Goal Planning FAQs
Below are some of the more frequently asked questions we've received regarding the goal planning process. Click on the green question to see the answer. If you do not find the answer you are looking for, please feel free to contact us at planning@middlebury.edu and we'll be happy to discuss your questions with you, and maybe add yours to our growing list.
Why are we submitting annual goals?
Three reasons:
1) We want to help people connect their work to the strategic directions of the institution.
2) We want to help staff members and supervisors get clarity about prioritization of work in order to address workload concerns.
3) We want to make sure that people are aware of the projects and initiatives going on in other areas of the College that might have an impact on their own work.
How many goals should I submit? How detailed should they be?
We’re expecting most work groups to identify seven or fewer major goals, but if you have more than that, just fill out the form a second time with the additional goals. You don’t need to submit every goal your office might have. Very specific operational goals that don’t have an impact on others at the College (for example, changing the office filing system) can probably be omitted. Please try to be brief in your description of the goal; a sentence is fine. Anyone who needs more information about that goal can ask you for it later.
What if our goals aren’t “right”?
Your office or workgroup probably already sets goals, and we’re only asking that you tell us about them for the reasons described above. If you aren’t sure about whether you’re on the right track, talk with your supervisor or Vice President.
Can we change or add to our goals after they’ve been submitted?
If you need to make a significant change to your goals, send an email to the Vice President for Planning and Assessment mailbox. We’ll be in touch about how to do that. But we’ll also be in contact with all offices and workgroups again in January to ask about any revisions or additions to goals.
Who will be able to see the goals that are submitted? Can I review the goals submitted by other offices?
Once we have compiled all the goals and they have been reviewed by the Vice Presidents and their direct reports, we’ll be sharing the list of goals (along with their assigned prioritization and lists of stakeholders) with everyone. Supervisors and managers may wish to review these lists to identify any projects or initiatives relevant to their own areas that they weren’t aware of.
Will the Language Schools, Schools Abroad, Bread Loaf School of English, and the Monterey Institute be submitting their goals in this process too?
The Language Schools, Schools Abroad, and the Bread Loaf School of English will be submitting goals on a modified schedule, with a deadline for goal submission of October 1st. Those goals will be discussed by Vice Presidents and their direct reports and made available to others on the staff later in the fall. The Monterey Institute has a separate planning process, but we are working together to find ways to incorporate some of the components of this process into their planning efforts in the near future.