Education Commons^™

New Professors: Promotion And Tenure Issues, Marilyn Grady

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

The purpose of this manuscript is to report the findings of 25 years of observation, conversation, and study of the promotion and tenure challenges experienced by new or junior professors. New professors may encounter unique conditions as they begin their careers in higher education. As new professors share their "new learnings" about the professoriate, they uniformly report encountering a workplace that has no peer in the professional world. Based on these conversations with new professors about their experiences as they sought promotion and tenure, the following "tips" are offered to those who are new to the role of professor.

Safe Proms In High-Risk Times, Nicholas J. Pace

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

In the spring of Pete's senior year, Jeri told me that he was probably going to stop keeping his secret and would likely bring his boyfriend to the prom. I exhaled a heavy combination of a laugh and a scoff. "You've got to talk him out of it," I said, matter-of- factly. My initial response had no relationship to my feelings toward the morality of homosexuality, nor did it result from any deeply held philosophical or religious views on homosexuality. The gut level response came, sadly, from a purely administrative, managerial, "try to keep the lid on" mentality. We talked …

Distance Education Strategy: Mental Models And Strategic Choices, John C. Adams, Alan T. Seagren

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

What issues do distance education (DE) leaders believe will influence the future of DE? What are their colleges’ DE strategies? This qualitative study compares DE strategic thinking and strategic choices at three community colleges. Two propositions are investigated: (1) each college’s DE leaders use common strategic mental models (ways of thinking about key environmental issues and relationships), and (2) DE leaders from the three colleges employ common industry-level strategic mental models. The major findings are: (1) strategic beliefs are more varied than expected; (2) strategic choices address common DE issues but are tailored to local contexts; and (3) leaders’ beliefs …

Voices In The Hallway: Three Rural Iowa Schools, Victoria Robinson, Thomas Blaine, Nicholas J. Pace

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Students,faculty, administration, and community members of three Iowa rural school districts were interviewed to identify educational issues in their communities The results of the Iowa investigation are compared with the results of the Claremont Graduate School investigation published in Voices from the inside: A report on schooling from inside the classroom (1992). The Claremont study investigated large urban schools. The Iowa study provides insight into small, rural school districts. Although similar issues emerged from the two studies, other issues demonstrated the different realities of education in rural Iowa and education in a large culturally diverse urban setting.

A Comparison Of Bullying In Four Rural Middle And High Schools, Jody Isernhagen, Sandra Harris

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Bullying in rural school settings is clearly a problem and some of our students are suffering as a result .. Bullying is defined in this study of 819 rural middle and high school students as when a student is exposed repeatedly to negative actions by one or more other students. Students responded to a questionnaire about how often and where bullying occurred and who students told. Analysis of the data reported frequencies, and the Pearson chi-square was used to test for significance (p <.05) for gender and school level. Results indicated that while there are many similarities, there are some differences in bullying at these two levels that should be considered when reducing bullying. First, students should be encouraged to develop positive strategies to react to name calling and teasing particularly at the middle school level. Second, administrators and teachers must communicate better with students that they care about reducing bullying, especially at the high school level.

Gay, Rural, And Coming Out: A Case Study Of One School's Experience, Nicholas J. Pace

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

This case study details the events surrounding a gay student's "coming out" in a small, rural high school. Through the eyes and experiences of the student, his teachers, classmates, and community, we hear the story of how the school and community dealt with an issue they had never before actively considered. Through qualitative interviews, the former high school principal describes reactions and lessons learned as the student made his sexual orientation known, attended prom, and was awarded one of three Matthew Shepard Scholarships given in the state. The unexpected way in which events unfolded in the school and community were …

The State Department Of Education's Role In Creating Safe Schools, Marilyn Grady, Jean Haar, Mary Ann Losh

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

The authority for public education in the United States does not stem from the Constitution, but rather is a "reserved" power remaining with the states. It originates from the Tenth Amendment, which reserves to the states those powers neither expressly given to the national govennnent nor denied to the state governments. However, most states have not exercised their authority for public education directly until recent decades. Education is a state function that is largely locally administered (Aikin, Linden, Noel, & Ray, 1992). Each state exercises its education function completely or in part through a state department of education that has …

You've Got To Talk Him Out Of It, Nicholas J. Pace

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

When a student makes his sexual identity public in a small rural community, worst-case scenarios occupy the principal's thoughts. Prepare for problems but don't underestimate your students and school community. Be ready to live up to your school's mission statement that promises to care for every student.

