Purpose: America's College Promise (ACP) is a legislative initiative introduced by President Obama to increase access to higher education, to build the economy, and to support his earlier American Graduation Initiative. This legislation has the potential to settle among the ranks of the most influential federal higher education aid and access…

Community college leaders serve as linchpins for framing meaning on campus. The current pressures on institutions (given declining financial resources, demands for accountability, changing faculty ranks, and societal need for new knowledge) require presidents to juggle multiple priorities while presenting a cohesive message to campus constituents.…

Describes a study of community college presidents' roles and responsibilities, using structured observations of five presidents at work, a method utilized by Mintzberg (1968) to study chief executive officers (CEOs) of various organizations. Reports findings in terms of Mintzberg's taxonomy of roles and tasks. Contrasts presidents with Mintzberg's…

Outlines the roles of the Board of Trustees, representing community needs, and the community college president, selected for his leadership abilities in employing human and financial resources. Concludes that their interaction depends largely on characteristics of the president, including the ability to foresee consequences of an action; and to…

Discusses what faces the new community college president, what will be expected of him by the board of trustees, the faculty and the community, and the personal traits he needs to establish understanding and rapport with these groups. (AYC)

Article is an address given at the Fourth Annual Convention of the Association of Community College Trustees in New Orleans, La., November 1 and 2, 1973. Author offers some comments on his evaluation of college presidents. (Author/RK)