Leadership Competency Perceptions of Rural Community College Presidents in the Coastal Southeast Region

Abstract

In a 2012 study, the American Association of Community Colleges noted over three quarters of community college presidents surveyed planned to retire in the next ten years. The rural community colleges in the Coastal Southeast Region face additional and unique challenges beyond the growing leadership shortage. Rural community colleges in the Coastal Southeast Region are often the focus of both educational and cultural development within the community. The rural community college president must lead the effort to advance the mission of the college and ensure the college leads the community in a positive direction. This study explored the perceptions of presidents of rural community colleges in the Coastal Southeast Region regarding the most important professional skills, characteristics, and competencies identified by the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) for effective community college leadership. In addition, through qualitative data gathered in interviews with presidents, this study identified the experiences reported as helpful to their development within the six AACC leadership competencies.