GSE Faculty Research
Document Type
Book Chapter
Date of this Version
2011
Publication Source
American Higher Education in the Twenty First Century, 3rd Edition
Start Page
279
Last Page
311
Abstract
While the work of academics—teaching, research, and service—is the core of an institution, they need someone who can attend to the following:
1. Manage their finances and budgets and provide key services, such as payroll, and health and retirement benefits
2. Serve as a go-between to the scholars from different disciplines and coordinate individual course offerings to create a coherent curriculum
3. Act as a conduit to outside councils, government agencies, alumni, donors, and communities when representing, as well as defending, the academics
4. Steward, but more importantly increase, the available financial resources
5. Oversee facilities and ensure their maintenance
6. Serve periodically as a target for academic ardor and aggression
The nature of this position requires a single individual to be a leader, academic, planner, mediator, politician, advocate, investment banker, conductor, showman, church elder, supporter, cheerleader, and, of course, manager. These roles, and many more functions-including providing leadership; setting institutional strategy; planning; financing; and ensuring compliance with multiple regulations, laws, and policies (and politics)—are the domain of a campus head, a position labeled president or chancellor, vice-chancellor or rector, depending on the continent and system.
Copyright/Permission Statement
Copyright © 2011 Johns Hopkins University Press. This material first appeared in American Higher Education in the Twenty-First Century, 3rd edition. Altbach, P.G., Berdahl, R.O., & Gumport, P.J. (Eds.). pp. 279-311. Reprinted with permission by Johns Hopkins University Press.
Recommended Citation
Eckel, P. D., & Kezar, A. (2011). Presidents Leading: The Dynamics and Complexities of Campus Leadership. American Higher Education in the Twenty First Century, 3rd Edition, 279-311. Retrieved from https://repository.upenn.edu/gse_pubs/455
Included in
Community College Education Administration Commons, Community College Leadership Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Education Economics Commons, Higher Education Commons, Higher Education Administration Commons
Date Posted: 14 August 2018