ERIC Number: ED028742
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1968
Pages: 56
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Faculty Participation in Academic Decision Making. Report of a Study.
Dykes, Archie R.
Personal interviews with a random sample of 106 faculty members of a large midwestern university dealt with the role of faculty in decision making on academic, financial, and student affairs, personnel matters, capital improvements, and public and alumni relations. While the faculty members interviewed indicated that faculty should have a strong, active, and somewhat controlling influence in decisions, particularly in the areas of academic affairs and the educational program, they tended to give research and other professional activities precedence over active decision making in their system of priorities. The most significant finding on how faculty members participate is that the departmental staff meeting was generally considered to be the only instrument of participation that was useful. A marked discrepancy between what the faculty perceived its decision-making role to be and what it actually is may be the result of a communications gap between faculty and administration. The source of much faculty-administration tension is that many faculty members believe that increased administrative power would result in decreased faculty power. The fundamental problem is that the misunderstanding of administrative authority and the consequent separation of powers forestalls effective leadership, and without the collective efforts of administration and faculty, the definition and attainment of institutional goals is impossible. (WM)
Descriptors: Academic Freedom, College Faculty, Decision Making, Higher Education, Institutional Administration, Teacher Administrator Relationship, Teacher Participation
American Council on Education, 1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036 ($2.00)
Publication Type: N/A
Education Level: N/A
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Language: N/A
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: American Council on Education, Washington, DC.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A