The New Role of Community College Business Officers

Community college business officers of the past were once considered bean counters.  Their job description could be encapsulated as ‘the people in the background that count the money, balance the books, and create the budget.’  The business officer, of yesterday, seldom ventured from their desk or interacted with others.  Times have changed.

Today’s community college business officer is still responsible for business operations, balancing the books, and stretching the dollar – but this is only a fraction of their responsibility. Business officers are now responsible for most of the administrative functions of the college. These may include: human resources, information technology, facilities, campus police, institutional effectiveness, grants, marketing, continuing education, and contract training. Managing these areas of the college often require a different skill set than what has traditionally been recommended. 

  

What does this mean for future business officers?  It means that those seeking to move into this role must be nimble and flexible.  They must, with intentionality, pursue community engagement, business partnerships and student involvement.  The business officer of tomorrow should be willing, and able, to fundraise, negotiate contracts, and manage complex situations.  In short, future business officers must be problem solvers.  They should be the go-to person for the president, the college, the community, and the students.  The new community college business officer must learn to be productive, even with ambiguity, and willing to take risks with limited resources.  

The American Association of Community Colleges recent convention was entitled ‘Our Camelot Moment’.  The question that must be answered by future community college business officers is this – are you ready to take center stage?