"This book will serve as a resource for higher-education practitioners who will benefit from reading about the stories, strategies, and strokes of genius that have driven the legacy of the nation's famed community colleges"--

In American higher education, community colleges present new opportunities for many, embodying the democratic essence since their early roots. Originally conceived as junior colleges preparing students for university transfers, these institutions have undergone a transformative journey, evolving into the comprehensive, open-access pillars of education that define our present landscape. Despite a shared mission, a disparity exists among community colleges, with some rising to prominence as leaders in the community-college movement. Amidst the challenges posed by the two World Wars, economic fluctuations, and societal shifts, community colleges have adapted to serve diverse needs, encompassing workforce development, community education, and developmental studies. Narratives and Strategies of Effective Leadership in Community Colleges takes on the challenge faced by these institutions—maintaining excellence amid the evolving demands of a dynamic society. Narratives and Strategies of Effective Leadership in Community Colleges is a pivotal resource for higher-education practitioners navigating the complex realm of leadership challenges in community colleges. It portrays community colleges as national treasures in higher education. Beyond mere success stories, each chapter details the intricacies of effective leadership. Targeting governing boards, faculty, leaders, and administrators, the book provides invaluable insights into strategic planning, student support, campus revitalization, and financial management. It serves as a crucial guide for those aspiring to elevate their institutions.

Presidents, executive teams, governing boards, administrators, faculty leaders, and graduate students alike will benefit from this comprehensive primer. Designed to help professionals at all stages of their careers, this resource is particularly useful to the growing number of new CEOs. Thorough attention is paid to operational principles and organizational design as well as policy development in both general and specific contexts such as students, curriculum, staff, and resource development. Look for special chapters on crisis management as well as practical advice for new CEOs.

Anticipate, manage, and overcome the complex issues facing community colleges Practical Leadership in Community Colleges offers a path forward through the challenges community colleges face every day. Through field observations, reports, news coverage, and interviews with leaders and policy makers, this book digs deep into the issues confronting college leaders and provides clear direction for managing through the storm. With close examination of both emerging trends and perennial problems, the discussion delves into issues brought about by changing demographics, federal and state mandates, public demand, economic cycles, student unrest, employee groups, trustees, college supporters, and more to provide practical guidance toward optimal outcomes for all stakeholders. Written by former presidents, including a past president of the American Association of Community Colleges, this book provides expert guidance on anticipating and managing the critical issues that affect the entire institution. Both authors serve as consultants, executive coaches, and advisors to top leaders, higher education institutions, and leadership development programs throughout the United States. Community colleges are facing increasingly complex issues from both without and within. Some can be avoided, others only mitigated—but all must be managed, and college leaders must be fully prepared or risk failing the students and the community. This book provides real-world guidance for current and emerging leaders and trustees seeking more effective management methods, with practical insight and expert perspective. Tackle the college completion challenge and performance-based funding initiatives Manage through economic cycles, declining support, and calls for accountability Delve into the issues of privatization and employee unionization Execute strategies to align institutional goals and mission Manage organizational change and new ways of thinking that are essential in today's competitive environment Manage issues involving diversity, inclusiveness, and equity Prepare adequately for campus emergencies Community colleges are the heartbeat of the nation's higher education system, and bear the tremendous responsibility of serving the needs of a vast and varied student body. Every day may bring new issues, but effective management allows institutions to rise to the challenge rather than falter under pressure. Practical Leadership in Community Colleges goes beyond theory to provide the practical guidance leadership needs to more effectively lead institutions to achieve results and serve the students and the community.

Many challenges face community; technical, and junior colleges as they prepare for the 21st century. The more than 1,400 community colleges in the United States and Canada are led by approximately 14,000 academic deans and department heads, each of whom must balance the demands of the students, faculties, sponsors, community, and the college itself. As college enrollments increase, so do responsibilities, problems, and stress. Fur-ther stress will come to bear upon com-munity colleges in the next decade, when 40% of their academic leaders are expected to retire. There is justifiable concern about the identification, recruitment, and preparation of individuals to assume vacant leadership positions. Academic Leadership in Community Colleges provides the neces-sary touchstones and guidelines for per-sons within institutions preparing for new leadership. Written by professional educators, this book is based on a survey of 3,000 deans and department heads in community col-leges in the United States and Canada. The survey disclosed the broad variety of responsibilities, organizational structures, and developmental strategies exercised by academic leaders in community colleges from coast to coast. The research was conducted by the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and supported by the National Community College Chair Academy. Introductory chapters present compara-tive information about community col-leges: their various missions, instructional units, and demographic situations. Other chapters focus on the beliefs and values, tasks, skills, competition, and challenges that greet academic leaders. Readers will find useful strategies for confronting frequent problems and procedures for achieving greater college cohesion and efficiency.