Written by Matthew Reed, the formerly anonymous author of InsideHigher Ed's most popular blog, Confessions of a Community CollegeDean, this book offers keen insights, a frank discussion, andsuggested solutions for the many issues that are unique tocommunity college administration. In Confessions of a Community College Administrator Reeddescribes the current landscape of community college leadership andaddresses some of the fundamental questions that face communitycolleges. Who does a community college actually serve? How doadministrators really make budget decisions? Where do the roots ofthe "permanent crisis" in higher education lie? How are full-timeand adjunct faculty best balanced? Throughout the book, Reed offers guidance and encouragement forthe next generation of community college leaders. He examines a setof proposed solutions from outside academia, then turns to othersolutions emerging from inside the community college world thatalso show potential for success. Confessions of a Community College Administrator is filled withrealistic, and ultimately hopeful, advice on how to step back fromthe day-to-day administrative struggles and gain some perspectiveon the larger picture. Reed offers administrators useful andproductive directions for constructive change.

Matthew Reed is the author of the popular blog Confessions of a Community College Dean for Inside Higher Ed. He is vice president for academic affairs at Holyoke Community College and has been a full-time and adjunct faculty member, associate dean, and dean at for-profit and community colleges. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife and two young children.

Written by Matthew Reed, the formerly anonymous author of Inside Higher Ed's most popular blog, Confessions of a Community College Dean, this book offers keen insights, a frank discussion, and suggested solutions for the many issues that are unique to community college administration.

In Confessions of a Community College Administrator Reed describes the current landscape of community college leadership and addresses some of the fundamental questions that face community colleges. Who does a community college actually serve? How do administrators really make budget decisions? Where do the roots of the "permanent crisis" in higher education lie? How are full-time and adjunct faculty best balanced?

Throughout the book, Reed offers guidance and encouragement for the next generation of community college leaders. He examines a set of proposed solutions from outside academia, then turns to other solutions emerging from inside the community college world that also show potential for success.

Confessions of a Community College Administrator is filled with realistic, and ultimately hopeful, advice on how to step back from the day-to-day administrative struggles and gain some perspective on the larger picture. Reed offers administrators useful and productive directions for constructive change.

About the Author iv

Acknowledgments v

Foreword by Kay McClenney vii

Introduction 1

1. The Community College Landscape 13

2. Funding: Where the Money Comes From, Where It Goes, and Why There's Never Enough 35

3. Community College Administration: Who Does What 61

4. Herding Cats: Managing Creative People 85

5. Regular Challenges of the Dean's Job 105

6. Saving Community Colleges: A Few Modest Proposals 125

Conclusion 153

Notes 158

References 161

Index 163