Trustees will earn a reputation for success if your college is an effective institution that contributes to the vitality and health of its communities. You need to know about your community. You need to know about the college district. Often, the information you need is available from the district's annual reports, accreditation studies and college catalogs. You also need to know what it means to be a member of a governing board.
All districts provide some orientation to the governing board role.
In addition, many opportunities for trustee education are offered by state and national associations, including the Community College League. There are 72 community college districts in California, each with its own locally-elected governing board. The districts comprise the California Community College System, headed by the Board of Governors, which is charged with setting broad policy direction for the colleges and adopting regulations that implement legislative mandates. Members of the Board of Governors are appointed by the governor and the board is responsible for the work of the California Community College Chancellor's Office. The community colleges' policy of open access offers the opportunity of higher education for all who are able to profit from instruction.