Fitting Form to Function : A Primer on the Organization of Academic Institutions

Weingartner, Rudolph H.

ISBN 10: 1442211997 / ISBN 13: 9781442211995

Verlag: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2011

Beschreibung

Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 14048597-n

Bibliografische Details

• Titel: Fitting Form to Function : A Primer on the Organization of Academic Institutions
• Verlag: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2011
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN-10: 1442211997
• ISBN-13: 9781442211995
• Einband: Softcover
• Auflage: 2. Auflage
• Zustand: New

Über diesen Titel

Inhaltsangabe

Institutions of higher education are not like corporations: they have multiple goals, not even limited to the central ones of teaching and research, nor are they organized hierarchically. One class of leading inhabitants, faculty members, are a cross between independent contractors and employees; another class, administrators, are a cross between bosses and colleagues. Fitting Form to Function discusses how such institutions are best organized; how decisions are best made at various levels; how administrators and faculty can effectively collaborate in giving shape to a university or college. The book takes up such topics as the office of the president, of the provost, the dean and the chairperson of a department. It considers how committees are formed to function effectively-from a faculty senate to budget and planning committees to those that advise on promotions and others that adjudicate when there are grievances. Fitting Form to Function is written in an informal style. No jargon, no footnotes, but sporting 27 recurring maxims, such as Maxim 1, In academic institutions, the forces of nature are centrifugal; organizational art must be used to create propensities toward coherence; Maxim 17, Boundaries are less likely to create solidarity among those who live within them than they constitute barriers for those residing outside them; and Maxim 23, 'A' people hire (or retain) 'A' people, while 'B' people hire 'C' people.

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Rudolph H. Weingartner is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh. He was also dean of arts and sciences at Northwestern and provost at the University of Pittsburgh.