ERIC

College and university personnel are periodically involved in strategic planning. Planning sessions often result in tedious time - consuming exercises that yield slight modifications to, or the reinforcing of, previously developed goals and objectives. Alternative planning methodologies require that organizations become agile and responsive; agile in their ability to adapt and change as stimuli exert pressures, responsive in their actions by meeting needs for excellence and accountability. To meet these challenges, administrators must seek new and innovative strategies that include a wide base of expertise and knowledge. A Future Search conference is such a strategy. It brings together individuals from a variety of backgrounds with the intent of collecting information and of using collective knowledge to design a road map for the future. In January of 1996, Tompkins Cortland Community College used a Future Search conference as an alternative to the traditional planning processes. Conference outcomes and specific recommendations are included.