With a laser focus set on creating retention for the future of Mississippi's Premiere Two-Year HBCU, Coahoma Community College (CCC) convened July 20-21, in Cleveland, Mississippi, for its 2023 Strategic Planning Retreat.
The two-day event encloses the usage of current strategic initiatives to map priorities and give ideas on Branding the Goals and Priorities of the strategic plan. Additionally, attendees participated in team-building exercises, fellowship, & opportunities to mingle with the institution's various constituent groups.
The purpose of having a strategic planning retreat is to create a culture of empowerment and learning. Strategic planning is when an organization's leaders define their vision for the future and identify their goals and objectives.
Dr. Charles Ansell from Complete College America (CCA) served as the speaker of this
event. He led the group during the sessions while maintaining the focus of many tasks
throughout the days of the retreat.
Ansell has been working on strategic plans for 5 years all over the state of Mississippi. He shared at the retreat tips and priorities to continue promoting success at the college.
"Priority one is to increase enrollment, persistence, retention, graduation rates, and high school equivalency diplomas. Priority two is to increase utilization of tutorial services, academic counseling, and mental health services, use more library services, and increase student satisfaction," said Ansell.
He also gave pointers from CCA's Pillars and Strategies by having a purpose, structure, momentum, and support.
CCC President Dr. Valmadge Towner ended the session, giving closing remarks and encouraging
words to the attendees to push Coahoma Community College forward. 
"These strategic plans should hold as a marketing plan so that everyone will know the major focus of this institution," said Dr. Towner. "These are more so of priorities that we have articulated throughout this strategic planning retreat."
He expressed to the attendees the importance of good leadership and how an effective organization starts with great leaders.
"We are going to have a safe school, functioning buildings, great teaching in the classroom, and a high level of learning. But, all of that is not done by accident; it is done by deliberate, intentional design," said Towner. "That is what this strategic plan is about. If we are going to have good enrollment, retention, completion, graduation rates, and the whole canvas of a good institution, this intent will be done by design."
The overarching objective of the process will be to develop an actionable, five-year strategic plan that affirms Coahoma's vision and mission and solidifies the direction for CCC through targeted priorities, strategies, and actions. The foundation of this plan will be driven by the feedback we receive from students, and all other stakeholders, as the College strives to make an inclusive process that considers diverse perspectives from within and around the Coahoma community.
Campus leadership shared that the strategic planning efforts will continue into the fall 2023 semester, as the group has committed to reconvening for an additional working session.