One aspect of the book that warranted more attention is the vital importance of the role of faculty in the whole institutional effectiveness endeavor. The survey summary supported this by saying, "The No. 1 rated issue related to institutional effectiveness for community colleges was staff commitment and willingness to evaluate college practices."
Embracing the Tiger is a book that every serious community college professional should read. It should be kept on the desks of faculty and administrators alike, for it provides an excellent grouping of actual practices that help community colleges to answer the questions that keep coming: What are we doing?; How do we know?; and How can we be better, more effective, more student-centered, and more accountable to our many publics?
If we don't answer these questions ourselves, there are many external agents who will answer them for us. We truly are riding the tiger of public awareness and public scrutiny.
As Jim Hudgins puts it: "We are inspired by our vision, driven by our goals, and measured by our standards."
If you don't read Embracing the Tiger, you will be at the mercy of your lack of knowledge about the two most important words for community college survival and security as we approach 2000.
This book provides an excellent overview and puts the whole concept into understandable and workable context.
Dr. John Garmon is the vice president or educational programs at Seminole Community College in Sanford, Fla.
COPYRIGHT 1998 Cox, Matthews & Associates© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
