COMMUNITY COLLEGE ADMINISTRATORS’ AND LOCAL STAKEHOLDERS’ PERCEPTIONS CONCERNING THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES USED BY NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY COLLEGES

Abstract

This study compares community college and community leaders’ perceptions of economic development strategies adopted by community colleges in North Carolina. Eighteen economic development strategies were determined, and respondents were asked about their levels of satisfaction with and use of these indicators in their local communities. The findings of the study include the following: (a) community college and community leaders’ perceived levels of use of economic development strategies are significantly related to their perceived levels of satisfaction with these strategies, (b) the position of the respondents significantly affects their views of the economic development strategies, (c) the size (enrollment) of the institution correlates with leaders’ views of economic development strategies, and (d) community colleges in the North Carolina system are using only a few of the possible economic development strategies used by other North American community colleges.