Academic Leadership

The Institutional Challenges of Full-time Faculty Retirement: Has The Expedition Accomplished All That it Promised and That it Should Accomplish?

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:18:58 PST

This paper provides a discussion of the issues and challenges that are presented in the recent literature concerning faculty retirement and the impacts this phenomenon has on colleges and universities as well as practical suggestions for administratively planning. Faculty retirement is an issue that has the potential for tremendous impact on institutions of higher education. In the coming decade there will likely be a generational shift in the faculty through retirements and rehiring and this will test many institutions in their efforts to maintain a strong core faculty strength in their curricula, research and service missions not to mention the affects this change with have on institutional governance and culture. It is also important that academic administrators and others involved in leading institutions of higher education consider how retirement should be managed, encouraged, perhaps tactically discouraged and strategically planned for in the present and over the next few decades.

State Regulation of Homeschooling and Homeschoolers’ SAT Scores

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:15:12 PST

The relationship between the degree of state regulation of homeschooling (home education) and the college-admissions SAT scores of college-bound homeschool students was examined in this cross-sectional, descriptive study. States were categorized as either low-, moderate-, or high-regulation based on each state’s education law and policy. Separate analyses were conducted for those states in which the regulation category had been stable for 5 years and for 10 years. ANOVA was used to analyze the verbal, math, and total SAT scores of 6,170 home-educated students from the 50 states and the District of Columbia. No significant relationships were found between the degree of state regulation of homeschooling and students’ SAT scores. Policymakers and academic leaders could use these findings in their discussions of home-based education as a rising educational choice and in deciding whether the state should regulate homeschooling less or more.

Giving Our Gifted Students a Voice

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:08:32 PST

The purpose of this paper is to advocate the education of gifted and talented students through a combination of work completed by teachers that are currently expanding their knowledge in this area of education. The assignment was for the students, many of whom are also teachers, to describe how they would advocate the necessity to satisfy the needs of gifted students in their classrooms.

The following are three examples of exemplary responses to this question. The first example, by Joshua Albritten, advocates the need for a disjoint gifted and talented program that allows all students to develop their gifts. The second example, submitted by Crystal Smith, shows how the label “gifted” is often misconceived and advocates the need to specialize curriculum when educating gifted children. The third example, authored by Danna Parsons, advocates exerting extra energy to serve the needs of identified gifted students in the regular classroom. Each is a modified verbatim example that aided in the development of this paper.

The Leadership Challenge – for Educational Administrators

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:04:28 PST

Transformational leadership has been observed to be correlated with organizational commitment. The results of several studies suggest that managers who practice transformational leadership behaviors will most likely experience higher trends for organizational commitment which is important because it has been linked to several important employee behaviors. Educational administrators can use the same leadership behaviors researched in other industries. The leadership behaviors outlined by Kouzes and Posner are good techniques for administrators to follow because of the amount of research done using the Leadership Practices Inventory, volume of articles about the concepts, and the availability of training and publications.

Absebteeism and Lateness Among Secondary School Students in Nigeria:Profiling Causes and Solution

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:01:00 PST

This study identified causes and possible solutions to the problems of absenteeism and lateness among secondary school students in Nigeria. A thirty-five items questionnaire was administered to 17412 respondents used in this study. Four research questions were raised and answered using percentages and Pearson r, three hypotheses were formulated and tested using ANOVA at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that; there is, a weak relationship between the causes of lateness and absenteeism, no significant difference among Principals, Teachers, Parents and Students views on the identified causes and possible solutions to the problems of absenteeism and lateness among secondary school students in Nigeria.

Expectancy Theory and its implications for employee motivation

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:59:37 PST

The significance of motivation in, and for task performance has influenced many a theorist to develop hypotheses on (1) sources of motivation, (2) contingencies for motivation, (3) essences of motivation, and (4) results of motivation. Porter and Lawler, following in the footsteps of Vroom, refined the Expectancy Theory, and one inference to be drawn from their views on motivation is that task performance requires effort, and effort is linked to unfolding potential. From an empirical investigation that was undertaken with contractor facilitators in ABET at Rustenburg Section of Anglo Platinum data which is in sync with Porter and Lawler’s Expectancy Theory was garnered. Respondents indicated that leaders in ABET are value-directed, and they understand where the organization wants to go [vision].

