THE MANY HATS OF A CEO

JUST WHAT IS THIS JOB ANYWAY?

ROLES, RESPONSIBILITIES, OPPORTUNITIES

Dr. Dianne Van Hook – April 3, 2015

In this session of LEAP, we will
explore:
• The many roles/responsibilities of the Community College
CEO
• The different functions of a campus-level president and
district-level Chancellor
• What a CEO actually DOES: An up-close view of the daily
life of the CEO on campus
• Off-campus responsibilities of the CEO
• The Roles of a CEO are Ever-Changing

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 The Many Roles &
Responsibilities of the
Community College CEO

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A CEO Provides Leadership
The CEO has the primary responsibility for the quality of the institution they
lead.

They:
• Provide effective leadership in planning,
organizing, budgeting, selecting and
developing personnel, and assessing
institutional effectiveness.
• Plan, oversee, and evaluate an
administrative structure organized and
staffed to reflect the institutions’
purposes, size and complexity.
• Delegate authority to administrators and
others consistent with their
responsibilities, as appropriate.

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A CEO Guides Improvement
The CEO guides institutional
improvement of the teaching and
learning environment by:
• Establishing processes that set values,
goals, and priorities.
• Ensuring that evaluation and planning
rely on high-quality research and
analysis
• Ensuring that educational planning is
integrated with resource planning and
distribution to achieve student
learning outcomes
• Establishing procedures to evaluate
overall institutional planning and
implementation efforts
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A CEO Provides Vision
for the Future

CEOs must have vision

• They share a dream and direction that other people
want to share and follow
• The leadership vision goes beyond the institution’s
mission statement and our personal vision statement:
o The vision of leadership sets the tone for the
workplace and is manifested in the actions, beliefs,
values and goals of all of the organization’s leaders,
especially the CEO.
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A CEO Initiates Policy
By:
• Identifying broad policy implications
inherent in issues and agenda items
(presented for board discussion)

• Establishing and managing a

system for periodic review of Board
policy

• Moving forward actions to shape

the face of the college.
A CEO must be ready and
willing to do what it takes
to get the job done.

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 A CEO Shapes Change
By
• Understanding that changing an
organization is about getting the right
people on board with them.
• Finding agile leaders and mentoring
them to be inspired and invigorated by
change.
• Sharing a clear and powerful vison of
their organization’s future -
communicating the vision is just as
important as the vision itself.
• Leading conversations with the goal of
transparently discussing upcoming
changes.
• Adjusting the course of their colleges
and navigating accordingly in the face of
change.

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In order to shape change, CEOs share their vision to motivate and inspire
others. They believe “Pigs Can Fly”!

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“I can’t change the direction
of the wind, but I can adjust
my sails.”

-Jimmy Dean
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A CEO Orchestrates Planning Efforts
By
• Anticipating and articulating future
trends and needs
• Leading and managing visionary and
comprehensive planning processes
• Articulating the mission, vision and
goals
• Working in partnership with the board
and ensuring that:
o Planning responds to current and
future community needs
o All district plans are linked
o College operations and budgets
are aligned with plans
• Building for the future
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A CEO Oversees Legal Affairs
A Leader Stays Abreast of Legal Actions
& Provides Counsel and:

• Recommends appropriate legal counsel to advise

the board
• Informs the board of legal counsel used to advise
the college
• Informs the board of threats of legal action and
lawsuits
• Keeps the board informed of progress on and
outcomes of legal matters
• Prepares summaries and analyses that review all
options for the board when board action is
required on legal issues
• Ensures that the district has adequate liability
protection
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A CEO Copes with the Laws and
Ensures that the District:
• Abides by local, state and federal laws and legal
intent
• Uses legal counsel prudently
• Is aware of laws and regulations that affect the
institution
• Informs the board and new trustees about major
laws and regulations
• Ensures that administrative procedures exist and are
followed to comply with the law and regulations
• Monitors compliance and report to the board
• Advises the board about laws and regulations that
affect the board

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 A CEO Ensures the Fiscal
Responsibility for the Institution
• Promotes fiscal health and stability in:
o Budgeting
o Financial activity
o Asset protection and management
o Fundraising and grants
o Monitoring fiscal health
• Establishes and enforces administrative
procedures that implement board policy and
ensure the legal, ethical and prudent
management of college resources
• Presents clear and informative budgets and
reports to the board
• Keeps the board informed about the financial
status of the district
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A CEO Inspires Educational Programs
that Meet the Community’s Needs
By providing:
• General Oversight
• Fair Treatment of Students
• Inspirational Academic Programs & Services
• Accountability for the Institutional Effectiveness

Educational
programming runs the
gamut from honors to
launching
photomicrography
programs (right).

