Some area community colleges are finding the best candidates for their next President are administrators from their own institution.
Colleges like Highland, Moraine Valley Community College, Rock Valley College and Kishwaukee Community College have reached into the ranks of their own administrators to select the next leader of their institution.
Like every other college, they held a national search for their new president. But unlike many colleges, they found their internal candidate was the best option for the community.
Many colleges hire or train their administrators with career advancement in mind says Doug Block, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Highland Community College in Freeport.
“We were a little more keenly aware that that person should have the qualifications and the skills that could make for an effective president or CEO some day and, if not at Highland, at another community college,” says Block.
Having experience at Kishwaukee Community College prior to becoming president became an advantage for current KCC President Tom Choice.
"It was helpful for me. I got a chance to certainly know the college and know the people and know the community," said Choice.
But being an administrator can have its setbacks. Mark Hortsmeyer is Director of College Relations at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills.
"It also can be a disadvantage because the interviewers and the people on-campus know the person very well, so they know the good and the bad." said Hortsmeyer.
Some Illinois colleges will get the chance to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of internal candidates soon. Kishwaukee Community College and McHenry County College are among those starting the process of finding a new president.