Faculty Use Of Student Evaluation Feedback, Yuankun Yoo, Ellen Weissinger, Marilyn L. Grady

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

This study examined faculty formative use of end of semester student rating of instruction (SRI) feedback. Over 600 faculty from three universities responded to a mailed survey. The majority of faculty reported using SRI feedback on a regular basis. Formative use of the SRI feedback was found to relate to faculty perceptions and values. The use of negative practices was reported by a small percentage of respondents. The results provide support to revised version of Geis's (1991) SRI feedback model.

Education Policy Analysis Archives, Kirsten L. Rewey, Brent D. Cejda

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Abstract Chief Academic Officer (CAO) is the most common position title before assuming the presidency of a college or university. Results from a national survey are used to develop a profile of the CAO in each respective Carnegie institutional classification. The typical CAO in four-year institutions is Caucasian, male, 54 years old, and married. He holds a doctoral degree, most likely in humanities or social sciences, and has held the CAO position for 5 or fewer years. Most often, the CAO served as a Dean or Associate Dean in the previous position. All CAOs have classroom experience, but 3% have …

Collaborating On Web-Based Instruction In Higher Education: Benefifits And Risks, Barbara Y. Lacost, Jody Isernhagen, Larry L. Dlugosh

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

The United States spends $600 billion on education of all types each year, making it the second largest industry after health care. Dunn (2000) estimates that the typical citizen will need the equivalent of 30 semester credits of coursework every 10 years to stay current with coming changes in their fields and lives. Innovative ways of providing such access to education, an absolute imperative in the merging global knowledge society, are required. Distance education provides access through multiple technologies and oftentimes includes some on-site instruction (Dunn, 2000; LaCost, 1998). Networked education (in higher education often referred to as a virtual …

Classroom Management Issues For Teaching Assistants, Jiali Luo, Laurie H Bellows, Marilyn Grady

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

For many graduate teaching assistants, the task of planning, organizing, motivating, and controlling classroom environments can be overwhelming. Empirical research pertaining to major classroom management problems experienced by TAs is scarce. This article is a report of a survey study regarding TA classroom management at a large, land-grant Research 1 University. The study provides specific information about TAs’ perceptions of classroom management experiences and concerns based on TA type, gender, teaching experience, and academic discipline. The results of the study indicate that international and U.S. TAs experienced many common problems, but each of the two types of TAs also had …

A Pernicious Problem: The Absence Of Women From Administrative Roles, Marilyn Grady, Barbara Lacost, Frederick C. Wendel, Bernita Krumm

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

In 1972 Title IX, the vaccine against gender inequity, was unveiled. Title IX is a federal law making sex discrimination in schools illegal. Under Title IX, sex bias is outlawed in school athletics, career counseling, medical services, financial aid, admission practices, and the treatment of students. In 1974, Congress passed the Women's Educational Equity Act to fund research, materials, and training to help schools eliminate gender bias. In 1978, Congress broadened the Civil Rights Act to include educational services to eliminate gender bias. Under the redesigned civil rights legislation, ten sex desegregation assistance centers were created to assist teachers, parents, …

Pathways To Administrative Positions, Marilyn Grady, Bernita Krumm, Kaye Lynn Peery

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Preparing for the job search, acquiring administrative skills, being part of a network, being in the "right place at the right time," and being the most qualified for a position are all pathways to administrative positions.

Throughout the United States, the majority of students enrolled in educational administration preparation programs are women. The struggle by women to gain leadership positions continues in the 1990s. A survey conducted by The Executive Educator and Xavier University shows that women are best represented among the ranks of elementary school principals (39.7%), followed by junior high/middle school principals (20.5%), and high school principals (12.1 …

Hispanic Women In Leadership: Opportunities, Barriers, And Strategies, Kaye Lynn Peery, Marilyn Grady

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Research in leadership that focuses on gender and ethnicity issues provides us with little practical information for women, The few studies that do exist point to gender and race discrimination (Doughty, 1980; Marcias, ]994; Gorena, 1996), Researchers must move beyond the documentation of negative past and present conditions for women and minorities and begin to look at ways these individuals can achieve equality. Additional"cultural studies" will aid in the task of analyzing the power relations that occur in all social settings. If we can discover the source of women's support, we can increase this support for others. By examining the …

The State Department Of Education's Role In Creating Safe Schools, Marilyn Grady, Bernita Krumm, Mary Ann Losh

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

The authority for public education in the United States does not stem from the Constitution, but rather is a "reserved" power remaining with the states. It originates from the Tenth Amendment, which reserves to the states those powers neither expressly given the national government nor denied to the state governments. However, most states have not exercised their authority for public education directly until recent decades. Education is a state function that is largely locally administered (AIkin, Linden, Noel, & Ray, 1992). Each state exercises it education function completely or in part through a state department of education that has varying …

Compulsory Education: Challenges And Opportunities, Marilyn Grady, Doreen Gosmire

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Compulsory education is a deep taproot in the history of our country and is at the heart of our educational system. Since Thomas Jefferson's presentation of the "Bill for the General Diffusion of Knowledge" in 1775, we have made compulsory education a central focus of our society.