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A CEO Promotes the Institution
As leaders, our overarching goal is to make sure that everything
we do relates back to these four goals and delivers what we
promise to our students and the community (measure and
communicate results)
• Opportunity
• Quality
• Accountability
• Sustainability

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A CEO Manages Conflict
By
• Understanding different perspectives
until a solution emerges
• Handling difficult people and tense
situations tactfully
• Identifying potential conflicts and
helping to de-escalate the situation
• Encouraging and leading open
discussions
• Working for win-win solutions while
maintaining high standards

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 A CEO Communicates Accurately
A leader must pay attention to the quality of their communication.

Tips for successful communication

include:
• Remain approachable and flexible
• Prepare in advance
• Stay focused on the “big picture”
• Recognize opportunities
• Take planned risks
• Share ideas
• Ask questions
• Express gratitude
• Don’t embellish or exaggerate
• Avoid inaccuracies

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A CEO Creates Teamwork and Inspires
Collaboration
By:
• Modeling respect, helpfulness, and cooperation
• Ensuring teams work well so that turnover and
absenteeism decline and productivity increases
• Inspiring strong teamwork and collaborative
skills:
o Drawing all members into actual participation
o Building a team identity and commitment
o Protecting the group and sharing credit

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A CEO Initiates Change
A self-leader realizes that empowerment is not
something that is done to you, it is something you do
for yourself. One finds the “power” in empowerment
when one:

• Takes risks and gains insight

• Takes responsibility and achieves freedom
• Takes initiative and creates opportunity
• Takes your own counsel and discovers wisdom

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 A CEO Initiates Change
In a world crying out for effective leadership,
you need to begin with the most obvious
source – YOU!

• Begin by questioning the emotional reality

and cultural norms underlying daily
activities and behaviors
• Initiate change by:
o Recognizing the need for change
o Challenging the status quo
o Making compelling arguments for
change
o Finding practical ways to overcome
barriers to change

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CEOs recognize the need for change and embrace “new-fangled ideas”!

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A CEO Raises Funds and Friends
This important duty has many facets and
requires that the CEO:
• Contributes time (20%)
• Makes contact to see where
collaboration with prospects may lead
• Opens doors
• Supports the work of volunteers
• Creates stretch goals
• Mentors staff
• Involves others
o Institutional advancement, College
Planning Team, Executive Cabinet,
Full Cabinet.
• Makes connections, introduces and
brings people together

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A CEO Inspires Others (&
Themselves!)
Inspiration is a powerful component of the
CEO’s repertoire. It:
• Works as a catalyst
• Seldom comes from “one thing”
• Allows you to employ various techniques
• Works best when there is an
end/goal/purpose-student success
• Is highly contagious
• Gives you “role power”
• Is driven by human emotion

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 A CEO Influences Others
By:
• Managing emotions effectively
• Skillfully winning people over by listening
and networking with them
• Fine tuning what they are going to say to
appeal/respond to the listeners
• Willingly uses a variety of strategies to build
support

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“How many of us have enough
trust, strength and faith to
believe that we could do the
impossible?”
-Rachel Joy Scott

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A CEO Thrives in a Connected World
We are living in a connected world. The role of the CEO in today’s world takes on
new challenges and demands:
• Speed and agility are essential due to shorter and shorter timelines
• The need for new ways of diagnosing and solving problems
• The need to forge new solutions since other have become obsolete
• Competency in envisioning and achieving goals stretching beyond the initial
problem, beyond organizational walls
• The need to think for the long term despite uncertainties about the future
• The need to be interdependent and involve perspective early on
• The ability to dialog and negotiate with familiar and unfamiliar people and
groups
• The ability to face un-paralled ethical dilemmas, unimagined circumstances,
relationships and opportunities

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The Different Functions
of a Campus-Level
President and a District-
Level Chancellor

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How do Functions of a Campus-level
President and District-level
Chancellor Differ?
President (College Level) Superintendent/Chancellor
(District Level)

Works for the Chancellor Works for the Board

Focuses on what is happening Focuses on what is happening

at the college level on a district-wide basis, in the
community and at the
State/Federal levels

