What Makes a Good President?

ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges
EdInfo Number 98-13

Iowa State University researchers investigated the preparation factors that may contribute to the development of outstanding leadership skills among community college presidents. A peer rating system was used to gather data from the president of all public, two-year institutions in eight upper-Midwest states. Presidents identified by their peers as outstanding leaders were likely to have:

earned a terminal degree from a graduate program in higher education with an emphasis in community college leadership;
described their graduate work as having prepared them to be change agents;
accumulated experience both publishing and presenting scholarly work;
demonstrated high involvement with peer networks;
displayed considerable knowledge of technology;
arrived at the presidency through administrative rather than academic ranks.

This information was reported in ED 409 934, "Preparation Factors Common in Outstanding Community College Presidents." A full-text copy of this document may be obtained from the ERIC Document Reproduction Services, 7420 Fullerton Road, Suite 110, Springfield, VA 22153; or call (800) 443-ERIC.

Return to the Clearinghouse's Homepage

updated

Citations preceded by an asterisk (*) refer to journal articles or other material unavailable from EDRS. Journal articles may be acquired through regular library channels, or purchased from article clearinghouses such as CARL Uncover at (800) 787-7979. Other material may be available either directly through the publishing agency, or from out-of-print vendors. ERIC documents (references with "ED" numbers) may be read on microfiche at approximately 900 libraries worldwide. To identify your local ERIC Resource Collection, connect to: http://www.ed.gov/BASISDB/EROD/eric/SF. Most documents may be ordered on microfiche or in paper copy from the ERIC Document Reproduction Service (EDRS) at (800) 443-ERIC. For more information about our products and services, please contact the ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges by telephone at (800) 832-8256, or via the Internet at ericcc@ucla.edu.

Please help us keep the ERIC database current and comprehensive by submitting your written works to the Clearinghouse for review for inclusion in the ERIC system. Send two copies of each manuscript to the attention of our Acquisitions Coordinator.

ERIC Clearinghouse for Community Colleges
University of California, Los Angeles
3051 Moore Hall
P.O. Box 951521
Los Angeles, CA 90095

Updated 10/10/01
Maintained by ericccus@gseis.ucla.edu