Individual trustees are often looking for different qualities in a community college president, and it can be challenging for a diverse group of stakeholders to agree on what they want. Boards that function most effectively work together to establish a clear set of criteria at the outset of the hiring process, and they share this list with…

Community college presidents and board members come and go. But a major driver of the continued success of two-year colleges is how fruitfully the relationships between CEOs and their boards evolve over time--from the onboarding process when a president first takes the helm to the "outboarding" process that starts with them giving…

The skill set asked of today's top educators is demanding, with higher education boards of trustees targeting versatile leaders able to raise funds, speak to the media and serve as an institution's academic authority, all while maneuvering among constituent groups seeking their time and attention. Community college presidents, in particular,…

It's been a rough year for the City College of San Francisco (CCSF). After working to emerge from strict sanctions leveled by its accrediting board in July 2012, the college was notified earlier this summer that its accreditation would be revoked, effective in 2014. Though community college leaders and state officials vowed to return the…

These are perilous times for community colleges. State and federal departments of education are pressing the nation's two-year career and technical colleges to be accountable while the colleges experience reductions in state funding and try to streamline services. That pressure is intensified by a growing national expectation that community…

This is a great time for individuals aspiring to the community college presidency. According to the 2012 American College President Study by the American Council on Education, in 2006, 47 percent of community college presidents were 51 to 60 years old and only 37 percent were between the ages of 61 and 70. More than five years later, 51 percent…

As Americans look for ways to reboot their careers, the value and contributions of the nation's community and technical colleges cannot be oversold. A wave of unprecedented support--from the press, the public, even the White House--has shone a light on the benefits of an affordable, quality community college education. Despite unprecedented…

A growing number of colleges and boards of trustees are looking to the future by embracing succession planning as the key to assuring college sustainability in an environment that requires global thinking, strategic planning and political savvy. Once confined to the corporate world or to family businesses, and limited to the CEO, succession…

Boards of Trustees are as varied as the individuals that comprise them. There is not one simple golden nugget of advice that can guarantee a successful relationship with a board. Success with boards comes from understanding the complexity of tacit goals and the need to work constantly on building, sustaining and maintaining relationships. The…

The United Nations has declared a Decade of Education for Sustainable Development from 2005 to 2015. The American Association of Community Colleges' (AACC) Board of Directors recently passed a resolution to support education for sustainable development in its member institutions and affiliated councils. However, there are significant questions in…

Citing scandals in accounting, law, banking, securities and corporations, Candace de Russy, a member of the State University of New York Board of Trustees recently urged college boards to "make ethics a living tradition, a day-to-day reality throughout higher education." If colleges prepare bankers, lawyers, accountants and brokers, de…

How does a dean or department or division chairperson fit into the administrative structure of a community college? How do these middle managers best work with faculty? These are questions that have evolved in community and technical colleges, as they moved into this new century. The roles of the middle manager will vary by campus throughout the…