Open AccessPresidential Interactions with Faculty Senates: Expectations and Practices
Author(s) -
G. David Gearhart,
Michael T. Miller,
Daniel P. Nadler
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of education and training
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2330-9709
DOI - 10.5296/jet.v8i1.18297
Subject(s) - presidency , presidential system , institution , public relations , higher education , element (criminal law) , political science , corporate governance , process (computing) , public administration , sample (material) , perception , sociology , management , psychology , politics , law , economics , chemistry , chromatography , neuroscience , computer science , operating system
Shared governance is an important element in higher education decision making. Through the joint decision making process, faculty members are provided an opportunity to help shape the future of an institution while increasing support for decisions that are made. Presidents, those leaders who are legally bound to guide their institutions, must find ways to collaborate effectively with faculty members in making decisions, and the first step in this process is understanding when and how presidents and faculty leaders interact. In the current study, a national sample of college presidents reported their preparation for the presidency, their perceptions of the functions of a faculty senate, and ultimately, the locations for important interactions between presidents and faculty senates. Results indicated that presidents, regardless of their preparation, found official functions to be the most important for communicating, although, those presidents with academic backgrounds were more likely to perceive faculty senates as having a role in all aspects of an institutions management.