Administrative Association:
Administrator Learning Community (Book Club)

"Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body."~ Joseph Addison
"Reading is a basic tool in the living of a good life."~ Mortimer J. Adler
"I can not live with out books." ~ Thomas Jefferson
"Books constitute capital. A library book lasts as long as a house, for hundreds of years. It is not, then, an article of mere consumption but fairly of capital, and often in the case of professional men, setting out in life, it is their only capital."~ Thomas Jefferson

2009-10 Book Club ~ 2008-09 Book Club ~ Order Form ~ Rationale ~ Background

Click here to view Sample Discussion Questions

***2009-10 Book Club***
Fifty-nine (59) of our 66 college administrators participated in the 2009-10 Administrator Learning Community. A sign of it's popularity and value-added benefits, this 89% participation rate represents a 15% increase from last year's rate. Administrators selected a book during the selection window (9/16-10/2). Click here to view 2009-10 Participation List. The five books included:
* Blink: The Power of Thinking without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell (Barnes and Noble Link, Author's Website)
* Hardwiring Excellence: Purpose, Worthwhile Work and Making a Difference by Quint Studer (Barnes and Noble Link, Author's Website)
* How the Mighty Fall: And Why Some Companies Never Give In by Jim Collins (Barnes and Noble Link, Author's Website)
* Talent is Not Enough: Discover the Choices That Will Take You Beyond Your Talent by John Maxwell (Barnes and Noble Link, Author's Website)
* The Carrot Principle: How the Best Managers Use Recognition to Engage Their People, Retain Talent, and Accelerate Performance by Adrian Gostick and Chester Elton (Barnes and Noble Link, Gostick's Blog, Elton's Blog)

***2008-09 Book Club***
Fifty-three (53) of the college's 72 administrators participated in the inaugural Administrator Learning Community. This represents a 74% participation rate. Forty-nine (49) administrators selected a book during the first selection window (1/27-2/13) and twenty-eight (28) administrators selected their book during this second selection window (4/6-4/10) - for four of which, it was their first book selection. Click here to view 2008-09 Participation List. The five books included:
* Primal Leadership: Learning to Lead with Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman, Richard Boyatzis, and Annie McKee (Barnes and Noble Link ~ Author Website)
* QBQ! The Question Behind the Question: Practicing Personal Accountability in Work and in Life by John Miller (Barnes and Noble Link ~ Book Website)
* The 360 Degree Leader: Developing Your Influence from Anywhere in the Organization by John Maxwell (Barnes and Noble Link ~ Author Website)
* The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness by Stephen Covey (Barnes and Noble Link ~ Author Website)
* The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World With Kindness by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval (Barnes and Noble Link ~ Author Website)

***Order Form***
Online order forms are used to enable administrators to make their book selection. For 2008-10, book selections were made September 16-October 2, 2009. The online forms program automatically routes all submitted forms to the Chair of the Administrative Association, who then begins the procurement and dissemination processes.

***Rationale***
Reading has many benefits that enhance our lives personally and professionally. For one, it exercises our mind. Similar to physical exercise, there has to be a determination to make reading part of our life. Although administrators are at some time or another overworked and over stressed, if we genuinely understand the many benefits of reading, we’ll have less difficulty making time for this worthwhile activity. Sometimes the lessons learned from a book are enhanced if we have someone to share it with. A learning community (book club) is an effective way to appreciate other perspectives - not only through the books themselves but also through perspectives of colleagues with different backgrounds. Book clubs also provide many opportunities to meet people from across the college and from all walks of life, as well as providing a meaningful addition to one’s professional development calendar.

According to the results from the Administrative Association's July Membership Survey, 84% of respondents supported the Association offering an administrator learning community (e.g., theme-based: book club or study group for an important issue; cohort-based: academic deans, counselors). Respondents to the November Membership Survey expressed a similar high-level of support (84% approved the concept of an Administrator Book Club; 63% would consider participation).

***Background***
Based on membership support, and in continuation of our strategic alliance with LRC and Employee Training and Development, the Administrative Association researched and designed an administrator learning community. This collective professional development activity, in the form of a book club, is modeled after the successful Faculty Reading Groups sponsored by the Charles Center at The College of William and Mary. The Association, with substantial input from LRC and Employee Training and Development, compiled a short list of national best selling books – of particular relevance to administrators – from which each TCC administrator is encouraged to select one (NO cost, NO obligation). On January 14, 2009, President DiCroce approved the Chair's request to implement the proposed administrator learning community and appropriate funds in support of this initiative. TCC joins the University of Virginia School of Medicine and New York University as 1 of only 3 known IHE administrative associations to sponsor this type of innovative professional development.

The Association has appropriated unencumbered funds to support the initiative and will coordinate the logistics such as purchasing and disseminating books. Although the Association will help facilitate book club operations by disseminating membership lists and creating online discussion forums, individual members are NOT obligated to participate in any collaborative book club activities. Members are merely asked to select a book (again, at NO cost and NO obligation) in support of their own individual professional development. To assist members in making their selection, shown below is the book list along with URLs to book information.