This study examines the public engagement practices of the public community college boards of trustees. The trustees’ perceptions of public engagement were pursued through inquiry within five categories: (a) role and responsibilities, (b) definition of public engagement, (c) public engagement practices, (d) barriers to public engagement, and (e) how to make public engagement more effective. The results of study emerged within five major thematic areas, which have implications for theory and practice—(a) trustee roles, (b) trustee relationships with the public, (c) administrative and organizational structures, (d) leadership, and (e) policy which have implications for theory and practice. Finally, the three key conclusions of this study are (a) trustees do not identify deliberative public engagement as a role priority or a default priority; (b) the role of trustees must be reframed and redefined to include democratic public engagement practices; and (c) the public's role in democratic governance must be reclaimed.

1. Myths and Realities of Democratic Trustee Governance of Public Community Colleges: A National Case Study Presented by Dr. Michelle T. Scott 2008 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting Research on Schools, Neighborhoods, and Communities: Toward Civic Responsibility Thursday, March 27, 2008 New York Marriott Marquis Times Square Broadway Ballroom ©

2. Myths and Realities of Democratic Trustee Governance of Public Community Colleges: A National Case Study Presented by Dr. Michelle T. Scott 2008 American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting Research on Schools, Neighborhoods, and Communities: Toward Civic Responsibility Thursday, March 27, 2008 ©

31. Research Design: Case Study Define and Design Prepare, Collect, Analyze Analyze and Conclude Develop Theory Conduct 1 st Case Study Urban (3) Design Data Collection Protocol Select Cases Conduct 2 nd Case Study Suburban (2) Creighton Public Participation & Mathews Dem. Practice National Issues Forum Institute Community Colleges (5) Write Individual & Intra Case Analysis Report Write Individual & Intra Case Analysis Report Draw Cross Case Conclusion Modified Theory Develop Policy Implications Write Cross Case Report Standardized Individual Interviews Document Review & Analysis Trustees are involved in authentic public engagement practices

37. Inform the public Organize processes for involving the public Select public engagement administrative structure, system, and process for public participation (Creighton, 2005) Listening to the public (Creighton, 2005) Issues that require administrative decision-making & Interaction between an organization making the decision and the public (Creighton, 2005) Identify and define issues in terms of what is most valuable to citizens (Mathews, 2006) Listening to the public (Creighton, 2005) Issues that require administrative decision-making & Interaction between an organization making the decision and the public (Creighton, 2005) Name problems in terms of what is most valuable for the common good (Mathews, 2006) Listening to the public (Creighton, 2005) Issues that require administrative decision-making & Interaction between an organization making the decision and the public (Creighton, 2005) Frame issues to identify all the options (Mathews, 2006) Engaging in problem solving (Creighton, 2005) Participation that allows the public to have an opportunity to impact or influence the decision & Interaction between an organization making the decision and the public (Creighton, 2005) Deliberate publicly to make sound decisions (Mathews, 2006) Developing Agreements (Creighton, 2005) Participation that allows the public to have an opportunity to impact or influence the decision & Interaction between an organization making the decision and the public (Creighton, 2005) Work together over an extended period of time (Mathews, 2006) Listening to the Public (Creighton, 2005) Participation that allows the public to have an opportunity to impact or influence the decision & Interaction between an organization making the decision and the public (Creighton, 2005) Judge results together and civic learning to refine public engagement (Mathews, 2006) Figure 1. Creighton and Mathews Integrated Conceptual Framework for Public Engagement .

42. Realities of Current Public Engagement Practice Role of Institution and Trustees Inform the public Entails institution organizing processes for involving the public and selecting public engagement administrative structure, system, and process for public participation (Creighton, 2005) Role of Institution and Trustees Listening to the public Based on issues that require administrative decision-making and interaction between an organization making the decision and the public; and it involves identifying and defining issues in terms of what is most valuable to the institution (Creighton, 2005; Mathews, 2006) Role of Institution and Trustees Listening to the public Based on issues that require administrative decision-making and interaction between an organization making the decision and the public; and it involves naming problems in terms of what is most valuable for the institution (Creighton, 2005; Mathews, 2006). Role of Institution and Trustees Listening to the public Based on issues that require administrative decision-making and interaction between an organization making the decision and the public; and it involves framing issues to identify all the options (Creighton, 2005; Mathews, 2006). Role of Institution and Trustees Engaging in problem solving Based on participation that allows the public to have an opportunity to impact or influence the decision and interaction between an organization making the decision and the public; and it entails trustees deliberating publicly to make sound decisions (Creighton, 2005; Mathews, 2006). Role of Institution and Trustees Developing agreements Based on participation that allows the public to have an opportunity to impact or influence the decision and interaction between an organization making the decision and the public; and it entails the institution and trustees working together over an extended period of time (Creighton, 2005; Mathews, 2006). Role of Institution and Trustees Listening to the public Based on participation that allows the public to have an opportunity to impact or influence the decision and interaction between an organization making the decision and the public; and it entails institution and trustees judging results together (Creighton, 2005; Mathews, 2006). Figure 1. Current Trustee Public Engagement Practice based on Creighton and Mathews’ Integrated Conceptual Framework for Public Engagement.

43. Visual Realities of the Anatomy of Trustee Public Engagement Town Hall Meetings Board Meeting Chamber Meetings Parades & Socials Church Civic Associations Fundraisers Running for Office Advocacy Policy Development

53. The Reality is that Democratic Trustee Governance of Public Community Colleges is a Myth! ©

55. The Model Role of Institution and Trustees with the Public Listening to engage in problem solving and develop agreements Entails institution with the public organizing processes for involving the public and selecting public engagement administrative structure, system, and process for public participation (Creighton, 2005). Role of Institution and Trustees with the Public Listening to the public Based on issues that require administrative decision-making and interaction between an organization making the decision and the public; and it involves identifying and defining issues in terms of what is most valuable to the public good (Creighton, 2005; Mathews, 2006). Role of Institution and Trustees with the Public Listening to the public Based on issues that require administrative decision-making and interaction between an organization making the decision and the public; and it involves naming problems in terms of what is most valuable for the public good (Creighton, 2005; Mathews, 2006). Role of Institution and Trustees with the Public Listening to the public Based on issues that require administrative decision-making and interaction between an organization making the decision and the public; and it involves framing issues to identify all the options in the interest of the public good (Creighton, 2005; Mathews, 2006). Role of Institution and Trustees with the Public Engaging in problem solving Based on participation that allows the public to have an opportunity to impact or influence the decision and interaction between an organization making the decision and the public; and it entails trustees deliberating with the public to make sound decisions (Creighton, 2005; Mathews, 2006). Role of Institution and Trustees with the Public Developing agreements Based on participation that allows the public to have an opportunity to impact or influence the decision and interaction between an organization making the decision and the public; and it entails the institution and trustees working with the public over an extended period of time (Creighton, 2005; Mathews, 2006). Role of Institution and Trustees with the Public Listening to the public Based on participation that allows the public to have an opportunity to impact or influence the decision and interaction between an organization making the decision and the public; and it entails the institution, trustees and public judging results together and civic learning to refine public engagement process (Creighton, 2005; Mathews, 2006). Figure 3. Democratic Public Engagement Trustee Governance Model