Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of consultants hired to assist with the search for California Community College District Chief Executive Officers. The population studied was fifteen California Community Colleges that had used a search consultant during the previous three years. Case study methodology was used with interviews of one Trustee from each of the Colleges and a consultant from each of the search firms that assisted with the searches at the population colleges. Findings included differences between the consultants relative to both the roles they performed and the roles they considered to be ideal. Also, there were reported differences for some of the consultants between the ideal and performed roles. There was agreement between the consultants and the Trustees that the consultants had a positive impact on the identified issues of candidate quality, quantity and diversity, and on the search process and campus climate. Lastly, the level of Trustee satisfaction with the search consultants' services was found to be very good. It was concluded that Trustees need to be aware of the different role orientation of different consultants and to discuss search expectations prior to hiring a consultant. Trustees should consider hiring a consultant prior to initiating the search process. Trustees need to perform reference checks prior to hiring a consultant. Finally, search consultants can be useful to colleges that have campus climate problems. Recommendations for action included: a suggested community college search process; recommendations for Trustee organizations to provide workshop opportunities for Trustees; recommendations related to the process of hiring search consultants; and recommendations for search consultants relative to their discussions with Trustees prior to hiring. Recommendations for further study include: CEO, faculty and staff perspectives on consultant usage; comparison research between colleges that use consultants and those that do not, relative to length of CEO tenure and Trustee satisfaction; investigation of the results of consultant efforts to help Trustees avoid common search pitfalls; and investigation of the results of consultant efforts to improve candidate pool diversity.