Call for Proposals Focused on New Insights in U.S. Higher Education Governance

New Directions for Higher Education Editors: Jillian L. Kinzie and Lisa Wolf-Wendel
Issue Editors: Paul G. Rubin and Karley A. Riffe

Governance of higher education in the U.S. has been a widely investigated topic at the institutional, system, and state levels (Hearn & McLendon, 2012), including questions regarding the role of shared governance between stakeholders (e.g., faculty, students, staff, and administrators) (Rall & Galan, 2022), the influence of differences in governing structures and allocation of powers at various levels (McLendon, 2003; Morgan et al., 2021; Rubin & Ness, 2021; Tandberg, 2013), changes to existing structures (McLendon & Ness, 2003; Rubin, 2023), and the effects and goals of increased association with external partners (e.g., industry, foundations, intermediary organizations) (Barringer & Riffe, 2018; McClure, 2016; Slaughter et al., 2014). Despite ample research in this area, there remains substantial gaps in this research, particularly concerning recent trends in U.S. higher education, such as the growing influence of partisan politics, increasing role of contingent and adjunct faculty, and trends regarding the consolidation of private, for-profit, and public institutions, and reconsideration of previous long- standing work. Considering this need for a more modern and refreshed take on the organization and oversight of U.S. higher education, New Directions for Higher Education is soliciting papers for an upcoming volume focused on New Insights in U.S. Higher Education Governance.

While there is significant research that examines the role of governance in shaping how U.S. higher education operates, this volume provides an opportunity for reflection on some of these foundational texts and offers space to present fresh perspectives for the future. We are seeking manuscripts that provide insights into governance from multiple perspectives, including scholar- practitioners, administrators, early career academics, and collaborations across these populations, as well as individuals offering perspectives traditionally excluded from this body of literature.

We view this volume as an opportunity to reinvigorate this body of literature, particularly for researchers and practitioners seeking an informative text to understand the current landscape of higher education governance and inspiration for needed work in this area of higher education research. Topics of interest for this issue of New Directions for Higher Education include:

  • New theoretical approaches to governance issues, as well as re-examinations of previously established work;
  • The roles and influence of institutional, system, state, and federal actors and governance characteristics, particularly those currently left out or underexamined in higher education;
  • Unique governance characteristics and structures across institutional;
  • Reflections from current institutional and state-level leaders on equitable;
  • Other ideas related to governance from practitioner and scholarly.

The issue editors are seeking a quick turnaround of manuscripts to increase the utility of the articles selected for distribution. Those interested in contributing to this special issue should submit an approximately 1000-word proposal, or a completed manuscript for those who already have a project that fits the parameters of this call by September 1, 2024. Submissions should include a proposed title, 100-word abstract, proposal narrative, list of key words, and list of references. For those submitting full articles for consideration, the total length of full articles should be no more than 7,000 words. All submissions must be submitted electronically to the issue editors at paul.rubin@utah.edu or karley.riffe@uc.edu.


Issue Timeline

The issue editors will review submitted proposals and extend invitations to selected authors to submit full manuscripts for peer review. Acceptance of a proposal does not guarantee publication. Final decisions will be made after the review of all submissions.

Proposal submission deadline: September 1, 2024

Invitations to submit full-length manuscript: September 15, 2024

Article submission deadline: January 1, 2025

Notice of Included Articles: January 15, 2025

Publication: Summer/Fall 2025


New Directions for Higher Education

This concise quarterly journal covers the latest developments in higher education. Each volume in the series is a completely self-contained, fully indexed and edited collection featuring contributions from some of the top scholars in the field. The purpose of this journal is to provide insight to administrators (i.e., presidents, vice presidents, deans, and other higher education decision-makers on all types of campuses) and guide research in relevant critical higher education topics. For more information on the journal please visit the New Directions for Higher Education website.


Contact Information

Paul G. Rubin
Assistant Professor
Department of Educational Leadership and Policy University of Utah

Karley A. Riffe
Assistant Professor Educational Leadership
University of Cincinnati


References

Barringer, S. N., & Riffe, K. A. (2018). Not just figureheads: Trustees as microfoundations of higher education institutions. Innovative Higher Education, 43, 155-170. https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2102/10.1007/s10755-018-9422-6.

Hearn, J. C., & McLendon (2012). Governance research: From adolescence toward maturity. In M. N. Bastedo (Ed.), The organization of higher education: Managing colleges for a new era (pp. 46-85). The Johns Hopkins University Press.

McClure, K. R. (2016). Building the innovative and entrepreneurial university: An institutional case study of administrative academic capitalism. The Journal of Higher Education, 87(4), 516-543.https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2102/10.1080/00221546.2016.11777412.

McLendon, M. K. (2003). Setting the agenda for state decentralization of higher education. The Journal of Higher Education, 72(2), 1-37. https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2102/10.1353/jhe.2003.0038.

McLendon, M. K., & Ness, E. C. (2003). The politics of state higher education governance reform. Peabody Journal of Education, 78(4), 66-88. https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2102/10.1207/S15327930PJE7804_05.

Morgan, D. L., Rall, R. M., Commodore, F., Fischer, R. A., & Bernstein, S. (2021). Hiding in plain sight: The potential of state-level governing boards in postsecondary education policy agenda-setting. The Journal of Higher Education, 92(4), 570-595. https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2102/10.1080/00221546.2020.1824885.

Rall, R. M., & Galan, C. A. (2022). An inside voice fighting for the “outsiders”: Student engagement, purpose, and legacy on boards of higher education. In M. Bonous-Hammarth (Ed.), Bridging marginality through inclusive higher education (pp. 123-147). Palgrave Macmillan.

Rubin, P. G. (2023). Politics of higher education governance reform in the United States. In J. Jungblut, M. Maltais, E. C. Ness, & D. Rexe (Eds.), Comparative higher education politics: Policymaking in North American and Western Europe, higher education dynamics series, volume 60 (pp. 57-77). Springer. https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2102/10.1007/978-3-031-25867-1_3.

Rubin, P. G., & Ness, E. C. (2021). State higher education governing agencies and the knowledge brokering process: Investigating their role as multi-facing organizations in the United States. Higher Education Policy, 34(3), 643-663. https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2102/10.1057/s41307-019-00155-z.

Slaughter, S., Thomas, S. L., Johnson, D. R., & Barringer, S. N. (2014). Institutional conflict of interest: The role of interlocking directorates in the scientific relationships between universities and the corporate sector. The Journal of Higher Education, 85(1), 1-35. https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2102/10.1080/00221546.2014.11777317.

Tandberg, D. A. (2013). The conditioning role of state higher education governance structures.

The Journal of Higher Education, 84(4), 506-539.https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2102/10.1353/jhe.2013.0026.