Tips on getting a community college presidency.

Community college presidencies are changing. High turnover in the next few years will bring a new cohort with different demographics, duties and backgrounds.

Student affairs officers at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) conference in Boston in March heard from Dr. Patricia Stanley, deputy assistant secretary for community colleges in the U.S. Office of Vocational and Adult Education, on how to chart a course toward this challenging and shifting position.

Community college VP Dr. Sylvia Manlove responded to Stanley's remarks. Initiating and facilitating the session was Dr. Yvette Galloway, director of NASPA Community College Education Programs and Services.

Community colleges mushroomed in the 1960s and 1970s, attracting many bright young idealists into leadership roles. Typically tax supported and oriented toward local needs, community colleges embodied a vision of open access to education beyond high school.

Half of those bright young idealists--whether faculty or administrators--are now facing retirement. Stanley said 50 of California's 109 community colleges are now in presidential transition. That's a lot of change. The picture is similar in other states.

Presidential responsibilities are changing too. "Success" has joined "access" in defining the community college goal; not only should everyone be able to enroll who wants to, but everyone should have support to succeed and graduate.

As states tighten their budgets, fundraising--always a big part of the president's job at private colleges--is becoming important at community colleges as well. Some have started foundations or active alumni associations.