Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC, 2013) Competencies for Community College Leaders used by search firms to recruit California community college presidents. Methods. The literature review identified and supported the AACC Competencies for Community College Leaders (AACC competencies), which served as the conceptual framework for this study. Search firm leaders who met the study criteria voluntarily agreed to participate in this research. The dynamic narrative approach research method was used for this study. Data were analyzed and reliability was established through interrater reliability. Findings. The research resulted in multiple findings identified in four areas: collaboration, communication, community college advocacy, and president recruitment. Conclusions. The results of the study acknowledge the importance of the AACC Competencies for Community College Leaders in the recruitment and selection of community college presidents. The findings represent important applications that search firm leaders can use to recruit community college presidents. The competencies may have universal "buy-in" with respect to their value, which offers guidance to search firms in order to organize the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences of presidential candidates. Recommendations. Recommendations for future research include conducting a study with participants who are employees of the community college serving on search committees. Replication studies from other states could illuminate any differences that may exist. Additionally, researchers could conduct a similar study using quantitative methods. Findings from such studies may yield additional data.