Each year, Lee College assesses its progress toward its goals and creates a budget consistent with them. Then, each unit reviews and revises its unit plan to incorporate objectives that support these goals. Finally, the Board of Regents establishes a strategic plan. The process consists of three main elements, the long-range vision, the unit plans, and the Planning Committee.

1. The College's Long-Range Vision
   During the 2003-2004 academic year, Lee College developed a vision for the next 3 years. This vision was approved by the Regents to provide guidance for decision making through 2006.
2. Unit Plans
   Units within the College (e.g., divisions and offices headed by directors) develop plans, The process includes (a) comparing data regarding the unit's performance over the past year to the unit's objectives established for that year, (b) reviewing the College goals for the forthcoming year, and (c) establishing new unit objectives and formulating strategies to ensure that they are met.
   
   Following the establishment of its objectives and strategies, each unit forwards copies of its new objectives to its dean. The dean reviews these plans to ensure that the objectives are consistent with the College's goals, and the data required to evaluate progress toward the objectives can be made available to the unit, either through the institutional research office, the business office, the computing center, or some other source.
3. Planning Committee
   Lee College uses its Planning Committee to:
   1. Review periodically the College goals.
   2. Review proposals for new spending to achieve these goals.
   3. Provide the President with recommendations regarding these proposals.

   In spring semesters the committee considers proposals for new or additional spending for the following fiscal/academic year. The President informs the committee of items of high priority, legal requirements, or emergencies for which funding has been or will be allocated. The committee then invites proposals from faculty, staff, and administrators. In open meetings, the committee conducts hearings regarding the proposals and evaluates them according to the primary College goal that each addresses. After the committee has completed its deliberations, it issues a report to the President, which contain the priority assigned to each proposal and the proposal's rank relative to other proposals.
   
   In fall semesters, the committee meets to review the College's mission statement and goals. These meetings are open, and the committee invites input regarding both the mission statement and College goals.