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Integrated Planning and Budgeting

WWCC uses an integrated approach to planning at the program level and allocating resources through our budget process with the aim of supporting the college’s mission, vision and strategic plan in a transparent and equitable manner.

All areas of the college participate in annual planning and assessment of their areas with the goal of fostering a culture of continuous improvement. This process is known as STEPs (Systematic Evaluation of Programs and Services). The STEPS process informs meaningful change by identifying goals, concrete actions, useful measures, resource requests early in the academic year. It closes the loop on continuous improvement by sharing results and next steps based on the results. Part A of STEPS is due by December 31 of each year, and results, reflections, and next STEPS (Part B) is due the following August 1.

New budget requests are noted in STEPs (Part A) and then included in the college’s annual budgeting process.

STEPS Reporting Budget

Budget

WWCC is committed to a financial planning framework that includes meaningful opportunities for participation by stakeholders and ensures appropriate available funds, realistic development of financial resources, and comprehensive risk management to ensure short term financial health and long-term financial stability and sustainability. Great strides have been made towards creating a transparent and inclusive annual budget planning process that aligns with the College’s mission, vision, and strategic plans. Integration of the annual budget planning process with Annual Reporting increases this alignment, while also providing valuable context for those making budget recommendations (Budget Council) and decisions (ELT).

Resources:

Budget Scoring Rubric
Budget Values and Principles – coming soon
Budget Council

General Budget Planning Timeline

(Look for calendar invite for specific dates)

Phase 1: Department Resource Planning

September: Fall Conference Budget Information Session
October-December: Deans, Directors, and Department Chairs engage in annual reporting, budget planning, and note resource requests
October-November: Budget work sessions
December 1-December 14: Budget check-ins
December 15: Dept budgets due to VPs
December 16-December 30: VPs review, discuss, and revise budget requests with submitters
December 31: Budget requests due to Budget Director (and noted on Annual Report)

Phase 2: Budget Deliberations

January-February: Budget Presentations – Office of the President, Marketing, Facilities, Technology Services, and Human Resources
January-February: Budget Presentations – Arts & Sciences, Nursing and Allied Health, Access & Opportunity, Institutional Research and Effectiveness, Business Services, and Safety and Security
January-February: Budget Presentations – Student Services, Workforce Transfer and Trades, and Connection and Belonging
March: Budget Council deliberations and ranking of resource requests
April: Budget Council presents a summary of recommendations to College Council, and ranked resource requests are sent to ELT

Phase 3: Budget Finalization

April-mid May: ELT deliberations and decisions
Late April (estimated): WA State legislature signs budget bills
Mid-May: Summary of budget and decisions shared with Union representatives
Late May: VPs meet with their areas to share and discuss final budget decisions
Late May: All-college budget forum
Late May: Board of Trustees first reading of FY budget plan (specific dates available here)
Late June: Board of Trustees second reading of FY budget plan and vote (specific dates available here)