Leadership In A Community College

While they do have a tremendous focus on workforce development and training, the opportunity to take a more active role in higher education exists. By adjusting their focus to act as a bridge for students, the community college has the ability to soften the transition financially and educationally. Community colleges must move beyond their reliance on open acceptance policies and actively pursue students who would otherwise attend universities. By offering comparable course tracks that will challenge and educate they can move even further past the image of being a second class institution. More focus must be placed on both building articulation agreements with the universities and educating potential students about the benefits of making the community the next stop on their education

Students nowadays face many challenges when it comes to obtaining a college education. We evaluate an institution’s quality based on what we need the most. The qualities sought out may vary by each person’s personal point of view. However, as a student, I’ve found that most students seek for an institute that benefits them the most. Attending a community college has been an enormous advantage towards my education. I have been attending San Bernardino Valley College for the last two semesters. I have come to respect their philosophies and values. The institution has now been in business for 87 years. They venture to encourage both students and faculty towards high standards of achievement and progress into exceptional members of the society. They now offer a variety of degrees, transfer programs and certificates for a wide range of students. San Bernardino Valley College has an accomplished staff, student support services and technological tools that pave the road towards the conquest of a quality education.

I want to become a Bank of America student leader I want to be a good leader but also a true leader, which is a leader that leads by example. In able to help my community and to encourage fellow students like myself, I have to set the foundation and example for them. By participating in the Student Leaders program, I can learn to become a better person, but more importantly, a better leader. As a senior preparing for graduation, it is critical that I understand where I intend to head in life. With this program, I think that it can provide me with an even more clarity about my goals and aspirations. I believe I should be chosen to be a Bank of America Student Leader because with my diverse background and skills, I believe I can be a great addition

Community college is a great institution for students to start their educational journey. Especially when they do not have the funds or lack some of the prerequisite that a university would require. Community college was created to serve the community, traditional and non-traditional students with the best higher education and lifetime learning opportunities. The faculty and staff members at a community college is there to provide leadership in education while going above and beyond to recognize the needs of the students and the community by providing excellent educational programs and support services that are available to all who have the opportunity to take advantage of them. “Student services now include recruitment and retention, counseling, student activities, student health, financial aid, academic support, career centers, transfer centers, and supplemental services such as transportation, child care, and services tailored for specific populations of students” (Cohen, Brawer, & Krisker, 2014, pg. 209). My philosophy in fulfilling the role and mission of the community college, is to establish the mission, vision, goals and values to guide all students on their journey to strive to become successful both in school and in today’s economy.

Community Colleges were developed with the purpose of providing an affordable and accessible education. By providing students with both academic and learning skills, community colleges continue to remain an essential part of today’s society. Throughout the years, community colleges have continued to develop and transform to provide resources to meet the needs of their students. As new community colleges began to develop, it is critical that they are aware of the political issues that community colleges face. For this assignment, I will discuss the University of District of Columbia Community College and its governance. In addition, I will provide information on federal and local government involvement, leadership structure, political culture, student demographics, and community groups. Lastly, I will provide recommendations on how to address the issue of governance.

The ultimate objective of a community college is to help people to better themselves through education, it is imperative that the college cannot do this by itself; it has to have the aid from the community where it is.

Central Valley College functions with two major stakeholder groups, which are the trustee board and president’s cabinet. Although they are outwardly the main stakeholders, the faculty senate, and particular staff members play significant roles in change efforts.

