A STUDY OF BIBLE COLLEGE INSTITUTIONAL PLANNING: A BIBLE COLLEGE INSTITUTIONAL PLANNING MODEL

Planning principles developed and advanced for business improvement have been applied to the educational field. Educators are now using these principles to strengthen the cause of the higher educational community. Planning theory and collegiate case studies have produced directives for educational institutional planning. Efficient planning activities have been developed. Components for institutional planning models are now available for the educational community. Bible colleges, especially those within the ranks of the American Association of Bible Colleges, have indicated interest in institutional planning and some Bible colleges have developed institutional plans. Some advantages of educational planning are new confidence for the future of the institution, better morale, direction for daily operation, increased revenue, and greater efficiency. Bible college administrators have expressed the need for more guidance in pursuing educational planning within their institutions. This research project has produced a Bible college institutional planning model. This planning model has been developed from educational literature, the experiences of larger colleges and universities, and the contributions of Bible college administrators. The planning model was designed to include both short-term (five years) and long-range projections (ten years). The planning experience spans a twenty-four month period with a planning committee composed from 10-15 members representative of college personnel and publics. Major portions of the planning period are given to the collection of data and the formulation of the mission statement from which the academic programs develop. Time is allowed for reflection, interaction, and review. Institutional planning can be encouraged through the utilization of this planning model