An Analysis of Perceptual Differences and Congruities between California Community College Chancellors and Presidents in Multi-College Districts Regarding the Decision-Making Role of the Presidents

Purpose This study was designed to provide foundational information concerning the perceptions of California community college chancellors and presidents in multi-college districts, regarding the presidents\u27 decision-making role, at both the college and districtwide levels. Factors pertaining to the chancellors and presidents\u27 professional background, and to district characteristics were reviewed for possible relationships to perceptual congruities and differences. Methodology Survey research methodology provided the basis for the design of the study. Eleven district chancellors and 28 presidents responded to a 24 item, two level Likert-type instrument and a professional background questionnaire. Demographic information on each of the participating districts was obtained and used in the analysis. Standard t-tests and chi-square analysis were used to determine if there were differences in responses of chancellors and presidents overall, by functional category and for each item at the college and districtwide levels of decision-making. The professional background questionnaire and district profile provided anecdotal information with which to compare the statistical findings. Findings and Conclusions Some of the major findings and conclusions of the study were as follows: 1. Chancellors and presidents in California multi-college districts agreed that presidents have a great deal of decision-making autonomy at their own colleges. 2. The presidents\u27 decision-making involvement at the district level is ambiguous and in need of clarification. 3. Some relationship can be drawn between the professional background of the chancellors and presidents and the congruence and discrepancies of their perceptions. 4. District size, age, central office location, and administrative reporting relationships do not appear to be related to perceptual differences. Recommendations A major recommendation of this study is that the presidents\u27 decision-making role at the district level be formalized in their position descriptions. In addition, a similar study should be undertaken in large urban multi-college districts. Some attention should be given to factors such as leadership style, organizational culture, collective bargaining, and the politicizing of districts that might influence the presidents\u27 decision-making role

Exemplary Teaching and Exemplary Teachers: A Prologue

Suzanne F. Davis brings a wide background in both teaching and administration to her role as guest editor of the Reading Horizons themed issue on exemplary teaching and exemplary teachers

The Decision of African American Students to Complete High School: An Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior

A longitudinal study explored high-school completion among African Americans. Male and female high-school students aged 14 to 17 (N=166) completed a questionnaire based on the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991) early in their second year. Intentions to complete the year were accurately predicted from attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control (R=0.71;

Gender Differences in Self-Perceptions and Academic Outcomes: A Study of African American High School Students

There is increasing divergence in the academic outcomes of African American males and females. By most accounts, males are falling behind their female peers educationally as African American females are graduating from high schools at higher rates and are going on to college and graduate school in greater numbers. Some have suggested that school completion and performance is associated with how students feel about themselves. The purpose of this study was to explore gender differences in the relationship between self-perceptions and two academic outcomes among a sample of 243 African American high school sophomores. The results suggest that, overall; females are more favorably oriented toward high school completion. Both male and female students with more positive self-perceptions have stronger intentions to complete the current year of high school. Higher grade point averages were more strongly associated with greater self-efficacy for females than for males. Given these findings, increased attention to educational programming, societal messages and future research is warranted

The GoodWork Project: An Overview

The Good Project is a large scale effort to identify individuals and institutions that exemplify good work -- work that is excellent in quality, socially responsible, and meaningful to its practitioners -- and to determine how best to increase the incidence of good work in our society. This paper is a comprehensive description of the GoodWork Project

Inspection of commercial feeedingstuffs, Station Bulletin, no.443

The Bulletin is a publication of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire

The Treatment of Human Cruelty in the Novels of Mark Twain

The purpose of this thesis is to demonstrate Mark Twain's awareness of and sensitive reaction to the cruelty which surrounded him throughout his lifetime, and to evaluate his literary use of cruelty for both comic and satiric effects

Friends, Family, and Neighborhood: Understanding Academic Outcomes of African American Youth

Friends, Family, and Neighborhood: Understanding Academic Outcomes of African American Yout

Speech Act Analysis of Aphasic Communication in Individual and Group Settings

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