Steven Morgan, ED.D, President at the University of Laverne, poses different questions that business owners need to consider when starting a business and discusses how a business should plan to meet its future needs.
The University of La Verne has been in business since 1891. It was founded with just a handful of students, and today it serves more than 7,500. So we certainly have encountered significant growth. As we look to the future, we look at the needs of the region we serve. Do we think our programs will have increased enrollment over the years? Is there a need for what we offer? As we assess those factors, we look at what we will need to accommodate more students at the quality level that we wish to achieve. Do we have adequate personnel? Do we have adequate services and do we have adequate facilities?
We then develop a series of calendars so that we add personnel and other needed resources at the appropriate times. The calendar for facilities would be the longest calendar because the planning and construction of facilities, including the permitting and the funding, usually take multiple years not multiple months. Planning for future needs is a multi-faceted issue that must include a careful inventory of all the needs, including personnel, facilities, equipment, and capital. We calendar those needs out and plan them for a five to ten year timeframe, and we adjust our plans as the needs of our students or customers continue to change.