviews and surveys
demonstrate a high degree of confidence and satisfaction in their academic programs, as well as the
faculty advising they receive concerning their academic options and pathways. Employers report that JJC
students in a variety of fields are receiving the appropriate competencies and skills acquisition through
their programs of study. JJC also has a variety of academic programming that meets both student and
employer needs in a wide range of employment sectors and academic fields.
Employee Commitment/Engagement
Facilitated sessions and employee survey responses indicate a high level of employee engagement and
interest in the success of the college and its students. While some frustrations and issues exist that
should be addressed, for the most part, employees expressed concerns in a positive manner with an
interest toward getting problems resolved. Overall, the most important element is a belief in the mission
of JJC, and while the actual mission statement will be revised through the strategic planning process,
employees expressed important core values and understanding of what the core mission of JJC involved
and how the organization should function.
Physical Infrastructure
JJC has exceptional physical facilities, including 7 Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
certified buildings and new buildings recently constructed or in the process of construction. While taking
some years, a bond vote that passed favorably has allowed an expansion of facilities to meet student and
employer demand. While many community colleges across the country face the problem of aged
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Sustainability Initiatives/Practices
A source of pride and strength for JJC is its ongoing commitment to sustainability. These initiatives, which
encompass economic, environmental and social equity principles, encompass a myriad of activities,
projects and practices across the campus and in the community. Through a holistic approach which
includes the entire college community, JJC has made sustainability a focused effort. JJCs sustainability
efforts are intended to improve the quality of the academic and social experience at JJC and help prepare
students after leaving JJC.
WEAKNESSES ASSESSMENT
Data Availability, Integration and Alignment
Many employees across various departments and divisions highlighted the extensive difficulty of both
obtaining needed data and aligning data across the institution in order to operationalize performance and
conduct continuous improvement. One comment at a facilitated session summarized the issue,
Everyone is keeping their own Excel spreadsheets and tracking their own data. The problem rests with
not only availability of data, but, more importantly, the strategic use of integrated data. Lack of strategic
data integration and alignment is hindering individual and institutional efforts at utilizing a performance
management framework that informs as to what service interventions improve the student experience
and outcomes, as well as what efficiencies or improvements could be gained through changes to
academic programs, student services or other functions at the College. This has severe consequences for
JJC over time as both the federal government and Illinois move toward performance-based funding
models and current and future employer and student consumers of JJC expect enhanced services and
seek to make informed choices.
Academic Counseling
Student facilitated sessions and surveys have identified academic counseling as a particular weakness of
the College. A common refrain from students was that the advising they receive from faculty and
faculty advisors is very helpful and what they have come to rely on, but that JJCs general academic
counseling is too general and too confusing. The biggest problem facing academic counseling is that
students currently do not see it as a value-added experience.
OPPORTUNITIES ASSESSMENT
Employer Engagement/Work-Based Learning
While JJC has a strong base of employer relationships, strategic engagement practices implemented at JJC
would expand JJCs reach to the employer community. This includes strategically participating in
employer relocation opportunities with economic development. One internal practice could be the use of
an account manager concept where certain individuals in the College work together to develop which
employers to reach out to, what the ask is, and what success looks like. Students expressed a desire for
more work-based learning opportunities such as internships. Given that todays work opportunities are
largely contingent on networking and relationships, this student view is critically important.
THREATS ASSESSMENT
State Funding
The State of Illinois is facing major reductions in state outlays due to budget deficits, including a current
$1.6 billion deficit4 in the current state fiscal year. JJC must anticipate further reductions to state funding,
necessitating the implementation of strategies to diversify its funding portfolio.
Enrollment Levels
With the economy improving somewhat from the depths of the 2009-2010 recession, JJCs enrollment is
declining, which impacts revenue and programs. Developing both modifications to enrollment declines
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/26/usa-illinois-budget-idUSL2N0WS27920150326
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Perception of College
An ongoing perception in the community that JJC does not provide a quality education or it is where
non-performing students attend is a threat that can impact enrollment, new partnerships, and revenue.
CONCLUSION
The Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis reveals that deliberate changes
must be made to facilitate institutional growth and development and meet the expectations of employer
and student customers. As outlined above, Joliet Junior College has the foundation necessary to offer an
individualized and innovative educational experience, but focused changes will be required for expansion
and growth and meeting institutional priorities.
An important note: while finite resources are always a factor in addressing weaknesses or threats, it
should not be assumed that the reason for the weakness or threat is due to finite resources.
Organizations make resource allocation decisions continuously, and prioritize how and whether to
address certain strategic priorities. Additionally, all organizations have a certain level of costs due to
inefficient or unnecessary processes, redundancy, and/or bureaucracy that could be identified,
eliminated and reprioritized. In addressing strategic priorities, it will be important for JJC to address the
core issues and not just assume it is a resource problem.
Finally, this SWOT Analysis provides a nice baseline of the feedback received by employees and external
stakeholders that concisely targets issues to address in the JJC Strategic Plan and operationalizing of that
Plan. Ultimately, by recognizing strengths and weaknesses, and factoring opportunities and threats into
concrete actions through the strategic planning process will help position JJC as a quality and prominent
educational institution in the community and state.
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