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Perhaps amongst the most urgent of concerns for California Community Colleges is how to effectively address the numerous retirements among senior administrators in the system. These key individuals have provided strong leadership during critical periods of growth and change and, as they leave their colleges, they take with them a vast amount of knowledge and experience. The result of this dynamic is a potential creation of a leadership “void” or “gap”.
In his article “Succession Planning: Developing Leaders for the Future of the Organization” Charles Carroll cites a 2001 study conducted by the American Association of Community Colleges which identifies that 79 percent of chief executive officers will retire from their current positions in community colleges within a ten year period. Carroll further suggests that “the likely source for replacing these executives will be vice presidents and associates vice presidents.” From this he poises an important question;
“… who will replace them as vacuums are created by their upward movement?”
Leadership Institute
As a way to begin to address the “leadership gap” that will (and does) exist, several community colleges across the nation have become involved in developing leadership programs. Here in California, Ed Shenk (Vice President, Student Services at Napa College), Dick Robertson (Vice President, Student Services at Mira Costa College) and other leaders led the effort to establish just such a leadership institute as a way to identify, support, encourage and promote talented professionals within the community colleges. The institute was held for several years and proved to be very successful as a professional development preparation opportunity. In recent years budget constraints and other considerations caused the institute to be put on hold. However this past March at the CIS/CSSO joint conference in Sacramento leadership Institute was once again held.
Designed for “persons with great leadership potential” the institute is comprised of individuals who are nominated by the Chief Student Services Officer (CSSO) or Chief Instructional Officer (CIO) at their campus. The institute is modeled on the Great Teachers format with participants engaging in large and small group seminar based discussion that are designed to nurture participants involvement and interaction. 24 participants were chosen for the most recent institute in Sacramento who represented “rising stars” from student services, instruction and the Chancellor’s Office staff. The participants presented “real life” successes and challenges from their institution which formed the core of the group discussions.
In keeping with the Great Teacher model, the discussion groups are led by experienced CSSO and CIO facilitators from across the state. This past March the facilitators for the institute were Erlinda Martinez, President, Santa Ana College (former Vice President, Student Services at Cerritos College), Jackie Jacobs, Vice President for Instruction, Pasadena College and Bob Bell, Vice President for Student Services at Chaffey College.
Call for Nominations
The community college Leadership Institute continues to be a leading response to the approaching wave of leadership retirements. The second installment of the institute for 2005 will be held on November 30, 31 and December 1 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Irvine. Information and “Calls for Nominations” will be sent to all CSSO’s and CIO’s statewide in early September.
According to an African proverb:
“The future belongs to those who understand it now”
The shaping of the future of leadership for the California Community Colleges is one of the major objectives of the leadership institute. If the indications from the March institute are any indication, you can look for great things from the institute participants in the years ahead.
If you would like more information about the California Community College Leadership Institute, please contact Christine Kaggie, Executive Assistant to the Vice President for Student Services, Chaffey College at (909) 941-2110 or by email at chris.kaggie@chaffey.edu
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