The role of the Kansas community college in economic development: Community and college perceptions

The premises for this study are that: (1) There is a difference in community college economic development activity and the level of awareness of this activity by community. (2) There are differences in how community college and community define the role of community colleges in economic development. (3) There are differences between rural and urban Kansas community colleges in both perception and actual economic development activity. (4) There are differences in the level of economic development activity of the Kansas community college based on the economic conditions of the community. (5) There are differences between and among the various geographic locales of Kansas community colleges and the college's involvement in economic development activity. (6) There are differences in economic development activities at Kansas community colleges based on the enrollment of the community college.;Using a fifty-eight item survey, Kansas community college presidents, county commission chairpersons, and chamber of commerce executives within the community college county were surveyed. (1) There was a difference between college presidents and county commissioners on both awareness of community college activity in economic development and perceptions of importance of community colleges being involved in economic development activity. (2) There was a difference between college presidents and chamber of commerce executives on both awareness of community college activity in economic development and perceptions of importance of community colleges being involved in economic development activity. (3) There was a difference between college presidents and "community representatives" on both awareness of community college activity in economic development and perceptions of importance of community colleges being involved in economic development activity. (4) There were no significant differences in level of economic development activity of the community college and geographic location, enrollment size, economic conditions, rural or urban status of community, or new or old status of college. (5) The economic development perception gaps exist between community and college because of a lack of mutual communication between the two entities.