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Perceptions of selected community college presidents regarding certain aspects of intercollegiate athletics

C. David Burgess, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to learn more about the perceptions of selected community college presidents regarding intercollegiate athletics at selected community colleges. A qualitative research design used a multi-site case study method for this study. The grand tour question was: what were the perceptions of selected community college presidents regarding the mission of intercollegiate athletics and related benefits and challenges? The following broad questions were utilized to elicit responses: (1) Is the alignment of the intercollegiate athletic program aligned with the college's mission statement? (2) What are the policies and expectations for intercollegiate athletic programs and their governance? (3) What are the benefits of intercollegiate athletic programs to the institution and the students? (4) What are the benefits of intercollegiate athletics to the community? (5) What are the challenges presented by intercollegiate athletics? (6) What are the challenges presented to the community by intercollegiate athletics? A purposeful sample of 10 institutions who participated in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) were chosen. Data collection occurred through semi-structured phone interviews with the president of each selected institution. The data collected represented eight NJCAA regions, three geographical regions of the United States, large and small enrollment community college institutions and large and small athletic departments. The data were analyzed in an interactive and simultaneous format. Through the coding process, three themes emerged from the data related to the perceptions of college presidents regarding intercollegiate athletics: (1) The Mission of the Institution Directs the Athletic Program; (2) Athletic Programs Provide Benefits to the Institution, Students and the Community ; (3) and Athletic Programs Have Some Challenges Within the Campus and Local Community. The findings suggested that community college intercollegiate athletics need to be in alignment with the mission and educational objectives of the institution; that they continue to build upon the benefits derived from athletics; and continual evaluation, assessment and planning are necessary to meet the challenges facing presidents to keep the educational model of sports as a guide in the decision making process.

Subject Area

Educational administration|Higher Education Administration|Community college education

Recommended Citation

Burgess, C. David, "Perceptions of selected community college presidents regarding certain aspects of intercollegiate athletics" (2006). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI3215459.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI3215459

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