Abstract
This dissertation focused attention on the perceptions of trustees of Bible colleges, colleges accredited by the American Association of Bible Colleges, concerning some of the characteristics they value in a Bible college president. The perceptions were obtained by using an instrument that simulated a situation where trustees are categorizing twenty-six hypothetical candidates into three groups for a screening committee. The groups were; A, to be recommended, B, acceptable alternates, and C, not to be considered further.
The twenty-six hypothetical candidates for the position of president of a Bible college were depicted by their answers to six questions. The answers given by the candidates range from authoritarian to participative. Each of the six questions was designed to represent an area of administrative concern. The six areas were: (1) Financial-Budgetary, (2) Governance, (3) Faculty Relations, (4) Student Relations, (5) Receptivity to Innovation, and (6) Sources for Goals.
By analyzing the three groups formed as the trustees placed the candidates into the three categories conclusions were drawn by the researcher regarding the style of leadership preferred by trustees in the Bible college president and the areas of administrative concern trustees consider to be relatively more important.
Analysis of the data indicated among other things that trustees prefer a president who is participative in the important areas of administrative concern, namely Faculty Relations and Financial-Budgetary matters. However, they seem to prefer that the president be authoritarian in relationship to goals and students.
An important aspect of this research included an attempt to capture the ruling policies of the trustees. About half of the trustees demonstrated a strong ruling policy or consistency in selecting hypothetical presidential candidates depicting similar leadership styles. It was concluded that by adding another area of administrative concern which would deal with the spiritual aspect of Bible college presidential leadership more trustees would have demonstrated strong ruling policies.