Also, many are unprepared to complete tasks unique to community college such as teaching diverse students. Those faculty members in rural areas not only have to deal with those challenges, but also sometimes have difficulty adjusting to living and working in a rural area. Among those having difficulty, workload and students' abilities were cited as common disappointments in the work; however, most community college instructors have a high level of satisfaction in their jobs, which is usually caused by simply working with students.
How Community Colleges Understand the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning" discusses community colleges' focus on teaching as their primary goal, rather than research and scholarship, which is generally the main focus of universities. The American Association of Higher Education (AAHE) Carnegie Teaching Academy has suggested that community colleges focus on the scholarship of teaching and learning. Community colleges that change their focus from teaching as their primary goal to promoting the scholarship of teaching and learning are able to use inquiry and experimentation to improve teaching and learning.
Distance Learning in Community Colleges: Leadership Challenges for Change and Development" discuss the challenges community college faculty members face as technology and distance education programs are utilized. To help faculty face these challenges, community college leaders should provide professional development programs that follow the Kouzes and Posner leadership model. The Kouzes and Posner leadership model consists of the following leadership principles: "challenging the process," "inspiring a shared vision," "enabling others to act," "modeling the way," "and encouraging the heart."
Making the...
These trends indicate that this is a time for change in education. In order for community colleges to continue to be successful in their role in higher education, community college leaders need to plan for and deal with these trends.
References
Boggs, G.R. (2004). Community colleges in a perfect storm. Change, 36(6), 6-11.
Evelyn, J. (2004). State spending on community colleges is up, but so is tuition, survey finds. Chronicle of Higher Education, 51(11), 24.
Fields, C. (2004). Troubling times for community colleges. Change, 36(6), 4-5.
Floyd, D.L. (2003). Distance learning in community colleges: leadership challenges for change and development. Community College Journal of Research & Practice, 27(4), 337-347.
Lum, L. (2004). Not your father's community college. Black Issues in Higher Education, 21(9), 54-58.
Milliron, M.D., & de los Santos, G.E. (2004). Making the most of community colleges on the road ahead. Community College Journal of Research & Practice, 28(2), 105-122.
Milliron, M.D., & Wilson, C. (2004). No need to invent them: community colleges and their place in the education landscape. Change, 36(6), 52-58.
Murray, J.P., & Cunningham, S. (2004). New rural community college faculty members and job satisfaction. Community College Review, 32(2), 19-38.
Romero, M. (2004). Who will lead our community colleges? Change, 36(6), 30-34.
Sperling, C.B. (2003). How community colleges understand the scholarship of teaching and learning. Community College Journal of Research & Practice, 27(7), 593-601.