A Plan for Facilitating Undergraduate Student Success

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:55:32 PST

Student retention and graduation rates are a concern for universities across the nation. As university leaders work to facilitate student success, it is imperative that intangible, affective student aspects be addressed in addition to objective, quantifiable variables. This essay considers the complexities of the problem and presents a plan to increase undergraduate student retention and graduation rates from a holistic perspective.

An Imperative for Colleges and Universities: Orienting and Supporting New Faculty Members

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:50:38 PST

This study identifies current practices in orienting and supporting new faculty in mid-sized, non-Research I colleges and universities in the United States. Provosts from institutions that met the selection criteria for the study were sent on-line surveys to ascertain the duration, format and content of new faculty orientation. Analysis found that all responding institutions conduct short-term orientation sessions, with the most common topics related to administrative information and faculty role expectations. Additionally, about a third of the respondents reported more long-term induction activities throughout the year to assist faculty in becoming successful members of the higher education community.

Total Quality Management Culture and Productivity Improvement in Ethiopia Higher Institutions

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:46:40 PST

This study is an attempt to examine the concept of Total Quality Management Vis- a-vis the level of awareness and implementation in Ethiopia higher institutions with a special focus on the University system and the effects on productivity within these universities in the ever changing world of higher learning. In doing this, the study evaluates the management system as it relates to productivity with a view to identifying areas that need quality improvement. A descriptive survey design was used and was carried out ex-post facto. The only instrument designed for the study was Evaluation Questionnaire for TQM, one hundred (100) senior academic and management staff of the selected universities were sampled. Analysis of data collected reveals that installing a strong TQM is imperative. In view of the findings, the researcher made some recommendations and useful suggestions.

Interaction Patterns in Mathematics Classrooms in Ogun State Secondary Schools

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:42:13 PST

This study investigated teachers’ and students’ patterns of interaction in the course of teaching mathematics in some selected secondary schools in Ogun State, Nigeria. Twenty mathematics teachers made up of ten male and ten female teachers and their students, chosen from four secondary schools in Ijebu-Ode Township using the purposive sampling technique, participated in the study. The modified five minutes interaction (F.M.I) section of the IEA classroom environment study served as the coding instrument. Frequency counts; simple percentages and chi-square analysis were used to analyze the data collected in the study. The result indicated that the teaching of mathematics in the selected schools has not completely divorced itself from the historical antecedents in which mathematics classrooms was dominated by teacher instruction with little or no student participation in verbal interaction and skill demonstration. There were significant differences between the interaction behaviours of male and female teachers with respect to instruction, questioning, student’s responses and teachers’ feedback. The findings were discussed stressing the educational implications. Mathematics teachers were advised to encourage group work among students and to ask questions that will enhance students’ participation in mathematics teaching.

Promise and Possibility: Building collegial opportunities for scholarship

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:34:37 PST

This article documents the success and failure of a college faculty writing group which met over a three year period to increase the scholarly productivity of its members. The writing group learned to become a community when mutual benefits, lateral accountability and shared decision-making became group priorities. Once the writing group failed to maintain these priorities, the community dissolved. The article concludes with recommendations for building writing groups that establish collaborative opportunities for understanding the nature of scholarship.

New Perspectives on Academic Leadership Moving the research agenda

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:30:40 PST

Abstract

Universities operate in competitive, internationalised environments. Strategic capability has consequently gained priority. Academic leadership is now at the forefront of attention, particularly development of middle management academic roles

Leadership development is not new for HRD scholarship, but has not attracted the same level of interest as other areas. Yet in mainstream management literature leadership is fundamentally linked to successful organisational change The paper is designed to address and better understand this apparent paradox.

The purpose of this paper is threefold:

to expand the theory base underpinning academic leadership and HRD;

to challenge prevailing myths about the ‘unwilling academic manager’;

open up new research avenues and questions which have a better chance of constructively supporting HRD practice in HE.

Debate has primarily been conducted from ‘managerial’ and ‘critical’ perspectives’ concern with academics’ readiness and willingness to engage with management and leadership. Academics are generally ill-prepared for these roles and need greater preparation; HRD intervention is amply legitimised. This legitimacy is contested from the critical perspective which contends that academics have accommodated or ‘gone over to’ managerialism.

Both perspectives are valid, however we propose that social identity theory (SIT) offers a suitable theoretical framework which can both further understanding of academics’ engagement with management and leadership, and enhance HRD practice. The paper argues the need for HRD to better ‘theorise’ leadership and HRD .

