There Is A Dearth In The Community College Leadership Pipeline Which Needs To Be Filled.

Written by

Mike Robinson

Are community colleges facing a crisis of leadership? Has the pipeline which has traditionally served as the pathway for those aspiring to positions of leadership within the community college finally gone bare? Over the past several decades, the retiring rate of presidents, long-term administrators, and influential faculty members with tenure has soared. According to many, the retiring movement of seasoned community college leaders will continue, thus creating a dearth in the leadership pipeline. This void within the pipeline calls for a need to develop the next generation of community college leaders, which is why programs like the Community College Leadership Development program (CCLD) at Morgan State University are essential in filling the pipeline with qualified candidates from non-traditional backgrounds. Below are you will find some data researched by students of Morgan State University’s CCLD program:

• It was estimated by 2007 nearly 45% of then current presidents had indicated a plan to retire before the end of the year.
• Community college presidents are getting older: In 1986, their average age was 51; in 1998, it was 57.
• The number of advanced degrees conferred in community college administration decreased 78 percent from 1982–83 to 1996–97.
• Important skills identified for future leaders include the ability to bring a college together in the governing process, the ability to mediate, a good command of technology, and the ability to build coalitions.
• New community college presidents feel unprepared to deal with key aspects of their jobs, including fundraising, financial management, and working effectively with their governing boards.
• In 1984, the average age of senior community college administrators was under 50; in 2000, it was 52.
• In 1999, 52 percent of full-time faculty members aged 55 to 64 reported planning to retire by 2004.