Goal Setting

Goals are important to establish at the beginning of the academic year.  These should serve as your direction and state what it is that you wish to accomplish.  Taken as a sum, your goals give the group reason for existing by clarifying what your group is working towards.  Goals also give you something to evaluate at the end of the year so that you can determine your successes and accomplishments.  Goals will most likely change from year to year, depending on the leadership of the group. Set goals as a group, it's a great way to get all involved and give members a sense of ownership and inclusion

Goals Are Not Mission Statements!
A mission statement gives meaning to the group.  Mission statements are more abstract than goals and tend not to change much from year to year.  They are also not as easily measured. 

Steps for Setting Goals:
1.  Review Past Goals

• As a group, evaluate the goals from past years
• Discuss what goals were successful and why
• Use them as a foundation for this year's goals

2.  Determine What the Group Wishes to Accomplish this Year

• Using the mission statement, decide as a group what you would like to do
• Decide how each goal will be achieved

3.  Prioritize

4.  Create Action Plans

• For each goal, decide what steps need to be taken to reach the goal
• Set timelines for each step
• Determine who is responsible for each step

5.  Begin Work to Successfully Complete Each Goal

6.  Evaluate the Group's Goals at the End of the Year

Goals should be achievable, believable, controllable, desirable, evaluated, growth enhancing, measurable, prioritized, realistic, time-bound, understandable, and valuable.