A survey of 52 public research universities revealed great variety in the depth of faculty involvement in budgeting and in structures through which faculty participate. Faculty do not, in general, have major roles in resource allocation decisions. The concept of shared authority should be reconsidered in light of current reality. (MSE)

Four case studies concerning joint faculty-administration committees established to make major decisions (Princeton University, New Jersey; Northwestern University, Illinois; Teacher's College Columbia University, New York; Ohio University) suggest that, although the committees have potential to improve campus management, they are neither as…

Examines impact of legal counsel on student affairs practice. Uses data from 1987 study on role of counsel at U.S. colleges and universities. Describes data, with particular focus on manner in which counsel performed duties related to student issues. Eight conclusions drawn from the study are listed; recommendations and a summary are included.…

Traditionally, faculty members who expected to become presidents ascended through the typical labor chain to that position. However, questions are prevalent about whether these individuals gain the managerial experience needed to succeed in a presidency. Unlike the private business management model that has been successful in developing leaders in…

At the 1996 Spring Plenary Session, the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges (ASCCC) passed resolution S961.5, which authorizes the participation of part-time faculty on the Executive Committee. The assurance of participation of part-time faculty on the Executive Committee of the ASCCC at first appeared a simple proposal, but was soon…

The roles of academic senates in university organization are discussed. Three symbolic purposes that academic senates may fill are considered first: they may symbolize institutional membership in the higher education system, collective and individual faculty commitment to professional values, and joint faculty-administration acceptance of existing…

Faculty members, as their organization's parliamentarians, must exercise appropriately their own rights as members of the organization as well as maintain loyalty to their role as parliamentarian. Add to this dilemma parliamentary indifference, and a "politics as usual" attitude and the outcome of any parliamentary session is in doubt. Such…

A study was undertaken to analyze the group processes in academic committee meetings, focusing on committee member perceptions of the processes and their effectiveness. Such committees are traditional in higher education, and have long been considered the most efficient and democratic decision-making method. However, they have been criticized as…

Opponents of collective bargaining for faculty charge that unions will destroy faculty governance by abolishing faculty senates, dictating institutional policy, and eliminating peer review in favor of automatic tenure and promotion. The history of collective bargaining at the City University of New York shows this has not happened. (MLW)

This paper presents a set of recommendations from the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges that can be applied by local academic senates as they create and improve their local planning and budget processes. Recommendations include: (1) planning should drive budgeting, never the reverse; (2) planning, in an academic context, should be…

This document addresses how the widespread diversity of American higher education has become a distinctive and defining characteristic of the system as a whole. The goal of this document is to create an understanding of diversity in higher education by addressing the classification of higher education, the foundation and development of the…

Longitudinal survey research permits examination of the influence profiles of free-standing faculty senates and coexisting senates and faculty unions on U.S. college campuses. The forces prompting flow of power away from faculty deliberative bodies are discussed and the future of senates in hard times is examined. (MSE)

The relative weakness of the faculty governance structures at Rutgers University are illustrated. It is suggested that the faculty may not make wiser or better academic decisions, but that collective bargaining is one way to bring some balance into academic decision making. (MLW)

Reports a survey of every unionized college and university in the nation on the impact of faculty collective bargaining on traditional processes of academic governance, particularly faculty senates. One of several conclusions: the degree of threat that unions constitute depends on past history of the senate, legal framework, administrator role,…

College faculty at many institutions feel sidelined as others decide major issues. Some blame trustees, administrators, and the need for rapid decision making; others find faculty are not taking an active enough role in governance. Faculty senates are reviewing their governance documents to make improvements, and are trying to rally more faculty…