April, 2007

Academic Leader - April, 2007 - Full Issue PDF
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Understanding Faculty Investment in their Institutions
What obligations do faculty members have to their institutions beyond their disciplines and departments? It’s a question that is sure to get a lot of play as higher education institutions deal with the pressures brought about by increased scrutiny from outside constituents and other factors such as changing student demographics and a shift from a faculty-focused to a learner-focused orientation. Academic Leader recently spoke with Marietta Del Favero, professor of educational leadership, counseling, and foundations at the University of New Orleans, about faculty investment in their institutions and the factors that encourage and inhibit it.

Student Learning Outcomes Initiative Gets Help from Faculty and Technology
In 1989 the administration at Central Arizona College made a decision to move toward a competency-based curriculum for all of its courses and certificate and degree programs—a wise decision given all the changes taking place within the community college’s district and within higher education in general, says Linda Heiland, CAC’s associate vice president for institutional effectiveness and chief academic officer.

Leading Transformative Change
By Marla Martin Hanley, PhD, and Martha Phillips, PhD
Is transformative change really possible in higher education? A quick survey of recent conference titles and national initiatives suggests that a change in the basic assumptions of liberal education is necessary. Yet, since higher education is notoriously resistant to change, how do we successfully translate a national agenda to the individual college level?

Maintaining a State of Readiness for Sudden Transition to Deanship
By H. W. Elmore, PhD
Many deans enjoy long, productive careers that terminate with retirement. In some cases, deans may make a voluntary strategic career move to a larger institution as a step in a grand plan to move to the highest levels of administration. In cases of impending retirement or an announced move, time may be available to groom a temporary or permanent replacement or conduct an external search. However, in other cases deans may have shorter tenures and their departure may be sudden and unexpected.

Parting Shot: The Power of Listening
By Thomas R. McDaniel, PhD
Can you hear me? CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? This familiar line from a commercial for a phone service reminds us of the importance of hearing. For those of us who are aging administrators, hearing can be an ever-greater challenge. As the saying goes, “old deans never die, they just lose their faculties.” But more important than the faculty of hearing is the capacity of listening. The two are not the same.