Distributed leadership has become one of the most popular and important leadership models in the West, particularly in the field of education. However, both theoretical and empirical research into distributed leadership in the Chinese Higher Education context is rare. This dearth of literature on the subject has motivated the authors to carry out…

This study, conducted as part of an unfunded research project, presents the findings of an empirical investigation aimed at developing a comprehensive framework of key competencies for heads of academic departments. The framework is designed to support both the preparation of academics for leadership roles and the ongoing development and…

Literacy abilities are crucial for economic progress and community welfare, with higher education recognizing them as vital for problem-solving, critical thinking, continuous learning, and effective functioning for both experienced educators and the new student cohorts. The study examined the interplay between organizational learning and…

Teaching evaluation at many institutions is insufficient to support, recognize, and reward effective teaching. We developed a long-term intervention to support science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) department heads in advancing teaching evaluation practices. We describe the intervention and systematically investigate its impact…

This study explores an understudied yet critically important role in higher education: the academic department chair. Building on research related to the gendered organization of faculty life and using a national sample of department leaders per the COACHE "Faculty Job Satisfaction Survey" (n = 1,173), we use descriptive discriminant…

This study investigated whether the big five factors of personality traits can predict academic department chairs' leadership practices. The study had a predictive research design; the data were collected from 424 participants in the 2023 academic year, and the instruments of this study were two questionnaires. The study found that the big five…

Background/purpose: This research aims to assess the level of organizational sustainability among deans of colleges at Anbar University from the perspective of academic department heads. Materials/methods: The current study sample consisted of 50 department heads, representing 50% of the total population of 101 academic department heads. The…

One major challenge that institutions face when launching transformation efforts is that they operate in "silos," meaning that they have separate departments--for example, student services, financial aid, and advising--that operate independently with little communication or coordination. Many successful transformation efforts include a…

There is a lack of information regarding strategic planning within athletic departments at the NCAA Division II level. A survey of all 306 NCAA DII athletic directors was implemented in an attempt to provide up-to-date data. The investigation focused on the prevalence of strategic plans within athletic departments at the NCAA DII level and a…

This article describes how one department journeys from introduction to incorporation of climate fiction and an ecocritical lens in a program for grades 9-12. It explains the department's endeavors, ensuing projects, future intentions for individual and collective climate work, and ways educators can join in the movement.

In this article, I argue that we need to reposition how we think about and talk about assessment from a faculty-focused task to a student-centered process. To demonstrate the impact of this change in thinking, I will share a case study from my time as a basic course director and chair that illustrates the benefits of understanding assessment as a…

Background/purpose: College deans' responsibilities include monitoring and evaluating the performance of academic department heads to ensure that they lead academic programs, faculty members, and students efficiently, thereby contributing to the achievement of both college-level and institutional objectives. This study is the second phase of a…

This study measures the perceptions of departmental culture from both the adjunct faculty and departmental administrator perspectives. The preparation for this study included the development of a validated survey designed to collect mirrored perception data from both groups. Multiple factors in higher education have led to an overreliance on…

The purpose of this paper is twofold; first, we seek to understand the professional roles of officials from state education agencies (SEAs) charged with overseeing school counseling. Second, the study examined how SEA officials carry out their work supporting school counselors. We interviewed 34 counseling representatives from 30 distinct states,…

This study aimed to identify the income-generating activities and explore its management model using the case study method. In-depth interviews and documentation were used to collect data. The sample used purposive sampling from 26 study programs. Government subsidy, which is meant to cater to tuition and operational expenses, has been inadequate.…