While current student personnel issues such as restricted budgets, personal accountability, and increased, government regulations necessarily have been the focal concerns of chief student personnel officers, the growth and development of new professional staff who work with them on these priorities have not been given much attention. New student…

The National Study of New Professionals in Student Affairs is a year-long study of the transition of 90 new professionals to their first full-time job in the field. Data collection for this qualitative study was conducted monthly through an online survey system. We report findings of the study that bear on graduate program curricula,…

A simple strategy for identifying the new college faculty who are effective and productive quickly in their jobs is offered. It consists of eight characteristic behaviors that may be taught to new faculty to facilitate their transition into teaching. Balance of emphasis on teaching, collegial interactions, and writing is encouraged. (MSE)

Results are reported of a study of the responsibilities and qualifications of university clerical staff, focusing on the intellectual, entrepreneurial, interpersonal, and maturational competencies that distinguish effective performers. (MSE)

The idea of institutionally sponsored employee mentoring programs, sometimes used in industry, is applied to personnel management in higher education institutions. The benefits and problems of such programs are discussed, and suggestions are made for program design at the entry level and for career development. (MSE)

A registrar replacing a long-time college registrar describes how it feels to follow an institutional legend and outlines some facts, approaches, and viewpoints learned during his first year of experience in the job, such as student and faculty attitudes, typical situations, and pitfalls. (MSE)

The new president should know that his success depends on his vision of what constitutes good teaching, competent management, excellent personnel, effective promotion, and above all, outstanding service to students. Proactive efforts during the first 100 days give the administrator the best chance to build momentum for the institution's future.…

A survey involving 1,142 Nashville, Tennessee, area businesses was conducted to assess current employment interest and future labor demands for entry-level jobs. Major objectives of the project component, part of a three-pronged effort to improve vocational education, were (1) to provide for greater involvement by business and industry in…

This study provides a tool for describing, analyzing, and evaluating the effectiveness of human resources development (HRD) systems and their components. It is intended for policy makers, planners, and senior officials from government, employers', and workers' organizations who have responsibilities in human resources development. The first part…

A study investigated relationships between university characteristics and job offers, employment status, job attitudes, and job performance of newly hired college graduates in accounting. Results indicate little correlation between institutional characteristics and job attitudes or performance, some correlation with number of job offers, more with…

Kennesaw State College (Georgia) has developed initiatives to enhance leadership and team-building skills of classified employees. The programs include a staff leadership training course, open to 20-24 employees annually, and the Staff Training and Orientation Program (STOP) to provide new employees with information about the institution in an…

Younger employees in school admissions and records offices wishing to advance within the organization are encouraged to distinguish themselves, find a specialty, focus on customer relations, communicate expectations in leadership situations, keep priorities straight, embrace change and cultivate flexibility, keep integrity intact, and develop a…

Industrial change and the restructuring of employment opportunity in the nation's largest cities have created a mismatch between available jobs and the skills of resident workers. The "upskilling" of jobs must be met by the "upschooling" of the labor force through new partnerships among public schools and higher education…

This article argues that college and university personnel in technical positions may be a good source of potential managers, provided the institution creates opportunities and development processes to support the transition. Crucial factors include employee career motivations, institutional support, and existence of and training in management…

A study found few gender differences in young college faculty's (n=115) reasons for acceptance, rejection, or resignation of academic positions. Results imply academic recruiting should focus on quality of academic life in the department or institution, accommodating family members' needs, and job security in the form of longer, tenure-track…