Institutional and Leader Characteristics That Influence Community College Leaders' Preparedness to Facilitate Transformational Organizational Change

• In Event: Transforming Educational Systems Toward Equity: Rethinking Leadership

Abstract

This study examines the level of preparedness that community college leaders have to facilitate the large-scale institutional change underscoring Guided Pathways. During a time when there is an urgency for systematic change to improve student success, there is a corresponding need for strong leadership to facilitate these efforts. A quantitative research design was employed (N=323) to determine if leaders’ level of preparedness can be predicted from leader and institutional characteristics. The findings suggest that involvement in change efforts is the strongest predictor of leader preparedness to lead change, along with two other significant predictors: level of education and level of position within organization. This is an action that institutions can take to influence the preparedness of leaders at all levels.

Author

• Cassie Donnelly