A Call to Community College Trustees
We cordially invite you to take part in the largest research study on community college trustees in almost 25 years. Community College Trustees - Mission, Values, and Decision-Making in Uncertain Times – is a much-anticipated national study and we are endeavoring to include the insight and experience of every community college trustee, in every state throughout the U.S.

Origins of the Study
The study replicates and expands upon the seminal work of George Vaughan and Iris Weisman’s 1997 national surveys of trustees, board chairs, and college presidents. Their findings were published by ACCT as the book Community College Trustees: Leading on Behalf of Their Communities. The work remains the most comprehensive and influential examination of community college trustees and their beliefs, values, and decision-making processes. With permission, our research replicates and updates their study and will provide valuable new information regarding the governance of community colleges.
Meet the Team
This study represents years of careful planning, collaboration, and preparations made by a team of highly skilled and dedicated researchers who are renowned subject matter experts.
Regina L. Garza Mitchell, Ed.D., Western Michigan Univ.
Susan T. Kater, Ph.D., League for Innovation; Idaho State Univ.
Carrie B. Kisker, Ph.D., Center for the Study of Community Colleges
Brett Geier, Ed.D., Western Michigan Univ.
About the Survey
The online survey is designed to flow easily from question to question and generally takes between 20 to 45 minutes to complete. Participants who take this survey will be protected with anonymity via the Qualtrics platform; no information can be traced to individual contributors.
Results of the Study
The results from this survey will be aggregated for the nation as a whole and made available to practitioners and scholars as they become available.
Contact Us
On behalf of community colleges and students across the country, we extend our sincere appreciation for the time and effort of the trustees who selflessly serve in this vital capacity. We would be happy to answer your questions and provide additional information. Please contact a member of our team directly to request a survey link or for additional information. We look forward to hearing from you!
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regina.garzamitchell@wmich.edu
rebekahgruel@isu.edu , Research Assistant