A survey of 82 deans in universities in the United Kingdom investigated the responsibility of senior administrators and faculty in goal-setting and resource allocation, responsibility for various administrative functions, expectations about these roles in the future, perceived decision-making style of senior administration, and areas perceived as…

Suggestions are offered to the college alumni editor for making an interview with the institution's chief executive officer (CEO) easier and more productive. Recommendations stress the importance of attitude, punctuality, preparation, use of listening skills, and professional demeanor. (MSE)

An administration plan to discontinue the physics major at James Madison University (Virginia) has raised concerns about the president's leadership and management style, and the role of faculty in institutional decision making. Faculty were notified of the plan only after student leaders were told. (MSE)

The processes and results of the University of Colorado at Boulder's streamlining of student services are outlined. The review and planning procedures included preparation of departmental annual reports, a revised academic services mission statement, a prioritizing programs exercise, a process exercise, budget reallocation recommendations,…

A national survey of 54 equal opportunity officers in Australian higher education institutions investigated their educational background, work experience, institutional roles, and views on the training and development needs of themselves and others in their institutions. Implications for development of degree and staff development programs for…

A study making use of a national survey of 565 university department chairs and in-depth interviews with chairs at 1 university investigated the changes occurring in the workload of college faculty when they become department heads, focusing on the alterations in the amount of time allotted for personal and professional activities. (MSE)

The most effective colleges and universities in the next few decades will be those able to adapt to a changing workforce and shifting demands of business, political, and other environments. Effective institutions will build effective management teams, create new change strategies, focus on quality, and demonstrate learning from history. (MSE)

Examination of retrenchment clauses in the faculty union contracts at 42 colleges and universities focused on implications for tenure rights and the roles prescribed for faculty and administrators. Concepts of financial exigency and shared governance are highlighted. Contracts were found to provide faculty with a limited and reactive role during…

An annual national survey on trends in college administration found administrators (n=406) viewed finances as a major concern on campuses. Few respondents rated their institutions high on response to women's issues, and, although many were hiring more women and minorities, a slowdown is anticipated. Extensive use of part-time faculty was reported.…

The functions of public relations offices are described for four small colleges and one small private school: Spelman College (Georgia); North Harris County College (Texas); Scripps College (California); Lafayette College (Pennsylvania); and Maumee Valley Country Day School (Ohio). Focus is on creative and effective use of a small staff and…

Formulates a model partitioning college/university administrative/faculty ratio (administrative intensity) into two components, one using internal factors and one using sources of funding dependence, to explain demand for administrative resources. Results show public institutions use relatively fewer administrative resources in seeking both public…

The executive vice-president of the University of Pennsylvania is credited with making significant changes in both the administration and the campus, using cost-cutting and change strategies from his business experience. Outsourcing, training for employees who might be terminated, substantial savings and new revenue, and gentrification of…

The role of the college or university chief financial officer in institutional risk management is (1) to identify risk (physical, casualty, fiscal, business, reputational, workplace safety, legal liability, employment practices, general liability), (2) to develop a campus plan to reduce and control risk, (3) to transfer risk, and (4) to track and…

A long-time observer of the college presidency finds that the power of the presidency is often overestimated. The faculty see the president as having authority when they want favors, students see the president as an absent figure to be blamed for problems, and journalists see the president as having enough authority to justify lavish attention.…

College presidential search committees often measure candidates by two yardsticks: how close in complexity the candidate's current budget, personnel, and program responsibilities resemble those of the position under consideration, and the academic stature brought to the institution. Interest in nontraditional candidates is growing. Searches have…