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What Are the Differences Between a
Single v. Multi-Campus District?
Single (Superintendent/President) Multi (Chancellor)
Simpler Complicated
Few intra-college struggles On-site competition and raiding
of resources
Easier to communicate People are less familiar with
each other
More flexible Complicated
Takes fewer steps to get it done Everything takes longer

One college one focus Accountability is more difficult

No inter-campus competition

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District Level CEOs Must Communicate
to the Board of Trustees
• Keeps the Board informed regarding College
issues including problems, potential problems,
positive accomplishments and events on
campus
• Provides recommendations regarding polices
and issues which come to the Board of Trustees
• Relays objective and factual information to the
Board on agenda action items to allow them to
make an informed decision
• Works with the Board to develop guidelines and
parameters for the collective bargaining process
• Asks for advice and support when he/she needs
it
• Publicly supports the Board
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Why is CEO/Board of Trustees Teamwork
Important?
From a CEO Perspective:
• Provides counsel and support, both
within the college district as well as in
the community
• Ensures that credibility is maximized for
all concerned
• Motivates and inspires
• Serves as a resource for each other
• Creates a climate for developing
effective strategies

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Why is CEO/Board of Trustees Teamwork
Important?
From a Trustee Perspective:
• Establishes a climate which ensures stability in
Trustee, CEO, and Administrative leadership
• Serves to motivate and support CEO/Board of
Trustees
• Enhances college district standing in the
community
• Creates a political impact -- forging a base of
support for the college district
A strong relationship
• Enables trustees to accomplish individual goals between the CEO and
the Board members
(and Board goals) allows both sides to
• Moves the District toward its strategic goals accomplish individual
goals as well as Board
• Creates fiscal stability, flexibility and a responsive goals.

District
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Why is CEO/Board of Trustees Teamwork
Important?
From Anyone’s Perspective:
• Provides the ability to observe the impact the
college has had on students’ lives and the
community
• Helps to build relationships with people in the
community
• Provides structure to implement ideas and see
them work
• Creates a feeling of pride
• Allows others to participate in a focused effort
to move the college forward
• Makes differences in ways no other
organization can
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What a CEO actually DOES:
An up-close view of the daily life of
the CEO on campus

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 “Always bear in mind that your own
resolution to succeed is more important
than any other.”
~Abraham Lincoln

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A CEO Supports & Coaches the College’s
Greatest Resource–Human Beings
The area of Human Resources includes all personnel and employment issues, and is
subject to numerous state and federal laws and regulations.
• The CEO works with the Board to address:
o Hiring and other personnel practices
o Treatment of personnel
o Professional development
o Salaries, benefits and collective bargaining

• The CEO ensures that personnel recruitment and hiring

processes are:
o Fair, legal, and comply with laws
o Result in good applicant pools
o Reflect well on the institution

• The CEO seeks to achieve that staff diversity reflects college and
community populations.
• The CEO forwards personnel actions to the board as required;
informs the board about other key personnel issues.
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 Supervising the College’s Greatest Resource–
Human Beings
By helping others to be right – versus looking for things that are wrong;
and:
• Looking for ways to make new ideas work rather than reasons why they won’t
• Avoiding negative or preconceived assumptions (when in doubt, checks it out!)
• Helping each team member win and take pride in others’ victories
• Speaking positively about each other and the organization at every opportunity
• Maintaining a positive mental attitude no matter what the circumstances
• Acting with initiative and courage, as if it all depends on you
• Doing everything with enthusiasm – it’s contagious.

Whatever you desire – power, respect,

enthusiasm, compassion, recognition – give it
away first. What goes around comes around.

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A CEO Invests Time and Effort in
Developing Others
By:
• Acknowledging and rewarding people’s strengths and
accomplishments
• Offering helpful feedback
• Identifying and sharing opportunities for further growth
• Mentoring, coaching, and offering tasks that challenge and
develop a person’s skills

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 A CEO Develops Meaningful
Relationships

By recognizing that:
• People matter!
• We don’t get it done alone
• We need followers and leaders
• When all is said and done, it is
the relationships, the
memories of time with others
that we will hold onto that will
motivate us

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A CEO Gets Involved!
Governing and community based
organizations require boards and CEO’s
to be active participants in their
communities and ensure strong college-
community connections.

