Higher education system governance: an exploratory study of presidential decision making in the kentucky community and technical college system

Description of the System

KCTCS was created as a result of the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act of 1997. KCTCS is governed by the Council on Postsecondary Education, the state coordinating board for postsecondary education, and a Board of Regents. KCTCS is located in Versailles, Kentucky and is comprised of 16 colleges and more than 70 campuses in various urban, suburban, and rural locations throughout the state. The largest number of campuses belonging to a college is 6, with 2 being the fewest number of campuses belonging to a college. The average number of campuses for a college is 4.

KCTCS awards certificates, diplomas, and two-year associate degrees in 700 programs. KCTCS also provides workforce training for businesses in Kentucky. Two colleges – Bluegrass Community and Technical College and Jefferson Community and
Technical College – enrolled the largest numbers of students and awarded the largest numbers of credentials in 2014-15 (Kentucky Community and Technical College System, 2015).
The past president served as the founding president of KCTCS for 16 years and retired in January 2015. The current KCTCS president served as the KCTCS Chancellor and is a past president of Hazard Community and Technical College. The KCTCS president’s cabinet includes the KCTCS president, four vice presidents, and one chancellor for academic affairs. The KCTCS president’s leadership team includes the KCTCS president, the cabinet members, and the 16 college presidents. Leadership at each of the colleges consists of a college president, a chair for the board of directors, and a chair for the college foundation.

Quantitative Results

The researcher analyzed response counts, frequencies, and calculated descriptive statistics from phase one survey data. These included frequencies, means, and the range. Following administration of the survey to participants, one participant notified the researcher stating that one item was not applicable to the system. The item was not removed from the survey because the survey had already been administered to participants; however, the item (“negotiating with faculty unions in collective bargaining”) was removed prior to both stages of analysis.