| Change is implicit in the missions of many community colleges. They are expected to be responsive to changing economic, political, and social concerns of local communities. The adoption and implementation of organizational innovations may enable appropriate responses to external expectations for change.;Organizational capacities to innovate are mediated by organizational climate. Conditions within organizational climates may encourage risk taking and creative activity, or diminish initiative to change. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between dimensions of organizational climate and support for innovation in community colleges.;Faculty members (N = 184) from an urban community college with an international reputation for developing innovative programs completed questionnaires designed to measure perceived support for innovation and climate-related variables. Respondents, in the aggregate, perceived high levels of support for innovation. Perceptions did not vary in terms of respondents' gender, age, education level, racial identification, tenure in current position, or employment status. Faculty with more years of professional experience reported higher levels of support for innovation. Support for innovation was also positively associated with intent-to-stay. Faculty who indicated that they were unlikely to search for a job at another organization reported higher levels of support for innovation.;Organizational climates characterized by open communication and high levels of work autonomy were found to be associated with perceptions of support for innovation. Communication openness and work autonomy were positively associated with high scores on the support for innovation measure. These two variables accounted for more than one-half of the variance in support for innovation scores.;Study findings were reviewed and interpreted in the context of changing community college environments. Interventions related to enhancing organizational support for innovation, including feedback linkages, conflict forums, and participatory decision making, were elaborated. |
