The Forum for the Furture of Higher Education
The Forum for the Future of Higher Education
Curtis J. Clark
HE530: Higher Education Organization & Governance
Kaplan University
Introduction The “Forum for the Future of Higher Education” presented four major issues that higher education currently face to its conference participants. The issues included; increasing enrollment, budget cuts, expansion of distance learning programs, and institutional accountability. These issues challenge and confound institutions of higher education, especially with the looming budget cuts that they face. This paper will examine the effectiveness of; leadership, decision-making, funding, distance learning, and accountability.
Organization and Governance Governance is a process that permits people to work together (Birnbaum, 1988). When the institution’s governance structure serves its purpose it will encourage those involved to make a difference. If an institution aspires to be productive the principles of organization and governance should be employed. This will enable the respective institution of higher education to operate effectively. Some principles to incorporate in this model are; leadership, structure, and decision making. Leadership should be treated as something identifiable, tangible, measurable, and efficacious (Birnbaum, p.22, 1988). The study of leadership is more difficult in colleges and universities than in other settings because of dual control systems, conflicts between professional and administrative authority, unclear goals, and the other unique properties of professional, normative organizations (Birnbaum, p.22, 1988). In particular, the relationship between those identified as leaders and those whom they presume to lead is problematic (Birnbaum, p.22, 1988). Colleges and universities need leaders and managers who can turn their visions into reality (McDade, p.1, 1988). Decisions regarding budgets, curriculum, athletics, and student programs make leaders an essential part of higher
Curtis J. Clark
HE530: Higher Education Organization & Governance
Kaplan University
Introduction The “Forum for the Future of Higher Education” presented four major issues that higher education currently face to its conference participants. The issues included; increasing enrollment, budget cuts, expansion of distance learning programs, and institutional accountability. These issues challenge and confound institutions of higher education, especially with the looming budget cuts that they face. This paper will examine the effectiveness of; leadership, decision-making, funding, distance learning, and accountability.
Organization and Governance Governance is a process that permits people to work together (Birnbaum, 1988). When the institution’s governance structure serves its purpose it will encourage those involved to make a difference. If an institution aspires to be productive the principles of organization and governance should be employed. This will enable the respective institution of higher education to operate effectively. Some principles to incorporate in this model are; leadership, structure, and decision making. Leadership should be treated as something identifiable, tangible, measurable, and efficacious (Birnbaum, p.22, 1988). The study of leadership is more difficult in colleges and universities than in other settings because of dual control systems, conflicts between professional and administrative authority, unclear goals, and the other unique properties of professional, normative organizations (Birnbaum, p.22, 1988). In particular, the relationship between those identified as leaders and those whom they presume to lead is problematic (Birnbaum, p.22, 1988). Colleges and universities need leaders and managers who can turn their visions into reality (McDade, p.1, 1988). Decisions regarding budgets, curriculum, athletics, and student programs make leaders an essential part of higher
References: Alesch, D.J., & Holly, J.N. (n.d.). Tight coupling, open systems and losses from extreme events. 1-6. Birnbaum, R. (1988). How colleges work the cybernetics of academic organization and leadership. San Francisco: Jossey - Bass Publishers. Distance learning in North Carolina (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sampsonce.edu/DistanceLearning-DL-in-NC.asp Grantham, M. (1999). Accountability in higher education: are there "fatal errors" embedded in current u.s. policies affecting higher education? 1-7. Kelderman, E. (2008, October 14). Fresh round of state budget cuts hits higher education. Retrieved from http://www.chronicle.com/article/Fresh-Round-of-State-Budget/1244 McDade, S. A. (1988). Leadership in higher education. Eric Digest, 1-7.