About the Program

The primary features of the Kansas State University Community College Leadership Program (K-State CCLP) have been created by collaboration with many national community college leaders and include:

  • The CURRICULUM, created by national experts with vast experience in the community college, focuses exclusively on community college history, philosophy, issues, organization, programs, policy, and leadership. It is the most community college-centric curriculum ever created by a university.

  • FACULTY MEMBERS with extensive experience in and knowledge of the community college serve as faculty, professors and members of dissertation committees in the KSU CCLP. Over 75 nationally-known leaders have participated as guest lecturers in the program including Rob Johnstone, Founder & President, National Center for Inquiry & Improvement (NCII); Jerry Sue Thornton, President Emerita, Cuyahoga Community College; Richard Winn, President of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges; Lynn Tincher-Ladner, President & CEO of Phi Theta Kappa; Suzanne Walsh, President of Bennett College and former Deputy Director for Postsecondary Success at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; and Gerardo de los Santos, Ph.D., President and CEO Emeritus, League for Innovation and Senior Fellow, Civitas Learning. These lecturers and many other national leaders serve as members of dissertation committees in the KSU CCLP.

  • The KSU CCLP is offered in a COHORT MODEL of approximately 20-25 students to encourage collaborative learning and networking. In addition to professors who will meet on the local community college campus for the blended classes, a local cohort coordinator provides logistical support and assistance with dissertations.

  • To encourage active and practical learning the local community college hosting the cohort serves as a LEARNING LABORATORY with real-life issues serving as projects and products for course and internship content. In this way, the cohorts serve as campus catalysts to explore and implement change and action. From the initial orientation, doctoral students identify and foster shared values and a culture for their respective cohort and institution.

  • The professors come to the students for the FACE-TO-FACE CLASSES thus making this program highly accessible to working professionals. The face-to-face courses are augmented by online and Zoom discussions and assignments. The program includes two one-week leadership institutes, community and technical college site and association visits, and internal/external internships that provide for applied research and practical applications to ongoing coursework.

  • The program places high priority on recruiting women and ethnically DIVERSE MEMBERS to ensure that future leaders reflect the demographics of community college students.

  • The KSU CCLP is designed to be COMPLETED IN THREE YEARS and focuses on early explorations of issues that lend themselves to a dissertation. In addition, the research courses in the program support the creation and completion of applied research and dissertations.

  • The degree is a DOCTOR OF EDUCATION (Ed.D.) to prepare leaders for practical leadership. Although there has been a great deal of research about leadership in general, some publications dealing specifically with community college functions that require leadership, and competencies required for effective community college leadership, there has not been a sufficient focus on the practical issues that community college leaders face—often on a daily basis—and the impact their responses can have on a college. The CCLP at Kansas State University fills this need.

  • The program is designed so COHORTS CAN BE CREATED IN ANY REGION where there are enough students to enroll. The program draws faculty from senior leaders and seasoned educators from across the country to meet expanding program needs. Cohort members are part of a national network of community college leaders and aspiring leaders.

  • The entire program is VETTED BY the CCLP ADVISORY BOARD, comprised of national leaders, to ensure the program stays relevant to the changing issues and needs of community colleges.

From the initial orientation, doctoral students identify and foster shared values and a culture for their respective cohort and institution. By using college/district/state data and projects, students have opportunities to apply theory, participate in learning communities of inquiry, and gain from the knowledge and experiences from incoming faculty and other national leaders who serve as distinguished lecturers.

"The Roueche Community College Leadership Program has long been a national leader in the preparation of community college administrators who make a positive difference in their institutions and the communities they serve."Dr. Jerry Johnson, Chair, K-State Department of Educational Leadership, and Lydia E. Skeen Endowed Professor in Education

The Leadership Team

Community College Leadership Program

John E. Roueche, Ph.D.
Executive Director

Margaretta B. Mathis, Ph.D.
Senior Director
512-599-4322
mbmathis1@k-state.edu

Dora Pérez, Ph.D.
Assistant Director, Programs and Projects
512-599-4322
dperez1@ksu.edu