The majority of recent studies on community college trustees have centered around trustee perceptions and characteristics. While a 1987 study by Boyce examined Washington state trustees' perceptions of their roles, it did not examine what those boards actually did. The purpose of this study was to add another dimension to the empirical knowledge base, by investigating community college board of trustee formal decision-making. / The study of eight community college boards in the state of Washington analyzed formal board decisions and actions from two perspectives: (1) a content analysis of formal decisions and actions as recorded in board of trustee minutes; and (2) differences in these decision patterns among colleges based on two categories, college setting and college size. / Through a series of questions to randomly selected board of trustees members and the eight community college presidents, the researcher also attempted to determine in what ways and to what extent board trustee members interact with members of the institution (internal environment), and with the constituency served by the college (external environment) in their process. / Frequencies and percentages were calculated to identify distinctive patterns on subject area, source, timing, level and internal or external system of formal trustee decisions impacted by the decision. The majority of trustees decisions were directed to ensuring the college fulfilled its purpose. Of the 532 decisions, 196 were initiated by the president. Nearly all were dealt with "before the fact" and were affirmative in nature. Only 92 were considered to be a policy making nature, while 344 were at the operating level. ANOVA results revealed significant differences in decision-making patterns within the variables. As was expected, the largest number of decisions (369) was directed internally. / Overall, the colleges involved in the study appeared to support Weick's (1976) description of colleges characterized by multiple goals, fluid participation, unclear technologies, and intangible and unmeasurable outcomes which are serving to restrain trustees from acting with purpose and direction. In general, the researcher found that both the trustees and the presidents recognized their limited power, yet they were unclear as to how to change their environment, or even if they should. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-10, Section: A, page: 3537. / Major Professor: Louis W. Bender. / Thesis (Ed.D.)--The Florida State University, 1991.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_76497 |
| Contributors | Bennett, Barbara J., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 209 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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