Thriving and Surviving on Campus: An Insider's Guide to Community College Administration

The book provides advice on how to survive, thrive, and make a difference as a leader in the political arena of community colleges, with updated information on new challenges and opportunities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 100 pages
Publication date: 25 November 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

This book is a comprehensive guide for leaders in the political arena, offering valuable insights and strategies to help them survive, thrive, and make a difference. First published in 2000, the book quickly gained popularity and became a bestseller at the American Association of Community Colleges bookstore. It has been recognized as a valuable learning and mentoring resource for current and future college leaders, providing them with ideas, anecdotes, and vicarious experiences that can help them take advantage of career opportunities and avoid pitfalls that may temporarily set them back. The Third Edition has been updated and expanded to reflect new challenges and opportunities found on America's community college campuses.

The book begins by discussing the importance of leadership in the political arena and the various roles that leaders can play. It then explores the different types of leadership styles and how they can be effective in different situations. The authors also provide practical advice on how to develop and maintain effective leadership skills, including communication, decision-making, and problem-solving.

One of the key themes of the book is the importance of building relationships. Leaders must be able to connect with others and build trust and respect. The authors provide examples of how leaders can build relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members, and how these relationships can help them achieve their goals.

Another important theme of the book is the importance of being adaptable and flexible. Leaders must be able to respond to changing circumstances and adapt their strategies accordingly. The authors provide examples of how leaders can be flexible in their approach to problem-solving and decision-making, and how this can help them achieve their goals.

The book also discusses the importance of ethics and integrity in leadership. Leaders must be honest and transparent in their actions and decisions, and must always act in the best interests of their organization and the community. The authors provide examples of how leaders can uphold ethical standards and how they can be held accountable for their actions.

In addition to these themes, the book also provides practical advice on how to manage and lead a college or university. The authors discuss the importance of budgeting, planning, and evaluation, and provide examples of how leaders can use these tools to achieve their goals. They also discuss the importance of promoting diversity and inclusion on campus, and how leaders can work to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all students and staff.

One of the strengths of the book is its practicality. The authors provide real-world examples and anecdotes that can help readers understand the challenges and opportunities that they may face as leaders. They also provide practical advice on how to address these challenges and opportunities, and how to make a positive impact on their organization and the community.

Another strength of the book is its accessibility. The authors have written the book in a clear and concise manner, making it easy to read and understand. They also provide a wealth of resources and references that can help readers further explore the topics discussed in the book.

However, there are also some limitations to the book. One of the main limitations is that it is primarily focused on the political arena in the United States. While the principles and strategies discussed in the book can be applied to other political systems, the specific challenges and opportunities faced by leaders in other countries may be different.

Another limitation is that the book does not provide a comprehensive overview of all the skills and knowledge that leaders need to develop and maintain effective leadership skills. While the authors provide practical advice on how to develop and maintain effective leadership skills, they do not provide a detailed explanation of the underlying principles and theories that support these skills.

Despite these limitations, this book is a valuable resource for leaders in the political arena. It provides practical advice on how to survive, thrive, and make a difference, and it can help readers build the skills and knowledge that they need to achieve their goals. Whether you are a college administrator, university graduate student, or college staff development officer, this book is worth reading.

In conclusion, this book is a comprehensive guide for leaders in the political arena, offering valuable insights and strategies to help them survive, thrive, and make a difference. It has been recognized as a valuable learning and mentoring resource for current and future college leaders, and the Third Edition has been updated and expanded to reflect new challenges and opportunities found on America's community college campuses. While there are some limitations to the book, it is a valuable resource for leaders in the political arena and can help readers build the skills and knowledge that they need to achieve their goals.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781475873443
Edition number: Third Edition