The inadequacy of training and support for academic middle managers in the US, UK, and Australia is well documented. What remains unclear is what would make for better professional development. This study fills this gap by investigating what associate deans at US research universities report learning 'on the job'. Drawing on their perspectives and…

In higher education, the discursive establishment of 'faculty' vs. 'administrator' creates a dualistic, hierarchical structure, informing relationalities between/within ourselves and faculty. As administrators, we found/find ourselves in relational encounters, entanglements of material-discursive bodies, that we were/are a part of producing. In…

In response to research pointing to a growing executive leadership crisis in community colleges (CCs), with too few strong candidates entering the leadership pipeline for the presidency, I focused this study on individuals already in that pipeline. My goal was to develop an understanding of their perceptions of their own roles in the pipeline and…

This study examines how university administrators make decisions related to the academic core, the extent to which they utilize and adhere to the university mission during their decision-making processes, and the ways in which the culture of the institution frames and influences these decisions. Through use of a cultural lens, connections between…

For more than 20 years, new public management (NPM) has been the guiding governance model of university reforms in Europe. One central aspect of this governance model is to strengthen the hierarchy within the universities. Recent research shows that the formal decision-making authority of university leaders and deans has increased in almost every…

The purpose of this study is to explore the factors and mechanisms by which a faculty member chooses to move into an administrative position in higher education, and to examine their early experiences in associate dean positions. As faculty move into administrative positions they will likely experience a significant shift in their job duties and…

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of disciplinary background on the leadership styles of academic deans. The researcher conducted a nation-wide survey of academic deans from a wide range of disciplines. Specifically, the study sought to determine whether the disciplinary backgrounds of university deans are reflected in their…

Being a principal, superintendent, dean, provost, or president carries a wide array of responsibilities and burdens. An inevitable part of being a leader is that some decisions are very hard to make which means that leaders carry a huge emotional burden. Author Rick Ginsberg identifies strategies that educational leaders have identified as helping…

Studies the response of 15 academic departments at Ohio State University to reorganization. Implications of the study deal with methods of introducing change, the importance of group norms, and the link between informal norms and existing formal structure. (MK)

Selected data from an Association of Academic Health Centers study of academic health center organization and governance is discussed. Administrative roles and responsibilities, areas of concern (such as resource and space allocation), and anticipated conditions (e.g., accreditation, promotion and tenure) are reported. (MLW)

The dean's role includes making daily decisions regarding students, faculty, and outside parties. Deans should acquire the habit of evaluating the ramifications of troublesome decisions to avoid legal and personnel problems. This chapter outlines five aspects that deans should consider when making sensitive, difficult decisions: problems, issues,…

Discusses deans' responsibilities in financial management, including budget development, budget management, broker of resources, program review, and fundraising. Describes what deans need to know: categories of income, local tax assessment, financing new construction, and key accounting terminology. Looks at key challenges for deans and offers a…

A survey conducted to assess the roles of university trustees and presidents and their conceptions of these roles is described. Differences of opinion on roles are apparent on moral and social questions, on academic policy, and on financial policy. The importance of teamwork and a cooperative relationship is emphasized. The survey instrument is…

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of the student affairs administrator as a decision maker in the development and budgets within the organizational system of the university. A basic premise for the model at Temple University is that the role of the administrator is a key factor in solving those conflicts arising from human elements…

The Community College Student Success Think Tank, part of the Community College Student Success Project, funded by Lumina Foundation for Education, brings student and academic affairs officers together with institutional researchers to reflect on trends and issues surrounding data-driven decision making in community colleges. Participants consider…