With all the trials and tribulations, the job of a university president is one of the most rewarding. Yet, like every other aspect of society, the academic presidency has changed over the last several decades. A surprise turn of events gave the author an opportunity to reflect on the "then and now" question. Having served as president of…

In the academic world, there is an assumption of reasonable administrative conduct. In fact, to ensure such conduct, universities, like other public institutions, may have collective agreements to reinforce this assumption. However, in some cases, the university as employer can very quick off the mark should any faculty member wander into what it…

A discussion of the concept of professional practice for higher education institutions draws on organizational theory to examine the nature of higher education institutions, the use of power and influence, and the administrator's role. Some aspects of administrative practice requiring administrative attention include organizational instruments,…

University administrators must realize that past management styles they used to acquire their positions of campus power often become the future incarnations of their failure as administrators. The conundrum of power is that the less power a leader grants to people, the less powerful the leader becomes in the eyes of the people. Individuals have a…

Although women and minority administrators are becoming more common, they still must enter and learn to work within higher education institutions that are unaccustomed to their presence, much less leadership. Their careers often depend on whether they can successfully negotiate various double-bind situations. (Author/MSE)

The college administration should use some simple procedures to manage a consultation actively, improving the likelihood of success. Issues to be addressed include focused administrative responsibility for the consultation, communication, information availability, campus constituency involvement, need identification, confidentiality, private and…

Advocates of corporate governance reform hailed passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002 as a long-overdue raising of the accountability bar for corporate directors. Although SOX, as the law is widely known, does not legally apply to nonprofit boards, it has profoundly influenced the way many trustees, especially current and former corporate…

A corporate leader argues that higher education leaders must be prepared to manage change, and suggests focusing on results, communicating straight and openly, and delegating responsibility. An institutionwide communication program and greater efficiency are key elements in management change. (MSE)

At a time when collaborative leadership is much heralded in American institutional life as the antidote to discontent with power structures, colleges and universities have illustrated that shared governance is not inherently collaborative. The sense of common cause on campus should come from a shared knowledge base, concern with external…

A study by the National Association of College and University Business Officers surveyed member institutions (n=235) about the use and effectiveness of responsibility center management (RCM) on campus. Results indicate private colleges are more likely to use RCM. Major areas of concern include organizational structure, financial information for…

This report examines the usefulness of leadership teams in higher education based on study results involving 15 institutions of higher education located throughout the United States. In chapters 1 and 2 the concept of the "leadership team" is introduced by means of: (1) a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages of teamwork; and (2) a…

The University of Illinois at Chicago's Neighborhoods Initiative is used as an example of how planning occurs in a situation of shared power, the relationship between participants' goals and what actually gets done, and the role of planners in linking knowledge and action. The collaborative planning model is characterized by incrementalism;…

Argues that with the increasing complexity of American college and university governance, the presidency should be strengthened, and the president's goal should be to use the powers of the office in serious, not cosmetic, collaboration with others who have responsibility and interests in the institution, and to bring partial views together in a…

A national survey of Australian universities investigated the size and composition of their governing bodies, number of meetings held annually, and any anticipated changes in their membership or structure. Membership included ex-officio members, academic staff, general staff, students, parliamentarians, state government appointments, alumni, and…

The University of Miami (Florida) information resources department developed and instituted a program of "jump level leadership" in 1989 to open communication between all hierarchical levels. Results include free flow of ideas within the department, organizational changes, and happier, more effective employees. Successes, problems, and…