Around the Institute

The Community College Presidency

June 25, 2013

The community college sector faces an urgent leadership challenge that also offers unprecedented opportunity. In less than 5 years, 500 community college presidents are projected to retire, leaving critical openings at a time when demands to this field have drastically increased. Leaders face decreased budgets, calls for accountability, and competition, all while trying to improve student success for the nearly half of all undergraduates in the United States who attend community colleges.

Achieving the Dream and the Aspen College Excellence Program come together at a national forum featuring our new joint report, “Crisis and Opportunity: Aligning the Community College Presidency with Student Success.” This report assesses the looming leadership crisis in the community college presidency and identifies the steps needed to help shape a new generation of leaders.

Jumpstarting the conversation are nationally recognized leaders in higher education reform, including:

Jean Desravines, CEO, New Leaders
Lenore Rodicio, Vice Provost, Miami Dade College
Sandy Shugart, President, Valencia College
Robert Templin, President, Nothern Virginia Community College