For nearly 40 years, The Presidents’ Roundtable (PRT) has provided a network for African American leaders in higher education. In the beginning, the founder, Dr. Chuck Green, sought to provide support for African American leaders with the sole purpose of improving the success of those leaders and the African American students they serve. I am pleased to say that we still adhere to that original mission. Annually, the PRT offers the Lakin Institute for Mentored Leadership and the Men of Color Student Leadership Institute. The question is, can we, or rather, should we do more? After conversations with our membership, the answer is yes! If we want different results, we have to do things differently.
The PRT is a collective of powerful voices that can have broader impact—this fact was impetus for revisiting the strategic direction of the PRT. Our approach for the development of this strategic plan included:
The results of these inputs have informed the strategic themes, goals, objectives and tactics for the PRT Strategic Plan 2021-2024. Our goal is to reimagine the organization and leverage its membership to create an intentional mission: strengthen and develop Black leaders in community colleges to transform the landscape of higher education.
It will take all of us to make achieve our mission. Our hope is that you will partner with the Executive Committee to implement this ambitious, but attainable strategic plan.
The PRT is dedicated to offering Black Community College Presidents an operation network that:
Strategic Theme: Organizational Vitality
Strategic Goal: The PRT will build organizational capacity to sustain the mission and vision for its members
Establish a sustainable organizational infrastructure
Identify opportunities to diversify revenue streams
Bolster technology to advance the mission and vision of the PRT
Strategic Theme: Advocacy
Strategic Goal: The PRT will develop and implement an advocacy agenda to support the members and students of color
Develop programs or presentations to be considered for sponsorship and co- sponsored by PRT for national and regional organizations (AACC, NCORE, NCBAA, ACE or others)
Connect future actions of the organization, where appropriate, to the AACC competencies
Develop an entrepreneurial approach to partnering with businesses, organizations, philanthropies, and government agencies that help sustain PRT members and students
Develop an equity lens for the organization focused on its members and students of color
Create a network of thought leaders to drive public policy in statewide and national issues that affect community colleges
Implement resource database of resources for presidents (i.e. union negotiations, board relations, etc.)
Strategic Theme: Professional Development
Strategic Goal: The PRT will continue to create intentional, strategic opportunities for professional development anchored in the AACC Core Competencies and designed to support the members and students of color
Continue to invest in the brand and curriculum of the Lakin Institute
Provide ongoing education and training opportunities for PRT members in
relevant and timely areas in the industry
Continue to enhance the leadership development for students of color
Strategic Theme: Membership Benefits and Engagement
Strategic Goal: The PRT will develop and implement a communication and engagement strategy designed to sustain and grow the membership
Develop a robust communication plan via social media or similar modalities
Leverage the talents of the membership to broaden and elevate the mission and vision of the PRT
Develop a member engagement plan via virtual or in-person activities/events