COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEADERSHIP
Joel C. Snell
Professor Emeritus
Social Sciences/ Kirkwood Community College
Abstract
The article introduces the many complexities of administrating and setting an
arena for learning for many students who seek out both general and introductory
work for advanced degrees. It also deals with including strategic portions of
the community to the campus. This also means developing a “brand”
that strongly suggest that the school is really at the core of the
community and not an isolated school situated in the community.
Community Colleges are really different than other post secondary
institutions. This target is written for academia in general who do not
participate in the community college system. we want to give the
reader a closer look at community colleges. Its major purpose is to
support “life long learning” that is of interest to employees and
employers competing in the global information society. The community
college is perhaps the most diverse post secondary school system of all
those presented in this journal edition.
Introduction
Leadership?
Leadership of a Community college is probably the most varied from
any other educational systems. The talents needed should be discussed
toward the latter part of this article.
Description
Who are the students?
It is nearly everyone.
There are numerous post secondary institutions and the community
college educational system should have nearly every delivery system
that incorporates education for special talent students to nearly
everyone else. The curriculum ideally is filled with vocational, technical,
liberal arts, special training for specific organizations, and related.
(Kolesnikova, N., 2009)
In some areas, they can have a complete program and in others just an
introduction that must be completed elsewhere. Imagine a freshman
medical student. This person earned a scholarship elsewhere but there
was not enough money in the scholarship for the student so that going
to a community college was the best choice. From there, they finish at a
university.
Another student wants to complete a degree in advance nursing
assistant. The entire degree can be earned at a community college.
(Carpenter, S. 2006)
Discussion
Community colleges provide for students of nearly all ages and talents.
This includes handicap to the gifted. One of the authors had a son that
entered our community college at the age of 16. He skipped two years
of high school. Because one can “test out” of an area, he finished the
two year liberal arts program within one year.
What is the delivery system like?
A student can learn in a traditional classroom. They may learn on-line.
They may learn in a package format with contacts by phone with the
professor. The teacher may go to a work place and the class is at lunch
time. They may not go to the main campus but a supporting campus
throughout and a multi-county area.
However and whatever the subject and the students various
arrangements can be made so that the information can be delivered to
them.
What is the faculty like?
The teachers can range from a professional technician that is certified
to an individual with a PhD. What is important is that they can make the
information clear and in an organized fashion. Classes may be small and
so perhaps more interesting, and friendliness prevails.
What are the facilities like?
Most community colleges have a Spartan appearance one will probably
not find a huge football stadium, faculty row, or clusters of fraternity
and sorority houses. Everything is made to be practical and useful. That
does not mean that the classroom is not an attractive and inviting
venue, rather some of the externalities from hundred year schools are
missing.
So what is the mission?
The community colleges are to complete and support the global
information society that demands life-long learning. It should be
available to as many people in the community depending on what they
need. Thus, some colleges are really known only by the students, where
a community college can provide further services that make it part of
the community. You attend a meeting at a community college or
provide services so that many of the town has been on the campus.
The marketing department wants to generate to all students that there
is a community college “brand” that makes freshman year or related a
good choice with faculty that can speak English effectively, that are
experienced and helpful, that numerous certification courses are there
to improve the chance of getting a job and keeping a job. (Sefl, Carl & J.
Snell, 2003)
Mass classes taught by graduate students in large auditorium are not
necessarily the best classes. Small friendly classes, we believe are
superior. (Carpenter, S. 2006)
Academies and the entrance of high school juniors and seniors can help
provide the most diverse atmosphere of any educational system.
Both small business and corporations when starting or changing their
operations may want to include the community college as part of their
process. That a curriculum specialist and management talent can
help.(Sefl, C. & J. Snell 2003)
Additionally, parents may wonder why they are paying twice as much
for a prestige university when the first two years can cut cost by 50%.
The prestige of the two year school makes the choice even easier.
Revisiting Community college leadership.
The president of a community college along with other top
administrators must consistently be prepared to not be at home 3
nights a week. They must attend civic meetings and related nearly all
the time. CEO’s must know the name of the president in a “top of the
mind” survey. They most know that the first and last support system
dwells at the community college campus or their other support delivery
systems. “Partnerships” can evolve.
The wider community can be encouraged to see the community college
at the core of its functions. On campus visits and meetings should
occur. Other educational systems have their missions, but the
community college should cover as much as possible and do it well.
One of the first indicators of a president and administrative leader not
doing their job is that enrollment begins to decline. Not only is the
school not delivering, but morale begins to turn downward.
What is the president not doing? Why are there not programs inviting
high school students and non-traditional students to attend. Why has
the curriculum not created that helps neophyte welders to become
master welders.
The global information society demands lifelong learning and does the
community know that their community college can help create
curriculum, provide faculty, go to the students locale in the flesh or
digitally?
The authors end with a summary from a strategic center that prepares
individuals to preside over the ever growing two year school that now
serves nearly 50% of the students attending post secondary schooling.
Dr. John Rouche (2014) gathering from 40 years of research suggests
the following: 1. Build a context for success 2. Create high expectations
for both the presidency and the others who work at the school. 3.
Model that behavior from the top. 4. Reward accomplishments 5.
Discourage mediocre behavior.6. Above all, be consistent.
The community college cannot be all things to all students. Rather it
can be many things to many people.
Reference Cited
Carpenter, S. (2006) Kirkwood from Cornfield to College in Eastern50th
Anniversary, Cedar Rapids, Iowa: Kirkwood Press
Kolesnikova, N. (2009) The Changing Role of Community Colleges,
https://Quisfeedmedical.org/ medical pub-assets/pdf/bk/files,
community college, pdf.
Rouche, J. (2014) Effective College Leadership: Six Attributes, Dallas:
National American University
Sefl. C. and Joel C. Snell (2003) “Marketing: A Community College
Success, Community College Student Journal, 100-102.