Filed under Administrators …

Despite Progress, Only 1 in 4 College Presidents Are Women

When Cornell University’s new president takes office, in July, half of the Ivy League’s colleges will be led by women. Brown University’s female leader is its second in a row. Over the past several years, a range of other institutions, including public flagships, liberal-arts colleges, historically black institutions, and community colleges have hired their first … Continue reading →

Adjunct Advocacy

Academe’s part-time instructors have long complained about low pay and poor working conditions, and now their protests are finally being heard. By joining together in labor unions, part-time instructors at several colleges have managed in recent years to win major improvements in their pay, benefits, job security, and overall working conditions. And even where they … Continue reading →

Median Salaries of Senior College Administrators, 2014-15

For the second consecutive year, the rate of salary growth for senior administrators at public colleges outpaced that of their peers at private institutions, according to a survey released on Monday by the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. At public institutions, the median base salary of senior administrators in 2014-15 rose by … Continue reading →

A Fool-proof Guide to Accreditation

Over the last decade I’ve helped hundreds of colleges and universities across the United States prepare for accreditation reviews. I recently summarized much of what I’ve learned through my work in a new book, Five Dimensions of Quality: A Common Sense Guide to Accreditation and Accountability. Let me share with you some of the many … Continue reading →

Having a Diversity Officer Doesn’t Mean Mission Accomplished

Even for those colleges and universities that value diversity to the extent that they have a dedicated officer or dean of diversity, problems of inclusion and support for faculty and students of color may still be an institutional challenge. A single officer or the mere presence of faculty of color does not solve such issues … Continue reading →

Taking Your Career Abroad

Go abroad. It’s advice that higher education professionals often give to students who want to broaden their educational experience, but is seldom considered by faculty or staff who want to take their careers to a new level. Perhaps the barriers seem too great, or the opportunities closer to home just seem better. But with universities … Continue reading →

Faculty Leaders Try Their Hand at Running a College

Their relationships are often characterized by skepticism, mistrust, or, in the worst cases, outright antagonism. The divide between administrators and professors is legendary in higher education, where the model of shared governance seems to fuel tensions as often as it resolves them. Does some of the problem boil down to simple misunderstandings, or a lack … Continue reading →

Division and Change in Higher Education

Most universities are struggling to maintain enrollments, endowments, and educational quality. Meanwhile, student applications, sources of revenue, and credibility among constituents are all in a steady decline. We are told that the very survival of the academy will depend on our ability to change, but divisions and conflicts get in the way. This admonition is … Continue reading →