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Hiring and maintaining community college presidents
Abstract
Purpose of the study. Historically, community colleges have experienced difficulty in hiring and maintaining presidents. In 1985, one of every ten public community colleges searched for a new president. To compound this problem, the number of community colleges has increased thirty-seven percent in the past twenty years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reasons why community colleges are experiencing difficulty in hiring and maintaining presidents. Procedures. The initial data for this study were collected from the "Bulletin Board: Positions Available" section of the Chronicle of Higher Education. Presidential positions advertised during calendar year 1987 in the Chronicle of Higher Education for colleges accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools were identified. College presidents currently holding those positions, as well as the respective governing board chairpersons, constituted the survey population. The survey-interview technique was the research method employed. To study the hiring and maintenance of presidents, a linear analysis was utilized. The position was analyzed by examining (1) position vacancy announcements, (2) use of consultants, (3) job descriptions, (4) goals and objectives, (5) performance evaluations, and (6) perceived qualities. Conclusions. (1) The position vacancy announcement adequately described the responsibilities of and the qualities needed in a president. (2) Fifty percent of the surveyed colleges used the services of a consultant. (3) A formal, written job description was not available or not well-documented by colleges. (4) Eighty-eight percent of the presidents were not required to submit formal goals and objectives. (5) In the absence of requirements for formal goals and objectives, a formal evaluation process was not developed and implemented. (6) The primary qualities sought in a president were leadership, communication, organization and experience. Summary. Governing boards should be cognizant of interdependence of the linear model as presented in this study. The systematic approach to hiring and maintaining community college presidents should increase position stability by reducing the transitory nature of the position, thereby enhancing college mission continuity.
Subject Area
School administration|Community colleges
Recommended Citation
Chipps, Michael Robert, "Hiring and maintaining community college presidents" (1989). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI8918546.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI8918546