• Community relations roles and tasks

may involve:
o Community engagement
o Marketing and media relations
o Foundation support
o Formulating partnerships

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A CEO Empowers Others
By being an advocate, being present,
communicating goals to the team;
and
• Taking an active role in helping to
define the goals of the team.
• Using their skills to complement
the skills of other team members.
• Taking responsibility for team
progress.
• Being willing to play the role of
devil’s advocate when necessary.

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A CEO Leads on All Fronts

The CEO Leader

• Serves as an active community leader
• Participates in state and/or national
associations and conferences
• Becomes involved in state and/or national
leadership positions where there is a
vacuum
• Figures out where their passion and
expertise will best benefit others
• Blazes trails
• Discovers new territory

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 Off-campus
Responsibilities of the
CEO

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 On-Campus Duties Are Many!
• Direct & choreograph
• Put partnerships together
• Coach/counsel
• Listen to other people
• Respond to mandates,
compliance & requirements
• Balance & negotiate
• Envision & break ground
• Develop strategy
• Listen to other people
• Develop solutions
• Mentor
• Oversee day-to-day operations
• Manage risks (legal issues)

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Off-Campus Duties Keep the CEO
Moving!
• Plant seeds, cultivate
• Community Relations
• Advocate
• Attend events w/business
partners & donors
• Manage media relations
• Market
• Fundraise
• Friend-raise
• Build relationships
• Make deals
• Create alliances
• Develop partnerships

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 “Confidence comes not from
always being right, but from not
fearing to be wrong.”
- Peter McIntyre

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 Off Campus: The Responsibilities
of the CEO Continue!
In addition to their on-campus scope of duties, the CEO is also responsible for:
• Community relations and involvement
• Advocacy – local and statewide

Off-campus duties run the gamut from

attending COC driven fundraisers to events
sponsored by the City, individuals and our
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A CEO is the Chief Advocate within the
Policy and Political Domain
Legislative Relations Matter!

• The CEO can shape possibilities

• Legislative support is important for institutional success
• The Board and CEO play key roles in working with legislators and garnering support. The
area of legislative relations includes:
o Understanding policy trends and issues
o Establishing and communicating priorities and needs
o Advocating on behalf of the institution
• The CEO establishes processes and stays up-to-date on policy issues and trends
• The CEO monitors and gathers relevant information
• The CEO ensures the board is aware of policy issues and trends
o Provides summaries of key points
o Forwards legislative alerts and other relevant information to the board
• The CEO designs Board agendas to allow time to discuss issues
• The CEO provides background and analysis of key initiatives to enable the Board to take a
position
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A CEO Focuses on Process and Case
Building

By
• Evaluating the context
• Developing the strategy
• Setting the priorities
• Delineating functions
• Communicating the message
• Building support and buy-in
• Clearly articulating the impact
• Thanking people

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A CEO Drives Community Relations

By:
• Ensuring that district programs respond to community
needs
• Advocating for and supporting the college in the
community
• Establishing the college district as the face of the
community
• Maintaining links with business, government and
community leaders
• Leading and administering programs that:
• Reflect a positive image for the college Strong relationships with
• Engender community support for the college community partners such as
ADI have proved to be fruitful
• Ensure strong college and community connections in both funds and friends.

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 A CEO is a Public Figure On and Off
Campus Don’t be
The successful CEO is visible and strategic on invisible!
Reach out,
campus, in the community, and at state and
attend
national events; and: meetings,
• Attends student and faculty events parties,
• Represents the college district as the classes.
official “face” of the college
• Deals with ambiguity
• Demonstrates awareness and compassion
• Able to deal with ambiguity
• Networks
• Inspires others
• Fuels others’ creativity and actions
• Inspires, motivates, and gives people hope
• Generates momentum
• Draws others in to join

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The Roles of a CEO
are Ever-changing –
You Have to
Navigate the
Waters!

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The Roles of a CEO are Ever-changing!
A successful CEO is able to work in a climate where the
multiplicity of roles they fulfill is ever-changing.

CEOs possess a wide range of skills, abilities,

strengths, and attributes:

• Analytical mind
• Critical thinker
• Commitment to the community and the
college system
• Excellent planning skills
• Resourceful
• Energetic
• Determined and tenacious
• Fiscally and politically astute
…and, an ability to wear many hats!

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 “You are not what you
think you are, but what you
think – you are.”
~Dr. Norman Vincent Peale

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