The American College President Study

History and Purpose of the Study

First conducted in 1986, the American College President Study has been carried out roughly every five years by the American Council on Education (ACE), making it one of the most consistent analyses of higher education leadership in the country. The study was established to address the growing need for information about who leads American colleges and universities, what challenges they face, and what paths they took to reach these influential positions.

The ACPS serves multiple stakeholders, including aspiring presidents, governing boards, search firms, researchers, and policymakers who all benefit from understanding the characteristics, experiences, and perspectives of the nation's college and university presidents. By tracking trends over time, the study reveals important shifts in the demographics, qualifications, and challenges facing higher education leaders.

Methodology and Scope

The American College President Study utilizes surveys distributed to presidents of regionally accredited, degree-granting institutions in the United States. The comprehensive questionnaire covers various aspects of the presidency, including personal background, career path, duties, challenges, and satisfaction with their roles.

Recent iterations of the study have included presidents from all institution types, including public two-year colleges, public four-year institutions, private nonprofit two-year and four-year colleges, and private for-profit institutions. This diverse sampling ensures a representative picture of higher education leadership across the different sectors of American higher education.

The data collected is analyzed by researchers to identify patterns and trends. These findings are then published in reports that help inform leadership development programs, board hiring practices, and institutional planning.

Key Demographic Findings

Career Paths and Preparation

The American College President Study consistently reveals the career trajectories and preparation paths of college presidents, offering valuable insights for aspiring leaders. According to recent findings:

• Academic Background: The majority of college presidents continue to have backgrounds in academic affairs, with previous positions such as provost, vice president for academic affairs, or dean being common stepping stones to the presidency.
• President as Previous Role: Nearly half of college presidents have previously held a presidency at another institution, highlighting the increasingly "portable" nature of the presidency and the growing professionalization of the role.
• Highest Degree: The doctoral degree remains a standard qualification for college presidents, with over 80% holding a doctorate. These come in various forms, including PhDs, EdDs, and equivalent degrees from different fields.
• Discipline Background: Presidents come from diverse academic disciplines, though the humanities and social sciences have historically been more represented than STEM fields.

The path to the presidency increasingly blends traditional academic ladder climbing with experiences in other areas, including fundraising, student affairs, and external relations. This evolution reflects the expanding expectations of the modern college president.

Challenges and Responsibilities

Through the American College President Study, researchers have identified the most pressing challenges facing college presidents, which have evolved significantly as higher education has changed:

• Financial Management: Balancing budgets, securing funding, and dealing with declining public support for higher education consistently rank among the top challenges cited by presidents.
• Changing Demographics: Serving increasingly diverse student populations while facing declining traditional student numbers presents significant strategic challenges.
• Demonstrating Value: In an era of increased scrutiny of higher education outcomes, presidents face pressure to demonstrate the return on investment of college education.
• Faculty Relations: Managing relationships with faculty, particularly in context of debates over academic freedom, shared governance, and tenure, remains an ongoing challenge.
• Technological Change: Adapting to new educational technologies and the growth of online learning opportunities while maintaining academic quality requires strategic leadership.

The study also reveals how presidents spend their time, with significant portions devoted to fundraising, external relations, budgeting, and personnel management.

Institutional Differences

A key value of the American College President Study is its ability to highlight differences in the presidency across institutional types:

• Public vs. Private: Public institution presidents typically report greater political involvement and accountability to state systems, while private college presidents often spend more time on fundraising and board relations.
• Research Universities vs. Teaching Institutions: Presidents of research universities often face different challenges related to research funding, graduate education, and global reputation management compared to presidents of teaching-focused institutions.
• Two-Year vs. Four-Year: Community college presidents often emphasize workforce development, community engagement, and access, while four-year college presidents may focus more on student experience and traditional academic measures.

Future of the Presidency

The American College President Study has begun to identify emerging trends that will shape the future of college presidencies:

• Increasing Professionalization: The presidency is increasingly viewed as a profession in itself, with presidents moving between institutions more frequently.
• Greater Diversity in Backgrounds: While academic leaders still dominate, there is growth in presidents coming from business, government, and other non-academic sectors.
• Changing Institutional Models: Alternative education models, competency-based education, and the growing role of technology are creating new leadership demands.
• Proliferation of Responsibilities: Presidents are increasingly expected to address societal issues beyond the campus, including local economic development, civic engagement, and social justice.

Importance for Leadership Development

The insights gained from the American College President Study directly inform leadership development programs across the higher education landscape. Institutions and organizations use the findings to:

• Design preparatory programs that address the actual challenges presidents face
• Identify leadership gaps in underrepresented demographic groups
• Create transition programs for new presidents
• Develop advisory and mentoring programs connecting experienced presidents with emerging leaders
• Inform board training on effective presidential recruitment and support

Organizations such as ACE itself, as well as various higher education associations and graduate programs, have developed leadership initiatives informed by the study's findings. These programs aim to ensure that the next generation of college presidents is prepared to navigate the complex and evolving landscape of American higher education.

Conclusion

The American College President Study stands as an invaluable resource for understanding the state of higher education leadership in the United States. By consistently examining who leads American colleges and universities, how they prepare for their roles, and what challenges they face, this research provides crucial insights as higher education continues to adapt to changing societal needs, economic pressures, and technological developments.

As American colleges and universities face growing scrutiny, financial pressures, and the need to serve increasingly diverse student populations, effective presidential leadership becomes more important than ever. The American College President Study not only documents current trends but also helps institutions prepare for the future by informing leadership development, succession planning, and strategic governance practices.

For anyone interested in the leadership of American higher educationfrom aspiring presidents to governing boards to policy researchersthe American College President Study offers essential data and analysis that illuminates both the current state and future direction of the college presidency.