Author: Jennifer Jones DobbinsPublisher:
ISBN:
Category : Community colleges
Languages : en
Pages : 374
Book Description
Given the challenges facing contemporary community colleges, governing boards are in need of information and data gathered from empirically grounded studies of current governing practices. The primary purpose of this study was to describe governance practices of community college boards of trustees in one state in the Northeast region of the United States. A secondary intent of the study was to examine the relationship between institutional structure of community colleges and trustees' perspectives on select governance practices of community college trustees. The study utilized and was informed by secondary analysis of data secured from a cross-sectional population of community college chairs. The research design was a secondary analysis of survey data from McPhail's (2006--07) national study of community college governance trends and practices. Governance practices and the relationship between governance practices and institutional structure were described using descriptive statistics. The research variables for the study were institutional structure and the following governance practices: (a) board executive committee, (b) risk management policies and practices, (c) board and trustee evaluation, (d) practices of the new work of nonprofit boards, (e) ethical standards, and (f) board education. The population consisted of 14 community college board chairs. Finding from this study revealed that the majority of boards engage in practices or activities related to Taylor, Chait, and Holland's The New Work of the Nonprofit Board. Findings from this research support the need for more information and data about community college governance board practices the relationship between institutional structure and governance practices. The data suggests that there may be a relationship between board practices and institutional structure. The study adds to empirical research on board practices. Few studies have taken an empirical approach to the study of governance practices and even fewer, if any, have examined the relationship between practices and institutional characteristics. This study provides varied recommendations related to community college governance for future research and practice. -- Abstract.
