Walking a Tight Rope: The Role And Functions of the State Director

The chief executive officers for state-level governing or coordinating boards for community colleges hold a variety of titles, including chancellor, vice-chancellor, president, state director, and executive director.Whatever their titles or their degrees of governing responsibility, holders of this position play an important role in the total development and operations of a state's community colleges.As more direct (or even indirect) authority is provided to coordinating or governing boards, more, major decision-making actions are thrust upon state directors.They are often in the forefront of activity involving local community colleges with the state higher education commissions or boards and other state agencies, including state budget officials, public construction officials, members of governors' staffs, and key legislative leaders and their staffs (Charles, 1978, pp.viii-ix).Each morning, the contents of a state director's briefcase and calendar reveal the need for discussions, decisions, and actions on instructional program requests, new facilities, financial support for personnel, and collective bargaining.Contacts must be made with state or national legislative officials, and meetings must be held with other state higher education officials about state and national regulations.Contacts by phone or in person with presidents of local community colleges must be handled, and meetings must be conducted with officials of state business, industrial, and labor organizations.At least a few of the decisions reached each day will affect the state's community colleges.