New York Community College Trustees

Who We Are and What We Do

NYCCT: Who are we?

The New York Community College Trustees, Inc. (NYCCT) represents the appointed board members who govern the 30 community colleges in the State University of New York (SUNY) higher educational system and the City University of New York (CUNY) Board of trustees that governs the six (6) community colleges within the CUNY system. The boards of trustees of the 36 community colleges are appointed by either the Governor or the sponsor (usually the county or city). In addition, every College Board has an elected student trustee.

NYCCT is voluntary nonprofit consortium of community college trustees establish to strengthen the effectiveness of New York college trustees to be an active force in the development and implementation of public policy impacting community colleges.

Community colleges are comprehensive, open access institutions, offering transfer, career training, and continuing education courses. Community colleges' operating costs are shared by the state, local sponsor (usually the county where the student resides) and the student.

Mission

To strengthen the trustees of community colleges through education, advocacy and communication.

Vision
NYCCT will be valued force in the development and implementation of governance, trustee education and policy impacting community colleges.

Core Values (in no priority order)
• Community college boards should seek to deliver educational services that encourage economic development, while maintaining the comprehensive nature of the public community colleges in New York.
• Public community colleges should remain locally governed by boards of trustees who are appointed by either the Governor or Sponsor and funded from three primary sources: state revenue, local tax revenue and tuition. Trustees should delegate administrative responsibilities to the President while reserving for their boards the task of deciding the ends or aims of the college.
• Community college boards should systematically and continuously assess local education needs and ensure access higher education.
• Recognizing that trusteeship is an art and a science, each board should participate in continual NYCCT education activities in order to enhance their skills.
• Trustees should be involved in representing college' needs and achievements to elected officials, especially local and state lawmakers.
• The boards have a responsibility to be careful stewards of the tax and tuition dollars which support the institutions.

Membership

NYCCT has strong membership participation, with all 30 of the state's community colleges and CUNY paying dues to belong to the Association, and thus eligible to participate in NYCCT activities.

ENDS Membership Expectation Policy

1. Trustee Skills and Knowledge
Because of NYCCT, trustees will acquire the skills and knowledge to master their role as board members:
a. Trustees will learn and communicate effectively using current technology.
b. Trustees will become effective advocates.
c. Trustees will received orientation and continuing education concerning the local, state, and national aspects of their role including participation at ACCT
d. Trustees will be knowledgeable about trends and issues affecting community colleges.
e. Boards will lead effectively through policy.
f. Boards will create an environment that ensures outstanding CEO leadership.

2. Leadership Standards
Because of NYCCT, members will exemplify a standard of leadership behavior that is ethical, and that values and reflects diversity:

a. Trustees will value diversity, including race, gender, religion, language, socioeconomic status, ethic background, physical or mental condition, marital status or gender preference.
b. Governing boards will adopt a code of ethics.

3. Public Policy
Because of NYCCT, boards of trustees will develop and affect public policy on the local, state, national, and international level for the achievement of the mission and goals of their institutions:

a. Boards will develop policy guiding community college use of emerging communication, administrative, and educational technologies.
b. Boards will develop policy guiding the establishment of partnerships to advance the educational, economic and workforce development, and social goals of their institutions.
c. Boards will pursue public policy that creates governance systems that are the most accountable and most responsive to local communities.
d. Boards are viewed as an authority on educational policy.
e. Boards will pursue public policy that allows community colleges to respond to their community's unmet needs regardless of level, scope, and content of the educational program.
f. Boards will pursue public policy that allows institutions to be flexible, competitive, and innovative in fulfilling their missions and fostering partnerships.
g. Boards will pursue public policy that ensures public funding for community colleges at levels that enable them to meet the needs of their communities.
h. Boards will develop institutional policy that leads to the development of students to be competent in a multicultural and diverse environment.

4. Equity and Access
Because of NYCCT boards of trustees will provide leadership to ensure equity and access to quality educational opportunities for all people:

a. Boards will pursue public policies that eliminate economic barriers to access in community colleges.

Governing Structure

The governing body of the corporation is the Board of Delegates comprising Community College Board chair or designee for each member community college.

Annually, the Board of Delegates elects the Board of Directors to control and manage the affairs and property of the Association. The Board of Directors consists of twelve (12) voting members each from a different community college.

The Board of Directors members include the President, President-Elect, Secretary/Treasurer, Past President; the Chairs of the Education Committee, Nominating Committee, Planning and Development Committee and Legislative Advocacy Committee; three (3) members at large and a trustee to represent the CUNY Board of Trustees.

NYCCT: What do we do?

Membership Services

Advocacy
Under the direction of the NYCCT Advocacy Committee, NYCCT promotes an understanding of the New York Community College System and its mission resulting in more state and local resources fro community colleges. We assist local trustees by offering the following services:

• Advocacy Planning Guide
• Annual Advocacy Program in coordination with the State University Board of Trustees and APPCC
• Review of Current Legislative matters affecting the community college system and offering recommended program changes and improvements
• Regular Legislative Update Communication
• Participation in SUNY Day
• Assist ACCT in its federal advocacy program

Awards
The Awards Committee shall establish an annual program that recognizes excellence in community colleges. The series of six awards are given in recognition of individual and/or business/industry/corporation accomplishments on behalf of community college education.

In addition, NYCCT annually sponsors a luncheon for the members of the All- New York Academic Team for Community Colleges of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), which is the national honor society for two-year colleges. The team recognizes scholarly achievements of students enrolled on community, technical and junior colleges who excel in the classroom (3.25 grade point average) and pursue volunteer service and cultural enrichment outside the classroom.

Communications
NYCCT publishes a newsletter six (6) times a year to update the membership on the educational, social, economics, and political trends impacting New York's community colleges. Regular columns include updates from the NYCCT President's Report, Names in the News, the Faculty Council of Community Colleges, SUNY Student Trustee, and the APPCC.

In addition, NYCCT has developed a Board Liaison Program to foster trustee to trustee communication at the state, local, and national level.

Finally, an annual NYCCT Directory lists by community college trustee names, contact information, terms, types of appointment and other pertinent information.

Education & Training

Each fall, trustees participate in the Annual Institute on Trusteeship and Fall Conference. The Institute provides new trustees with skills and knowledge to lead their institutions in these complex times. The conference includes informative workshops and plenary sessions which cover a variety of critical issues important to the policy and fiscal operations of community colleges.

In addition, NYCCT provides a Trustee Handbook and Board Chair training to continuously assist in the trustee development process.