Academic administrators at all levels have some impact on the performance of faculty members, yet each level of administration may interact differently with faculty. Literature has strongly supported the notion that department chairs, deans, and provosts can positively influence the performance and livelihood of faculty members. This study was…

Faculty members in higher education institutions frequently have the responsibility of providing service activities to their institutions, professional societies, and external communities. This responsibility, however, generally carries little reward in the workplace and does not play a major role in promotion criteria. For the study we report…

Having a strong, positive departmental chair is critical to enhancing and assuring faculty performance and student learning. Poor leadership, however, can result in increased faculty turn over, poor teaching and research performance, and even the discouragement of students from enrolling. The current study explored response strategies by faculty…

The current study explored the theory of hope as a characteristic of individuals who engage in shared faculty governance, specifically addressing the question: What are the characteristics of faculty governance leaders, specifically their predispositions to have hopeful attitudes about their college campuses and administration? A survey was…

Personal narratives provide typically unabashed enthusiasm for sabbatical leave programs, but few studies have explored the results of sabbaticals and the impact that these sabbaticals can and do have on the department and the university. This paper reports on the creation of an assessment instrument to measure the impact of a faculty member's…

Describes a study of 265 two-year college faculty in the southeastern United States to determine the effect of their involvement in governance on the teaching process. Reports that involved faculty had more positive attitudes toward students and were more motivated. Discusses implications of findings for teaching. (18 citations) (AJL)

Profiles individuals in the faculty governance leadership position, based on survey responses from 244 faculty governance leaders, including their written and oral communication apprehension levels, and the relationship of this apprehension to job-related stressors. States that effective communication is paramount to faculty governance unit leader…

Descibes an investigation of 110 faculty who were involved (highly, moderately, or not at all) in governance activities in community colleges. No differences were found in perceptions about ideal governance-process characteristics or faculty involvement in shared governance. However, there was a difference in general perception toward the role of…

Describes a study of 3,000 department heads at U.S. community colleges to determine their perceptions of their responsibility to offer student services at the department level. Indicates that scheduling classes, responding to student interests, and integrating computers into instruction were rated highly, while emphasizing transfer received low…

Describes a study assessing community college faculty perceptions of the objectives for faculty orientation programs. Suggests that orientations were designed to assist new faculty in understanding their institution's mission and that responses revealed high expectations for faculty orientation programs but no expectations that the programs serve…

This paper reviews the literature on college faculty sabbatical leave and sabbatical leave programs often described as 'paid vacations' with no accountability. The literature indicates that sabbatical leave was an important part of any faculty development program. Those who took sabbatical leaves overwhelmingly reported the experience as a…

Describes a study of 103 faculty at a comprehensive community college to identify the issues needing improvement related to the effective provision of training services to business and industry. Indicates that faculty identified needs for training in instructional methods; relating to learners; and teaching business-related topics, such as team…

The internet has become an indispensable tool in the twenty first century. However, the development may be slowed by a lack of appropriate facilities in less developed nations. A study of existing facilities in Burkina Faso was undertaken to answer five questions on the participants' perspectives on internet usage: (a) how do the participants…

The objective of this study was to investigate the concept of stress in the community college faculty governance unit. While research has found that most faculty experience stress as a result of workload, publishing pressures, and insufficient salaries, this study asserts that some faculty experience an additional dimension of stress as a result…

Describes a study that reviewed the sabbatical program at the University of Alabama. Indicates that while faculty believed they were better teachers and scholars as a result of taking sabbatical leave, the objective data do not support these perceptions. (JDI)