Educators often take themselves a bit too seriously. To remedy the situation, the author, who is a veteran educator and illustrator, offers a little perspective with this collection of lighthearted cartoons. These cartoons can be used as overheads for staff development meetings, for an individual break in a busy day, and perhaps, even for a…

In a lighthearted yet serious look at academic deanship, stories are recounted regarding the dean's role in such matters as tenure decisions, budgeting, affirmative action, and coping with demands of faculty, department chairs, vice-presidents, parents, and students. Current practices in academic administration are described in a humorous manner.…

Humor cannot solve every problem facing school administrators, but it can reduce the psychological gap between boss and staff, create camaraderie, increase problem-solving abilities, and help people cope. Administrators can look for humor, find a model, develop perspective, get support, revamp the office environment, start a "funny" file, swap…

Advice is offered for making college alumni reunions fun and memorable, illustrated with anecdotes from various institutions. Suggestions include exciting opening activities, focusing on the particular habits or characteristics of a class, appealing to a variety of tastes, emphasizing class identity, savoring favorite campus traditions, and…

This paper examines the role of communication in library leadership. The discussion is organized into 14 sections: (1) multidimensional approaches to effective leadership communication and varying communication style to the situation; (2) the importance of conciseness; (3) streamlining library communication; (4) the vision being communicated by…

Humor in college and university publications is helping editors and designers communicate to target audiences. Successful campus punmakers are identified at LaGuardia Community College, Brigham Young University, and Johns Hopkins. (MLW)

Empirical studies of the connection between humor and learning indicate that humor can increase student attention and interest. Presentation of humorous material involves skills that can be learned through practice, and faculty development programs for teachers to acquire these skills should be made available. (MSE)

Using humor and examples from real-life experience, the book provides advice and information in question-and-answer form for women regarding all aspects of work life in higher education. Chapters cover: graduate school as a rite of passage, and discussions of the demands of graduate study and the commitments required; strategies for finding and…

This book presents a lighthearted examination of the trials and tribulations of university research development and grant acquisition. Fun is poked at the grant acquisition process through a series of characters and their advice: Ann Granters (advice column format) gives directions on how to "wire" a proposal; Bogie tells how to squeeze the most…

Successful techniques for administering alumni associations are described, including a live mascot (University of Redlands, California, bulldog), ethical/social focus reflecting institutional mission (University of Notre Dame, Illinois), humorous gifts for board members resulting in high attendance and participation (University of Idaho), and…

The process of reengineering the administrative information system at the University of Idaho required careful planning, development of a set of philosophies, and several strategies for ensuring success. The latter included a humorous symbol (a jitter bug) to express concern, improved institutional communications, and a focus on logistical issues.…

This annual journal issue contains 24 papers on issues of faculty development, instructional improvement, knowledge and teaching, and communication in higher education. Many of the papers were developed for the annual conference of the Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education (POD). The papers are: (1) "Teaching…

An experienced college president offers 12 suggestions for coping as president: control calendar; keep passion for work; protect health; manage stress in all life areas; make changes one step at a time; stop when reaching limit; pay attention to support system; learn to live comfortably with ambiguity; separate ego from outcomes; control…

These proceedings, consisting of unit outlines, presentation summaries, handouts, overhead masters, and sample forms, were designed to provide nursing home inservice instructor coordinators with the materials that were presented at a two-day workshop dealing with the principles of adult education and their application in nursing homes. Addressed…