Community College Culture: Discovered or Created
By Rick Aman onOne of my favorite quotes about organizational culture comes from Simon Sinek – “Culture, the distinct ways we think, speak, feel, and act TOGETHER — because of what we believe."
Culture is a powerful force within any organization, shaping its identity, guiding its actions, and influencing its outcomes. This is especially true for community colleges, where the culture not only reflects the values of the institution, but also reflects the communities they serve. Having spent years at the helm of the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI), I’ve often considered whether culture is something we discover or create. As community college leaders, understanding this duality is crucial for any of us whether advising or teaching students, or leading the institution. If our future is to guide our institution toward success, the idea of culture is important, maybe critical factor.
Discovered: The Roots of Culture
At its core, community college culture is deeply rooted in the community it serves. When we moved to eastern Idaho as an interim president, I quickly realized that the college’s culture reflected the values, needs, and aspirations of eastern Idaho. Although CEI is a relatively new comprehensive community college formed eight years ago, its history emerged through Idaho’s only technical college, Eastern Idaho Technical College (EITC). My discovery process was akin to peeling back layers of an onion, revealing the foundational beliefs that had guided the technical college for decades, yet as a founding president of CEI, it held the promise of creating a new culture, aligned with the concepts of a comprehensive community college mission.
The culture we "discover" in a community college often includes a commitment to accessibility and affordability encompassing a focus on practical and skill-based education, with a deep connection to local industries. These elements are not imposed but are rather born out of the community’s expectations and historical context. For CEI, this meant understanding the rural roots of our region overlaid with the presence of Idaho National Laboratory (INL). INL is one of 17 Department of Energy national labs which was located in eastern Idaho 75 years ago. For EITC and now CEI the importance of workforce development, technical skills and the need to provide opportunities for non-traditional students was at our core and discovered.
Leaders should take the time to discover and understand these cultural foundations. We would be wise to listen, observe, and immerse themselves in our communities to appreciate the historic and economic context that formed existing values. This discovery process is not passive; it’s an active engagement with the past and present, allowing leaders to identify what makes their institution unique. If you don’t look, you won’t find your existing culture.
Created: The Future of Culture
While culture has its roots in discovery, it is also something that is continuously emerging and shaped. The culture of an institution like the College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) is not static; it evolves with the times, influenced by leadership, policy decisions, and the collective actions of the entire community including students, faculty, staff, and our broader partners in the region.
At CEI, we recognized the importance of embracing change while staying true to our discovered roots. Transitioning from Eastern Idaho Technical College (EITC) to CEI marked more than a name change; it was a deliberate effort by our voters to create a culture that not only honored our technical college heritage, but also expanded to encompass a broader, more comprehensive two-year educational mission. This meant fostering a culture that values innovation, inclusivity, and student success across all areas of study.
In Eastern Idaho, where our college serves a diverse population, creating this culture required intentional efforts. We introduced new degrees and programs that included transfer of our associate level students into bachelors’ completion with our university partners. We needed to align with the region’s needs, particularly in partnership with the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a leader in nuclear research, technology and energy innovation. Collaborating with INL and our local hospitals, we’ve been able to ensure our programs are relevant, forward-thinking, and beneficial to both our students and the community.
Creating culture is about setting a vision and aligning actions with that vision. At CEI, this involves cultivating an environment where everyone feels empowered to contribute to the college’s mission. We’ve fostered a spirit of collaboration that extends beyond the campus, encouraging partnerships that enhance educational opportunities and workforce development throughout eastern Idaho. This also means prioritizing student support services, ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, has the resources and encouragement they need to succeed.
Leadership plays a critical role in shaping culture. By modeling the values we wish to see such as commitment to excellence, openness, and continuous improvement we demonstrate our intent. Through consistent messaging, and by creating structures that support our mission, we actively create a culture that is not only responsive to the present, but also anticipates and prepares for the future. This dynamic and forward-looking culture is what will continue to drive CEI’s success and its role as a vital educational resource in rural eastern Idaho.
Two Things can be True at Once: Discovering and Creating Culture
In the end, the culture of any community college like CEI is a blend of discovery and creation. We can honor the past, understanding and respecting the culture that has been shaped by the community we serve. At the same time, we should be proactive in creating a culture that aligns with our vision for the future, one that embraces change and prepares our students for the challenges ahead.
As college leaders, our responsibility is to navigate this balance with care and intention. By doing so, we ensure that our colleges remain vibrant, relevant, and true to their mission. At CEI, this approach has allowed us to build a culture that not only reflects who we are but also guides who we aspire to be.
In the end I have always believed Peter Drucker - "Culture eats strategy for breakfast."
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