Presidents’ Round Table of African-American CEOs
An Affiliate of the National Council on Black American Affairs of the American Association of Community Colleges
A Nationwide Network of African-American Leadership and Expertise
Strategic Plan 2010-2015
BACKGROUND
The Presidents’ Round Table of African American Community College CEOs (PRT), an affiliate of the National Council on Black American Affairs (NCBAA), was founded in 1983. The primary objective of the NCBAA is to provide service to and representation for African Americans in community colleges. The PRT was established by CEOs who were members of NCBAA with the purpose of bringing together African American community college CEOs in an effort to ensure their success as college leaders. The original group consisted of 22 African American CEOs in 1983 to more than 125 provosts, presidents, and chancellors in 2010 in the United States, Bermuda, and Jamaica. The membership has been expanded to include senior level administrators in multi-college and multi-campus districts.
THE PLANNING PROCESS
At the April 2009 PRT meeting during the AACC Convention in Phoenix, Arizona, the convener initiated and charged a Strategic Planning team with developing a plan for the PRT. This planning process was to be expedited in collaboration with the NCBAA. The work of the team was accomplished through electronic communiqués and virtual meetings. The team agreed to use S.O.A.R. (Strength, Opportunities, Aspirations and Results), an Appreciative Inquiry tool, to facilitate the information gathering from various stakeholders. The first stakeholder meeting consisted of 23 Presidents’ Round Table members and was conducted during the October 2009 meeting in Chicago, Illinois. In addition, the S.O.A.R. instrument was electronically forwarded to stakeholder groups including Presidents’ Round Table members not present in Chicago, the NCBAA membership, and the AACC Board of Directors. The raw data from the stakeholder groups were open coded and analyzed. The selective coding process yielded several common themes which emerged from the stakeholders’ feedback. These themes were categorized and presented in the draft strategic plan for discussion and review at the special midyear meeting held in January 2010 in Dallas, Texas, where mission and vision statements were amended as well. The strategic plan is to be finalized at the regular meeting in Seattle in April 2010.
VISION
The Presidents’ Round Table will become the international leader in assuring the rich legacy of developing and sustaining African American leaders while supporting and advancing the needs of students in community colleges.
VALUES
• Advocacy that advances the diversity agenda through fair and equitable policies, programs, and processes
• Integrity and the highest standards of ethical behavior in all endeavors
• Excellence in leadership and stewardship to expand organizational capacity
• History and Cultural Context that supports rich and nurturing traditions of the African American community and leadership
• Innovation for courageous and creative approaches to the mission of community colleges
MISSION STATEMENT
The Presidents’ Round Table provides leadership development and retention initiatives for African American executives, responds to issues affecting the communities we serve, and supports the goals and objectives of the National Council of Black American Affairs.
STRATEGIC DIRECTIONS
Strategic Direction 1:
Increase the number of African Americans in executive level leadership positions in community colleges while providing support for currently serving CEOs .
Objectives
1.1 Identify funding sources for expansion of the Lakin Institute.
1.2 Build an organizational system that links the NCBAA Mid-level Managers Institute with the Lakin Institute.
1.3 Provide formal professional development activities for CEOs in their first CEO position and continuing professional development activities for continuing CEOs.
1.4 Provide safe spaces for members facing challenging issues to decompress and obtain support and feedback.
Strategic Direction 2:
Enhance the access and success of African American students in community colleges through continued implementation of the African American Male Initiative.
Objectives
2.1 Seek continuous funding for the initiative.
2.2 Identify exemplary programs throughout the country and develop and disseminate a compendium of best practices.
2.3 Develop a national retention/educational success program for African American males using PRT member organizations.
2.4 Evaluate and assess the program for continuous improvement and enhancement.
Strategic Direction 3:
Implement measures to ensure the financial viability and independence of the organization.
Objectives
3.1 Identify and implement a financially viable membership dues structure.
3.2 Seek and obtain corporate members.
3.3 Obtain 501 (c) 3 status.
3.4 Obtain 90% membership of African American CEOs.
3.5 Develop a marketing strategy to generate substantial revenue.
Strategic Direction 4:
Ensure the operational effectiveness, continuous improvement, and visibility of the organization.
Objectives
4.1 Identify resources to fund administrative staff and support personnel to assist in advancing the vision, mission, and strategic directions.
4.2 Develop a regular cycle of strategic plan development and review of progress toward objectives. 4.3 Take deliberate actions to strengthen the relationship with NCBAA.
4.4 Review biennially and abide by newly established constitution and by-laws.
4.5 Ensure that members are actively involved in AACC, NCBAA, and other national boards to secure a voice for the organization.
4.6 Provide consistent and periodic training for the PRT membership to ensure high levels of inhouse leadership and succession planning.
Convener
Dr. Helen Benjamin
Chancellor Contra Costa Community College District
Secretary
Dr. Andrew C. Jones
Executive Vice Chancellor of Educational Affairs Dallas County Community College District
Treasurer
Dr. Thelma Scott-Skillman
President Folsom Lake College
Thomas Lakin Institute Coordinator
Dr. Charlene Dukes
President Prince George’s Community College
Membership Chairperson
Dr. Kenneth H. Atwater
President South Mountain Community College
NCBAA Liaison
Dr. Carolane Williams
President Baltimore City Community College
Past Conveners
Dr. Charles A. Green
Dr. Richard Turner, III
Dr. Earl Bowman
Dr. Eileen Baccus
Dr. Roy Phillips
Dr. Belle Wheelan
Dr. Jack E. Daniels, III
Dr. Janis M. Hadley
Dr. Charles A. Taylor
500 Court Street, Martinez, California 94553
phone: (925) 229-1000 ext. 1210
fax: (925) 370-2019
E-mail: hbenjamin@4cd.edu
