Strategic Assessment Guidelines

Before the P-1 is initiated, the hiring Division must evaluate the vacancy using the Institutional Strategic Decision-Making Framework. This replaces the informal Pre-Approval process with a structured, documented analysis completed before the P-1 is submitted.

Step 1A — Categorize the Role: The Three-Bucket Framework

Bucket A

Core Unit Functions — Protect & Strengthen

Roles directly supporting a Bucket A program or producing clear, measurable student outcomes (enrollment, retention, completion, named Strategic Plan goal). If removed, students, accreditors, or external partners would notice.

SUSTAIN

Justify alignment to strategic goal in P-1 comments.

Bucket B

Functions for Review — Review & Redirect

Functions that have drifted from the unit's core purpose, duplicate work done elsewhere, are rarely accessed relative to resource investment, or exist largely out of habit. Three paths forward: Sunset, Combine, or Redesign.

SUNSET / COMBINE / REDESIGN

Document the chosen path and rationale before P-1 submission.

Bucket C

Strategic Priorities — Growth & Differentiation

New initiatives, pilots, or emerging functions not yet at full scale but aligned with institutional direction: enrollment growth, revenue, curriculum enhancement, student ROI. Requires near-term investment with expected strategic or financial return.

DEVELOP

Name the opportunity, resources needed, and expected return in P-1 comments.

Step 1B — Apply the Four Evaluation Questions

Test the role against all four lenses before confirming the category. Document responses in the P-1 comment section where applicable.

Prioritization Matrix Lenses and Signals
Lens	Question for the Division	Bucket A Signal	Bucket B Signal	Bucket C Signal
1. Strategic Alignment	Does this role directly support a named Strategic Plan goal? Can you name the strategic goal it serves?	Clearly supports a named strategic goal	No identifiable link to institutional or unit priorities	Emerging connection to a named institutional priority
2. Student Impact	Does this role produce a visible, measurable outcome for students in recruitment, retention, ROI, completion, or experience?	Clear, documented student-facing outcome	No meaningful student-facing outcome	Projected or early-stage benefit with growth potential
3. Distinctiveness	Would this role's absence be noticed by students, accreditors, or partners? Could another unit do this equally well?	Genuine point of institutional distinction	Widely replicated or easily substituted	Named institutional differentiation opportunity
4. Resource Sustainability	Is this the best use of the team's capacity right now? Does the resource demand match the strategic return?	Proportionate to strategic value	High demand with no strategic return	Near-term investment with expected return

Step 1C — Review and Update the Job Description

Complete after the role has been categorized in Step 1A and evaluated in Step 1B.

Informed by the strategic category and evaluation, the Division reviews and updates the job description to reflect:

Current and forward-looking role expectations
Alignment to the identified strategic bucket and institutional goals
Any redesigned or restructured scope (particularly for Bucket B roles)

The updated job description is then submitted to Human Resources for classification and compensation review before the P-1 is initiated.

Please attach the classified job description to the P-1.

Job description reviewed and updated to reflect current and forward-looking role expectations
Job description aligned to strategic bucket classification and institutional goals
Updated job description submitted to HR for review and compensation review
For Bucket B roles: path forward documented (Sunset / Combine / Redesign) with transition plan
For Bucket C roles: opportunity named, resources required, and expected return documented
Supervisor / Division V.P. has reviewed and approved this worksheet before P-1 initiation
Attach & Upload: Reviewed Job Description and all documentation to the P-1