The potential of advancing information and telecommunications technology to transform the workplace in higher education is examined. Demographic, social, and economic trends contributing to this trend and its advantages and disadvantages are also discussed. Suggestions are made for managing the transition to telework, including selection of…

A study was done of individual job involvement as it affects support services in some areas of higher education. The basic research question was: Given selected personal characteristics of support services staff members and certain situational characteristics, which set of variables would most effectively account for the variations in the degree…

Economic factors, administrative changes, and productivity concerns require that higher education focus more clearly on a variety of issues in four areas of human resource management: (1) the need for leadership in the new, more diverse workforce; (2) work issues (quality of life, alternative scheduling, performance evaluation, training); (3)…

Conflict is common in college student life, where economic stress, close living conditions, and exposure to new people and ideas challenge students. Four vignettes illustrate typical conflicts concerning roommate relationships, workplace relationships among students, broken intimate relationships, and sexual harassment. Resolution options and…

The tremendous impact of technological change on human workers, coupled with declining resources in many college and university information technology programs, can create an emotionally and physically harmful environment for employees. They can also present an important opportunity for positively changing cognitive behavior and increasing…

All known health concerns related to use of video display terminals (VDTs) can be resolved by better ergonomics, reducing monotonous tasks, and giving VDT operators a better sense of controlling their work. These workplace improvements should be pursued regardless of VDT use. (MSE)

Suggests that the nature of the community college workplace and culture may undermine efforts at diversity. Argues that the emphases on fast-paced work environments and dynamic personalities of the colleges work against diversification efforts and that biases behind the idea of a "proper fit" for a job should be challenged. (MAB)

The effectiveness of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 is examined, and it is suggested that employee participation could help improve occupational safety and health in the future, through safety committees, safety circles, safety teams, and individual participation. (MSE)

At Indiana University, budget problems and the information explosion led to a project, financed by a computer company, integrating information technology (IT) into administrative functions. The administrative workstation project increased IT knowledge and use by key administrators, resulting in greater productivity and creativity, improved…

This article suggests ways to develop individual employees' capabilities to minimize the negative effects of workplace stress in higher education, particularly that caused by organizational change. It is argued that early action to prepare employees for change is more beneficial to individuals and the institution than treating dysfunctional…

Clout, or the authority invoked in certain situations, is discussed as it pertains to public relations officers. Five ways to cultivate the president are presented and some effective power plays are described. (MLW)

An overview is presented of social and demographic trends prompting changes in workforce composition and workers' values, and a conceptual model for understanding these changes and their effects on the work environment is offered. The Ohio State University's shared approach to managing the work/family overlap and its policy implications are…

As higher education institutions plan for the future, common agreement to build open distributed computing environments (DCE) using common standards such as those of the Open Software Foundation can help exploit new application design approaches that promote application sharing, a more efficient way of meeting upcoming challenges. (MSE)

Colleges and universities should place less emphasis on the leadership of one or a few individual administrators and concentrate on creating a culture of leadership that will empower all members of the institution. The human resource development program at Boston College (Massachusetts) exemplifies the dynamic possibilities of leadership…

This book champions the importance of chairing an academic department (or division) and focuses attention on the strategies "excellent" chairs use in building a positive work environment for faculty and releasing individual faculty potential. The framework is based on human, organizational, and career development; systems theory; and interpersonal…