Building Best Practices for Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness
Leadership

Stepping Out of Silos: Building Best Practices for Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness 

Academic Affairs and Institutional Effectiveness are two of the most important units within any higher education entity and are necessary to ensure an institution is focused on accomplishing the mission. Academic Affairs is familiar to those who have functioned in the college environment. Traditionally, Academic Affairs is the division known…

creating strong chair-dean relationship
Leadership

Creating a Strong Chair-Dean Partnership: What Chairs Can Do from Their End (Part 2) 

In Part 1 of this two-part series on strengthening the relationship between chairs and deans, we discussed prioritizing student success and satisfaction, capitalizing on the institution’s greatest investment—the faculty— and developing a vision that goes beyond departmental considerations. Here we will continue with three additional points detailing what a chair…

Creating a Strong Chair-Dean Partnership with a handshake
Leadership

Creating a Strong Chair-Dean Partnership: What Chairs Can Do from Their End (Part 1) 

In viewing the organizational structure of our colleges and universities, there is a common hierarchy of faculty, chairs, deans, and higher administration that includes a president or campus leader and may include a provost or the equivalent. Much has been written about the interaction of chairs with their faculty. Inherent…

Leadership, Mission and Philosophy

Can Innovation Be Taught? 

As budgets tighten at colleges and universities, academic leaders are repeatedly urged to be more entrepreneurial in their approaches. “It’s time to think outside the box,” we’re told. “Be creative. Be daring. Be innovative.” But what do you do if you’re not a naturally innovative person? Or how can you be creative if the people who work in your area rarely seem to display much creativity? In short, can innovation be taught? And even if it is taught, can it be learned?