Initially, Jefferson's proposal called for mandatory education for all children for three years. In the 1700s, a year of schooling was not the same as a year of schooling in the 19005. Jefferson's proposal required schooling in reading, writing, and ciphering so that an individual was capable of conducting daily business affairs.

Compulsory …

Superintendents' And School Board Members' Perceptions Of Empowerment, Marilyn Grady

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

This chapter focuses on superintendents' and school board members' perceptions of empowerment. The literature is rife with descriptions of empowerment from the perspectives of principals and teachers. Little has been written about empowerment from the perspectives of superintendents and school board members. This chapter is based on interviews conducted with school board members and superintendents from four midwestern states, as well as available literature. The school board members and superintendents who were interviewed represent districts that have had experience with empowering their staff members. Using this information, the sections include administrators' roles, school board members' roles, impact on administrative roles, …

Early Leaver Superintendents, Marilyn Grady, Jack Mckay

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

In studies of the critical incidents that cause superintendent turnover (Grady and Bryant, 1991a; Grady and Bryant, 1991b; Grady and Bryant, 1991c), we became aware of the "early leaver" phenomenon in the profession. This phenomenon has caused us to question early leavers about their incentives for staying in or leaving the superintendency.

The discussion of when and if education will ever be a "true" profession is intertwined with the departure of individuals from the superintendency at the prime of their careers. How often do we learn of physicians who leave the medical profession at 45 or 50?

Our study was …

Resource Allocation, Barbara Lacost, Patricia A. O'Connell, Marilyn Grady, Steven Coleman, Donna Gloshen, Barbara Jacobson, Scott Koch, Harlan Metschke, Douglas Radtke, Mary Jo Svatora

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

Resources are available means of supply or support that assist in accomplishing goals and meeting needs. Caldwell and Spinks (1986) define resources as culture and knowledge; however, most experts agree with Guthrie, Garms, and Pierce (1988), who define resources as "time, personnel, and materials ... as well as money" (p. 216). Thomas (1980) suggests that student and parent time is a "nonpurchased resource" that school leaders interested in effective and efficient allocation should consider. Rossmiller (1983) distinguishes between resource inputs and resource applications. Inputs, he says, are the available human and material resources, whereas applications are the "alternative ways resource …

The Department Chair:New Roles, Responsibilities And Challenges, Alan T. Seagren, John W. Creswell, Daniel W. Wheeler

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

This monograph explores the changing role of the academic department chair in the areas of leadership, influence, and faculty development. The paper uses research insights to explore the situation of an academic chair who is squeezed between the demands of upper administration and the expectations of faculty, staff, and students. Studies of the roles and responsibilities of chairs consistently show that the role is ambiguous, unclear in authority,and difficult to classify as faculty or administrator. The tradition of faculty ownership dictates that chair leadership must emphasize empowering activities. The most effective use of political influence and power understands the political …

Some Dilemmas In Graduate Education, John C. Weaver

Department of Educational Administration: Faculty Publications

IN THE LATE WINTER OF 1957, WHEN I WAS DEAN OF ARTS AND SCIENCES AT KANSAS STATE COLLEGE BUT HAD ACCEPTED APPOINTMENT THE FOLLOWING JULY 1, AS DEAN OF THE GRADUATE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY RESEARCH ADMINISTRATOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA, I RECEIVED AN INVITATION FROM THE CARNEGIE CORPORATION TO ACCEPT A TRAVELLING FELLOWSHIP TO VISIT A DIVERSE GROUP OF AMERICAN AND CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES AND THEIR GRADUATE SCHOOLS. My TRAVEL WAS COMPLETED IN MAY, 1958, AND THIS is A SUMMATION OF MY IMPRESSIONS DRAWN FROM THE INSTITUTIONS VISITED. OBViOUSLY THIS IS NOT A DEFINITIVE EXPOSITION Of WHAT OF GRADUATE EDUCATION. …