This report is part of the International Study of Leadership Development in Higher Education project (ISLDHE) project which is examining leadership development for university leaders. This paper presents an update to our original exploration of the literature about university contexts and leadership development, but also compares the themes as…

This study aims to examine the perceptions of the middle management (deans and heads of departments) and academicians on the dilemma order versus freedom at faculty management. It discusses how this dilemma is seen at an operational level and how it can be managed at university where both parties--with a managerial role or not--are…

Leadership in higher education is fundamental for institutional development and sustainability in today's rapidly changing world. The academic department is a fundamental unit for transforming the university's visions and goals into reality. The vigorous contribution of each department, which depends in turn largely on the effectiveness of the…

Almost universally, residential doctoral programs have reported attrition rates of up to 50% for face-to-face programs and 50-70% for online doctoral programs. The purpose of this critical review was to explore current literature for doctoral attrition and persistence to explore reasons and attributes for improved persistence to completion. We…

This review of research was prompted by the widespread belief that at least in a significant number of secondary schools, department heads are an underutilized, if not untapped, source of instructional leadership, the type of leadership critical to secondary-school improvement initiatives. Forty-two methodologically diverse empirical studies were…

With science teachers facing comprehensive curriculum reform that will shape science education for decades to come, high school department chairs represent a critical resource for instructional leadership and teacher support. While the historical literature on the department chair indicates that chairs are in prime positions to provide…

Many of the policy documents and much of the recent literature talk about "leadership" when discussing the role of headteachers and principals of schools. The word is also used when writing about other senior and middle managers. It is a way of showing the difference between what used to be expected of headteachers and what is expected…

Locally controlled public schools are one of the cornerstones of our nation's democracy, yet many schools are not preparing students for success. Far too many students are not graduating, and many of those who do graduate are woefully unprepared for college or a meaningful career. Successfully initiating and sustaining meaningful improvements in…

School administrators can work to develop leadership competencies in department heads, including the ability to encourage and assist fellow teachers. Suggestions for further reading are offered. (MJL)

Faculty who are selected to be academic department chairs generally lack leadership preparation and have little understanding of the demands of the position. Good experiences as a faculty member do not necessarily translate to being a good department chair. As strategic planning becomes increasingly essential to the well being of colleges and…

This review of the literature on the department chair position in institutions of higher education examines critical issues related to the chair position. It concludes that research has provided a clear picture of who is involved in the chair position but has not clarified ways to improve the effectiveness of the position. The review is organized…

Australia's training programs for academic department heads are examined in relation to the tradition of academic staff development, the changing nature of department heads' responsibilities, and increased concerns about the effectiveness of institutional management. It is suggested that training programs be one element in a comprehensive…

The reward structure in higher education is reviewed, followed by a discussion of the way it is viewed and the terms in which it is discussed outside as well as inside the profession. The reward structure in foreign language departments is then examined. (Contains 86 references.) (LB)

Designed to help foreign language department chairs, this article discusses the dynamic environment of elementary and secondary foreign language teaching, the departments' role in developing successful foreign language teachers, and the teacher licensure process. (Contains 29 references.) (LB)

This paper discusses development of the department chair, focusing on the need to build leadership capacity in colleges and universities. It suggests that it takes many years to become an expert, noting that one of the most glaring shortcomings in the leadership area is the scarcity of sound research on leadership training and development.…