Community College Education Administration

Abstract/Description:
This single descriptive embedded case study examined the process of implementing a four-day work/school week at a community college and investigated post-change faculty/staff work-life balance. All of the students attending this college live at home. The change was implemented due to state funding shortfalls, increasing college utility expenses and low employee morale. Additionally, this study resulted in a set of guidelines that can be used by change agents of similar colleges to implement this change. Moreover, the study describes the positive and negative aspects associated with the shorter work/school week. On a positive note, the schedule facilitates making personal appointments, volunteer work, improves work-life balance, provides longer more restful weekends, increases employee morale, productivity, performance, and reduces commuting expenses. On a negative note, the schedule requires employees to work longer days, increases daily work-related stress, reduces weekday family time and creates work/daycare schedule conflicts. Furthermore, the study found that faculty/staff work-life balance improved the most for employees ages 25-44. The study recommends that college leaders interested in implementing the same change create an alternative four-day work schedule for essential weekend employees in order to provide them similar work-life balance benefits. Most importantly, college leaders should work with human resources officials to create flexible working hours and telecommuting policies to implement along with this schedule. Finally, administrators should assure that employees do not work longer than nine hours per day to prevent burnout, work with employees to solve work/daycare schedule conflicts and that all college stakeholders participate in the change process.

Commons, and the Work, Economy and Organizations Commons the program. Their scholarly pursuits and encouragement have forever shaped our individual and collective endeavors, we will be forever grateful to you. Maritza Sloan dedicates her dissertation to Christina Sloan, her daughter, whose love and words of encouragement keep her looking forward into the future, and to John Sloan, her husband, for his continuous support, assistance, guidance, love, and for being her pillar throughout all of her academic years. NaJeana Henderson-Spagner dedicates her dissertation work to her entire family and wealth of friends. She would like to express great gratitude to her husband Alpha, children Christopher and Ari, and mom and sisters Awrey, Djuana, and Tianna. Their words of encouragement and push for greatness have been her driving force throughout her doctoral program to achieve this honorable feat. Douglas Swanson dedicates this dissertation to the ever supportive, encouraging, and loving Debra Wimmer, their collective children, and grandchildren who he has missed spending time with while on this journey and most of all to his parents Doris and Donald Swanson for the examples in living, loving, and learning each of them instilled in him.