This document records testimony from a hearing before the Committee on Education and Labor that was held to examine ways to improve accountability and prevent fraud in for-profit college conversions. Member statements were provided by: (1) Honorable Robert C. Scott, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor; and (2) Honorable Virginia Foxx,…

This article represents a lecture given by Professor Steve Smith at the Association of University Administrators Annual Lecture on 20 October 2009. There has been considerable change in the sector since the lecture was delivered, however, the Editor and author felt that the issues still pose significant challenges to higher education (HE), and…

Integrating institutional research, outcomes assessment, program review, strategic planning, and accreditation can be a powerful means of creating a culture of evidence-based decision making and continuous improvement. This study examined how this "integrated" model is organized in practice, how such offices began, why this approach was chosen,…

In the wake of negative publicity about American higher education and public knowledge of measuring student outcomes, a study was done of the importance of regional accreditaiton as perceived by college presidents. Focus of the study was on the relationship of interpersonal values to each president's view of accreditation. Using the Likert Scale…

Debunks six myths about leadership, arguing that there are no "grand truths" nor "perfect solutions"; that efforts to combat personal prejudices must be ongoing; that purity of motives will not guarantee understanding; and that there is not enough time to do everything. Describes the stress involved in believing in myths. (DMM)

The purpose of this study was to gather information on what the role of university presidential spouses should be as reported by spouses and chairs of boards of trustees at member institutions of the Association of American Universities (AAU). Data were gathered from a survey that was mailed to spouses and trustees during the summer of 1989. At…

This study detailed how two community college presidents framed issues and events of change on their campuses based on their thinking, and it outlined the sources of power they used during the application of their plans for change. Both presidents were relatively new at their jobs; both had come from out of state to assume their new roles. A total…

This study examined the status of the interim presidency at public research/doctorate-granting universities. A questionnaire soliciting demographic data on interim presidential utilization was sent to the institutional research offices at 134 universities, and the returned questionnaires, 20 interim presidents were selected to participate in…

A national survey of college presidents sought to develop a profile of the leadership behaviors of effective college executives. First, a number of qualified observers (association heads, foundation heads, or scholars) and presidents were asked to nominate effective administrators as survey recipients. The resulting 412 nominees and a…

Leadership in higher education is considered from the perspective of its symbolic dimensions. Results of a study of presidential perceptions of leadership are also examined in order to uncover the symbolic forms that leaders use to accomplish their goals. Organizational symbolism and interpretations of leadership are considered. Topics include:…

The extent to which college presidents incorporate single or multiple vantage points in evaluating good leadership was studied, based on Bolman and Deal's framework as adapted by Birnbaum. They suggest that leaders implicitly use different cognitive "frames" to define their role and understand organizational behavior. A frame helps the…

The history of James Burrill Angell as the president of the University of Michigan presents a case study of the role of 19th century liberal Protestant university builders in the eventual marginalization of religion from the mainstream of U.S. higher education. Angell's tenure, which began in 1871, encompassed the period in which the modern…

This study examines the life and career of Julia Ann Sears, the first known female president of a public, coeducational institution of higher education in the United States. Sears, an educator from Massachusetts, served as president (principal) of the State Normal School at Mankato, Minnesota, from 1872-73 after teaching there for one year. At the…

A qualitative study was conducted to determine the influence of mentors on the career development of Illinois community college presidents, and the extent to which those presidents were now mentoring others. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 community college presidents in the state to gather information on mentoring characteristics and…

Perceived leadership styles of black college presidents at institutions in the southeast and southwest United States were studied. The Cole Leadership Style Questionnaire was administered to the presidents to determine their perceptions regarding their leadership styles, as well as information concerning their age, highest degree earned, and job…