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

In. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers ria9781442211995_new

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 emigrated to New York from Nazi Germany in 1939. He earned his doctorate in philosophy from Columbia University. His career as a teacher and scholar has included chairing three philosophy departments, serving as dean at Northwestern, and as provost at the University of Pittsburgh. He has written books and articles on numerous topics and has variously pursued his strong interests in music and art.

Bibliografische Details

Titel: Fitting Form to Function: A Primer on the ...
Verlag: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Erscheinungsdatum: 2011
Einband: Softcover
Zustand: New
Auflage: 2. Auflage