“HCC will be a learner-centered, accessible, lifelong learning institution dedicated to student and community success. We will maintain a wide spectrum of college programs and services, with a special emphasis on teaching excellence as measured by verifiable student academic achievement. We are committed to staff success through planning and learning, shared campus governance, the promotion of internal and external partnerships, and making the necessary strategic changes that will assure we successfully address our mission – the purpose, functions, and values of the College. (Mission & Vision)”

Community colleges must take charge of their future and reinvent themselves for the twenty-first century. If dramatic changes are not implemented by the community colleges, "they will become shaped and reinvented by strong external social, political and economic forces" (Riggs, 2009, p.3). Also, according to Riggs (2009), other entities and strong forces are on the verge of endeavoring to take control of the future of the community colleges, such as state legislatures, accreditation committees, state and federal educational officials, four-year institutions, local business leaders and voters are all strong forces. Further, these some of the same forces came against the public school systems and they took over. Riggs (2009), suggests to stop pointing the finger of blame; community colleges cannot afford another decade of compositional techniques or persuasive language (rhetoric) when it comes to developing new leaders who will lead the transformation of the community colleges. In addition, the community colleges are blaming the lack of funding, the lack of qualified applicants, board members, unions, state education offices and past practices. However, there is no time to continue to blame and point fingers when there is a need to strategically create a twenty-first-century strong community college academic culture and obtain and sustain a strong operational and fiscal environment to maintain relevant relationships with all stakeholders (Riggs,

Since there are four guided questions to help address the main research question. There will also be some subtopics to help us better understand the reasoning toward the altered mission of community colleges. First, I will discuss about the first community college founded in American history of higher education and its mission, the influences on community college mission during the Depression era, and the intention of community college mission after the World War II era. Second, I will report what I have found about the impact on community college to alter their institution from a 2 years institution to a 4 years institution. Third, I will discuss what the organizational culture was like today compared to the twentieth century. Lastly, I will examine some of the societal factors that impact the altered mission of community colleges.

Although the community college’s mission has not changed, employment skills have changed. In order to yield tangible economic benefits to the community, community colleges have to start to think more creatively (Rockefeller Institute of Government, 2010). For over thirty years, community colleges has been the go-to reference for their role in economic development and services rendered to the community (American Community College, 2014).

There isn't anything more important to community colleges than the certainty that they can and should provide all qualified people who are looking to be accepted with admittance (Vaughan). The people of the community college represent forty-four percent of all undergraduates and forty-nine percent of students attending college for the first time (David). These students include a lot of minority students, students with a low social standing and the non-standard (age twenty-five and older) student who commonly enters college less academically equipped (David). Most community colleges have made immense advancement in reducing a lot of geographical and economic blockades that have in the past limited college admittance (David). Community

What defines a leader? One may say a leader is a person with many titles that distinguish them as having an important role. I however see a leader as much more than a title but rather as a person who makes an impact. A leader in my eyes is one who is an inspiration, shows care for the position they have, is determined, and a team player with empathy and compassion towards all. As future pharmacists, it is of the utmost importance that these qualities carry into the profession so that we may become a better provider to our patients and a more trustworthy part of the healthcare community. With the various leadership roles throughout my life both in the community and on the campus of MCPHS University, I have strengthened and developed the qualities of a leader that make for a future pharmacist ready to improve the profession for the better.

Moreover, this type structure will be effective for Perseverance Community College because the administration has passed experience with authority, and since administration view “big pictures”, the organizational structure is designed with an eye toward desired end results (Bolman and Deal, 2013). Furthermore, according to the local student services policies, the nature of the environment is to ensure the success of the students (Bolman and Deal, 2013).

As an educational leader, I must have a vision and mission statement for the school that is known by the staff, students, and parents. The vision will address the needs of the students academically, emotionally, and socially. According to DuFour (1998), “ Those who seek to transform their school into a professional learning community as characterized by an environment fostering mutual cooperation, emotional support, personal growth, and a synergy of efforts.” The leader must implement a plan that will cultivate the success of all students. The mission will speak to the direction of the school community stating what the desire goals are. The building leader will lead by example. High expectations will be communicated and encourage by staff and students. The educational leader of a school must develop a culture of team work to create a climate that is student friendly. The vision mission and goals of the leader should be transparent. The establishment of common goals is the first step. Without common goals, sustainable progress will be impossible and thus everyone will have lower expectations. The students, parents, and staff should be commented to the goals of every child reaching their full academic potential. The school environment should speak to goal setting and high expectations for all students and staff.