Using hierarchical confirmatory factor analysis to analyze multitrait-multimethod data, the validity of the Satisfaction with My Supervisor Scale (SWMSS) was evaluated by comparing the SWMSS to commitments to the organization, department, and occupation for 100 professional employees of a multinational software firm. The validity of the SWMSS was…

Investigates whether individual levels of organizational commitment are related positively to perceptions of organizational climate and of communication climate. Finds that employees' perceptions of organizational climate and of communication climate were correlated positively with the level of employees' organizational commitment. (PRA)

Recounts a fictitious high school's steps to build support for whole school change. To create a framework for change, Farragut High developed a vision statement of organization characteristics and a profile of current school characteristics and assembled people to coordinate the change process. A hands-on leadership role for the principal was…

Feminist scholarship, as a contemporary current in academic life, is analyzed from the perspective of research on the formation of intentional intellectual communities. Interview data reveal that faculty conceive of their commitments and sense of community in ways that do not always correspond to idealized conceptions of academic organization.…

Strategies for the college institutional researcher to use in responding to an unethical request for information or research are outlined, including techniques for developing an effective personal administrative style, basic principles of strategic communication, and the ultimate option of resignation. (MSE)

Corporations increased their giving to schools, colleges, and universities in 1993 by the biggest margin in four years, with the increase outpacing inflation. However, some warn that this should not be interpreted as a return to widespread corporate giving. Donations in 1994 are likely to increase only slightly, if at all. (MSE)

Discusses four major conflict areas in contemporary librarianship: service versus teaching, resource allocation, the extent of professional autonomy, and the allocation of duties and responsibilities between professionals and support staff. Topics addressed include conflict as a normal part of organizational life and creative responses to…

Although distance educators have embraced technologies that have significantly improved instruction, in part because of an interdisciplinary or team approach to instruction and use of mixed media, on-campus educators have largely ignored that technological potential. Institutional leaders are encouraged to create an environment that supports…

Schools' characteristics obstruct reform because teacher and student norms and values are at variance with one another. Because most reforms gobble teacher time, reduce teacher autonomy, and disturb current routines, they frequently fail. Chances for success will improve when context or reforms directly addressing organizational features are…

The Teachers Insurance and Annuities Association (TIAA) is criticized for inadequate financial disclosure of its mortgage and real estate investments, especially in the current market. A TIAA vice president responds that the company has not been remiss in reporting changes to its constituents and outlines its present financial status. (MSE)

The challenges of resolving conflicts between the sponsored programs administration office and the development office are discussed and the need for cooperation and role demarcation are emphasized. Steps taken by the University of Akron (Ohio) to enhance cooperation between the offices through cooperation and communication are outlined. (MSE)

Student culture exerts significant influence on many aspects of college life by determining the kinds of people with whom one spends time and the values and attitudes to which one is exposed. To encourage attitudes and values consistent with the institution's educational purpose, cultural elements must be discovered and understood. (Author/MSE)

A survey of 122 minority college and university faculty and staff in the United States and Puerto Rico investigated the relationship of significant accomplishments to academic and personal achievement, role of environment and supportive individuals in motivation and professional growth, response to failure or disenchantment, and other factors in…

The Student Problem Identification/Resolution Program developed by the U.S. Department of Justice Community Relations Service assists school administrators in addressing racial/ethnic tensions manifested on secondary school campuses. The project involves students, teachers, and administrators in improving schools' learning environment through…

A conceptual model offering four perspectives on organizational life (structural, human resources, political, symbolic) is outlined, and it application to the formal organization of a newly-established urban higher education center is described. Use of the model was found to enhance analysis of problems and understanding of organizational…