Environmental scanning (ES) is a formal process of assessing trends and forecasting events which can influence an institution so that the potential challenges and opportunities can be effectively anticipated during strategic planning activities. The goal of ES is the implementation of proactive, anticipatory policies that will be robust under a variety of futures. This two-part report provides an introduction to ES and presents the results of a collaborative business needs assessment conducted by Prince George's Community College (PGCC) in Maryland. Part 1 describes: the role of ES activities in the college setting; the relationship of ES and strategic planning; two alternate approaches to ES (the committee approach and the institutional research and planning model); six environmental variables which should be monitored in ES (demographic, economic, legal-political, organizational-competitive, socio-cultural, and technological); data and information sources for ES (including local and national sources); and dissemination of ES findings. Part two describes a study conducted by PGCC to assess area employee educational and training needs through a mail survey of area businesses. Among the findings reported (from 182 business responding for a 4% survey response rate) are the following: (1) employee oral communications, writing skills, and interpersonal relations were most in need of improvement; (2) over one-third of respondents indicated a need for improved employee skills in collections/accounts receivable and developing marketing plans; and (3) most employers preferred open enrollment courses offered at existing college locations. (JMC)