Community Based Programming Perceived Levels Of Utility Practice And Encouragement Among North Carolina Community College Mid Level Managers

The purpose of this study was to measure the degree to which community-based programming as formulated by ACCLAIM Model fundamental conceptual components is perceived and practiced by North Carolina Community College System mid-level managers. A thirteen-item questionnaire was used to access mid-level manager perceptions regarding community-based programming in three separate yet related contexts: (1) Does community-based programming have utility, (2) Is community-based programming being practiced, and (3) Are mid-level managers encouraged to participate in community-based programming? Bivariate analysis, analysis of variance, and linear regression techniques were used to establish relationships between mid-level manager institutional and personal characteristics and their community-based programming perceptions as measured as well as to determine contribution levels among ACCLAIM Model fundamental conceptual components. Mid-level manager was defined broadly across both academic and non-academic units and included any NCCCS community college manager holding the title of dean, director, or coordinator who was charged with translating and implementing strategies, policies, and decisions of top managers. Mid-level managers by virtue of organizational placement, institutional responsibilities, and predicted future leadership roles are critical to the effective implementation of community-based programming practices. Community-based programming was defined as the process of engaging constituent community groups in the process of planned, self-directed social change, and the ACCLAIM Model, a community-based programming model designed specifically for the community college setting, was used to develop questionnaire items that reflected and gauged mid-level manager perceptions regarding fundamental community-based programming concepts and practices. The study found that NCCCS mid-level managers perceive community-based programming model to have a high degree of utility with.