EnvironmentalScan-TexasStateUniversity.docVIP

SWT Environmental Scan 2003 Prepared by Cathy Fleuriet and Lisa Garza Introduction There are two basic approaches to environmental analysis of a university’s external environment: 1) the inside-out-approach where decision makers examine a limited number of specific trends or external factors and their effect on a set of strategic initiatives already seen as important to the institution’s future; and 2) the outside-in-approach where decision makers first identify major trends and factors emerging across the environment and then determine which of them may be critical to the institution’s future. [The Planning Resource Guide, 1999, p. 24] SWT’s environmental analysis utilizes both of these approaches in reviewing possible external opportunities and/or threats that could impact us. This report is divided into three parts— an internal environmental scan that addresses a university perspective of important environmental factors impacting initiatives, a collection of external environmental impact factors, and a traditional external scan. To complete the university perspective, we gathered information from academic departments and colleges about initiatives and environmental factors impacting those initiatives to obtain a clearer picture of internal and external environmental factors perceived as important to academic departments and colleges. Colleges and departments identified three initiatives along with the internal (within the university) and external factors impacting those initiatives. The first draft was distributed to academic deans and academic/administrative vice-presidents to review with others in their division for additions and deletions. A thematic analysis of information received yielded four broad categories. They include enrollment management, external funding, program development, and university infrastructure. The external environmental impact factors list is a collection of demographic information obtained from major written reports, electronic