SIT provides a sophisticated explanatory framework for analysing the mobility of individuals between groups and explains observed differences in the extent to which academics embrace management and leadership and opens up new research questions.

Urban vs. Rural Baccalaureate Colleges: A National Study of Student Financial Aid

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:13:57 PST

The study examined financial aid awards for first-time, full-time students attending baccalaureate colleges of arts and sciences by the degree of urbanization classifications of city, suburban, town, and rural. Findings indicate no statistical differences in percentages of students receiving financial aid. No differences were identified in the average amount of federal financial, state/local grant aid, or institutional grant aid received. Statistical difference was found in the average amount of student loan aid received. Students attending city colleges received higher loan aid than counterparts attending colleges located in suburban and town settings. Implications of the findings are discussed. Suggestions for future research are identified.

From Social Justice to Collaborative Activism: Changing the Landscape of Academic Leadership

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:10:35 PST

The millennium arrived with great economic prosperity. Currently the United State faces a weaker economy, a depressed housing market, a costly Iraq war and problems regarding power, race, identity, violence, and ethics. Today’s educators face great challenges that have broad implications. This article speaks to transforming schools by changing the landscape of academic leadership in an educational leadership preparation program in the southeastern part of the United States. The author engages discourses situated in social justice, collaborative activism and critical theory to speak to the purpose of public schools and the role of democratic education in public life.

Understanding the Teacher Professional Development Facilitators and Barriers to Serve a Diverse Student Population

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:00:27 PST

Leadership Transitions: The Key to Organizational Success

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:48:01 PST

When people join an organization, they bring with them enabling attitudes, skills, competencies and knowledge tat will in large part, determine their future success and performance. They have established a pattern of achievement. They have been raised in a values context of family, religion and politics. They have formed beliefs and attitudes about a variety of topics. They have established a pattern of techniques, which have lead to past achievement. They have a level of interpersonal skills, got style of thinking and skill of problem solving. Assuming they have potential, whether they continue to perform effectively and achieve success depends on how well the organization enables their continued growth through orientation, training, development and assignment management.

The present paper will identify the leadership features that are conducive during transitions which will in turn brings success. It will also show that leadership is not only liked to organizational success, but that it is a vital component of a successful business strategy.

An Analysis of the Organizational Patterns of North Carolina School Districts

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:41:41 PST

This study of the organizational patterns of North Carolina school districts resulted in the establishment of seven different types of school district organizational patterns based on analyses of district organizational charts. We believe the study makes important contributions to the understanding of the hierarchy of communication and control of typical school districts in a world of ever-flattening organizations.

An Invegsitation of Assessment Practices by Teachers Business Education Subjects

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:34:36 PST

This study is an investigation on whether business education teachers assess the complete domain of learning and the extent to which they uses comprehensive assessment instrument. The sample for the study consisted of one hundred and fifty teachers randomly selected from three local government areas of Ogun State. The study adopted the survey research design. Two research questions were raised to direct the study. The researcher design and validated checklist titled “Teachers’ Classroom Assessment Practices Checklist (TECAPC)” was the only instrument used for the purpose of data collection. Data collected were analyzed using the descriptive statistics. The results showed that 65% of the teachers assessed the cognitive domain of behavioural objectives in their student achievement alone, 16% assessed the affective domain, while 36% indicated that they used to assessed the psychomotor domain and also of all the listed assessment instrument 48% of the teachers used assessment instrument for measuring cognitive domain more frequently, 12% frequently used the assessment instrument for measuring the affective domain while only 17% of the teachers made use of the assessment instrument for measuring psychomotor domain frequently.

Principals’ Strategies for Successfully Closing the Achievement Gaps in their Schools

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:07:23 PST

A sample of 311 principals from a large metropolitan area in the southwest region of the U. S. responded to a cognitive interview that asked principals to identify the strategies they successfully used to reduce the achievement gaps in their schools. Some of the successful strategies that the principals reported were: (a) tutoring during school, after-school, and on Saturday, (b) implementing specific remedial, pull-out programs or interventions, (c) using effective instructional strategies such as differentiated instruction, individualized instruction, and small group instruction, and (d) focusing on students’ achievement data and identifying specific areas of weaknesses for students.

Nancy K. Martin

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:53:16 PST