Why do community colleges need so many vice presidents?

[raccoon]

I heard the local community college added a few recently.

Some years ago, the state required the college to cut their budget way back. The college let three vice presidents go.

Are vice presidential positions just big-paying jobs that big shots create for their little friends? I'm sure some of them do work that is really necessary. But if the college let three of them go, it makes me wonder.

Of course, that made the most sense. You'd have to let tons of the peons go to equal the salaries of three vice presidents.

[bottomofthehill]

1. Lots of potential reasons

Our local community college (Nova) has over 55000 students at last count. As community colleges are a more affordable start towards a degree and a career, stage numbers of students are exploding.

Also, there are more non-academic positions sprouting us as the numbers grow and the title of Dean does not always fit the position.

There too is the simple old, hiring because I can too, but that goes on in both public and private community colleges, colleges and universities.

[Yonnie3]

2. I've wondered the same

PVCC (Central Va.) seemed to have gotten rid of most of the full time faculty, replacing them with adjunct instructors. Upon the announcement of yet another vice-president, my full time business professor quipped that the next hire would be Vice-President of the coffee kiosk. He was the only full timer I met there. This was more than a decade ago.

I am hoping someone knowledgeable posts in this thread.

[tblue37]

6. 75% of all undergraduate courses are now being taught by non-tenure track instructors--

either TAs or poorly paid adjunct faculty.

[Yonnie3]

7. Thanks!

and poorly benefited too.

[tblue37]

8. Often no benefits, and no office or office support. Gypsy Scholars are adjuncts

who cobble together a bare living traveling from one college or community college to another each day to teach classes. Some have no office, no place to meet with students, and no use of copy machines, departmental office staff, etc.

Needless to say, their ability to meet their student's needs is compromised, no matter how skilled and dedicated they are.

[Yonnie3]

9. I had several who went back and forth between UVA and the community college.

My experience (as a student) was in the early 2000s. No doubt it remained the same or worsened.

[Hoyt]

3. One reason is that it is cheaper to give someone a lofty sounding title than a pay increase.

I once worked at a place that thought they were doing me a favor by offering me a similar "title." I told them I didn't care what they called me, I'd rather have a pay increase without a worthless/stuffy/crappy sounding title.

[DBoon]

4. I've heard banks do that a lot

many many "vice presidents" none of whom are really paid all that great

[Hoyt]

5. Walk into a bank with four people -- three are "VPs" and one a teller.