Dr. Linnie Carter, a Vision 2020 national delegate from Virginia, intends to increase the number of African-American female community college presidents across the country with her project, “Enriching Education: Sisters for Community College Leadership.” With her background in community college administration, Dr. Carter hopes to reach prospective African-American female community college presidents throughout the United States.
This projects falls under this Vision 2020 goal: Goal #2: Increase the number of women in senior leadership positions in American life to reflect the workforce talent pool and demographics.
According to the American Association of Community Colleges, there are 1,167 community colleges in the United States, with only 60 of them having African-American females as presidents. With community college students comprising 44 percent of the total U.S. undergraduate population and 44 percent of African-American college students attending community colleges, strong and diverse leadership in community college education is more important than ever before.
With this project, Dr. Carter aims:
- To have an effect on awareness, specifically that 50 percent of prospective African-American female community college presidents are aware of this initiative by December 2012
- To have an effect on attitude, specifically that 75 percent of prospective African-American female community college presidents who are aware of this initiative understand its benefits by December 2013
- To have an effect on behavior, specifically that 75 percent of prospective African-American female community college presidents who are aware of this initiative use it by December 2014
- To have an effect on behavior, specifically that 50 percent of prospective African-American female community college presidents who are aware of this initiative declare their interest in pursuing a community college presidency by December 2015
- To have an effect on behavior, specifically that 50 percent of prospective African-American female community college presidents who are aware of this initiative apply for at least one community college presidency by December 2016
- To have an effect on behavior, specifically that 50 percent of prospective African-American female community college presidents who are aware of this initiative are hired for presidencies by December 2017
The target audiences for this project are:
- African-American female community college vice presidents
- African-American female community college directors
- African-American female community college deans
- Other African-American female community college administrators
The following measurement tools will be used to track outcomes:
- Surveys will be used to determine the percent of prospective African-American female community college presidents who are aware of this initiative and understand its benefits.
- Information sheets will be used to determine the percentage of prospective African-American female community college presidents who sign up for the initiative and thus who may have an interest in pursuing a community college presidency.
- Surveys will be used to determine the percent of prospective African-American female community college presidents who apply for at least one community college presidency.
- Reviews of the Presidents’ Round Table roster will be used to determine the percent of prospective African-American female community college presidents who are hired for community college presidencies.