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Articles 1021 - 1050 of 1139

Full-Text Articles in Educational Administration and Supervision

A Prognosis For The Field Of Communication, Erwin P. Bettinghaus Jan 1987

A Prognosis For The Field Of Communication, Erwin P. Bettinghaus

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay presents an optimistic evaluation of the communication discipline, arguing that the field’s institutional growth, intellectual diversification, and expanding public visibility signal long-term vitality. Evidence of strength includes increased student enrollment across subfields, greater institutional funding, steady employment opportunities, growing recognition by industry and government, and a maturing research culture that has moved beyond foundational definitional debates. Nonetheless, the analysis identifies several risks: declining graduate student recruitment due to market competition, internal fragmentation following departmental reorganization, and ideological polarization between professional and theoretical approaches. The forecast anticipates continued growth driven by technological innovation, heightened demand for communication teachers, and …

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Perspectives On Hiring New Faculty, N. Edd Miller Jan 1987

Perspectives On Hiring New Faculty, N. Edd Miller

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article examines the faculty hiring process in higher education as a critical determinant of institutional vitality and disciplinary growth. Framing hiring as the most consequential administrative act within a university, the discussion evaluates the process from three perspectives: institutional, departmental, and candidate. Institutionally, hiring is shaped by affirmative action mandates, budget constraints, and enrollment pressures that encourage recruitment at lower ranks and limit diversity progress. From the departmental viewpoint, the essay outlines a systematic needs assessment approach encompassing curricular balance, faculty complement, and research-teaching alignment. It offers evaluative criteria addressing candidate qualifications, potential for growth, and professional fit. The …

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The Master Of Fine Arts: Making Good Better, August W. Staub, B. Don Massey Jan 1987

The Master Of Fine Arts: Making Good Better, August W. Staub, B. Don Massey

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article traces the historical development, institutional acceptance, and current challenges of the Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree, particularly in theatre. Originating as a terminal degree in the visual arts, the MFA evolved as a professional credential for artist-teachers and was later adopted in drama, music, and dance. The discussion reviews the MFA’s growing legitimacy as an alternative to the studio doctorate, its international appeal, and its role in integrating artistic practice with academic standards. Persistent issues identified include program proliferation, curricular dilution, and inconsistent admission practices driven by enrollment pressures. The authors note disciplinary peculiarities of theatre, where …

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Uncertainties In Mfa Programs, Donald A. Drapeau Jan 1987

Uncertainties In Mfa Programs, Donald A. Drapeau

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article examines the instability of Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs in theatre in relation to broader uncertainties within the professional theatre industry. The analysis distinguishes between two primary employment markets served by MFA programs—academic and professional—and evaluates the challenges associated with each. Limited salaries, program consolidation, and restricted hiring opportunities constrain the academic market, while the commercial and regional theatre sectors remain volatile and competitive. The discussion argues that these conditions necessitate honest reassessment of MFA missions and objectives. Recommendations include strengthening ties between programs and employment markets, revising curricula to reflect evolving industry needs, maintaining selectivity through …

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The Theatre Professional As Temporary Faculty Resource, Milly S. Milly Jan 1987

The Theatre Professional As Temporary Faculty Resource, Milly S. Milly

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article explores the use of part-time and temporary professional artists as essential instructional and creative resources in university theatre programs. Framing the issue within the constraints of aging faculty, reduced hiring opportunities, and limited institutional resources, the discussion argues for rethinking traditional employment structures to accommodate the cyclical and collaborative nature of theatre production. The author proposes an “organic” model in which temporary artist-teachers contribute to the life cycle of performance—design, rehearsal, and production—while maintaining professional practice. This integration is presented not as exploitation but as mutually beneficial exchange, offering flexibility and renewal for academic programs and employment for …

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The Use And Abuse Of Part-Time And Temporary Faculty, Fred Behringer Jan 1987

The Use And Abuse Of Part-Time And Temporary Faculty, Fred Behringer

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article analyzes the structural, financial, and ethical dimensions of employing part-time and temporary faculty in university theatre programs. Based on institutional experience, it identifies both the practical necessity and systemic inequities inherent in contingent staffing models. The discussion outlines the benefits of such arrangements—access to specialized expertise, curricular flexibility, and expanded production capacity—alongside their drawbacks, including low compensation, lack of benefits, administrative instability, and risks of exploitation. The author argues that part-time staffing, while often indispensable, must be managed through flexible budgeting, administrative support, and professional respect for adjunct personnel. Examples from departmental practice demonstrate how increased autonomy in …

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Academic Theatre Administration, Jon Whitmore Oct 1986

Academic Theatre Administration, Jon Whitmore

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article delineates the essential competencies and preparatory pathways required for effective academic administration within theatre and related arts programs. Framing administration as a profession often entered by circumstance rather than intention, the discussion emphasizes leadership as a creative and managerial endeavor grounded in human relationships rather than bureaucratic control. The author identifies nine critical skills: leadership, motivation, conflict resolution, planning, legal literacy, financial management, bureaucratic navigation, problem-solving, and communication. Each is presented as a necessary attribute for sustaining academic programs in resource-limited environments. The paper further outlines avenues for developing these skills, including committee work, professional reading, engagement with …

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A Program Of Faculty Development For Small College Career Satisfaction, Thomas W. Duncanson, Alberto Gonzalez Oct 1986

A Program Of Faculty Development For Small College Career Satisfaction, Thomas W. Duncanson, Alberto Gonzalez

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This paper proposes a model of faculty development designed to enhance career satisfaction and professional retention among small college teachers. Recognizing that such institutions often experience high faculty turnover and limited professional support, the authors argue that sustained faculty vitality depends on cultivating collegiality, autonomy, and scholarship. Collegiality is presented as a political and ethical mode of academic governance that requires shared purpose, participatory decision making, and ongoing reflection on the moral obligations of teaching. Autonomy is defined as disciplined self-direction rather than individualism, representing both personal growth and institutional benefit. Scholarship is examined as a balance between the reproduction …

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A Response To Achieving Professional Professions, Claude Mathis Oct 1986

A Response To Achieving Professional Professions, Claude Mathis

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This response essay engages with the preceding discussions on professionalism in small academic departments, particularly those by Duffy, Rosenfield, and Ryan. The author argues that professionalism is determined more by individual and institutional values than by departmental organization or discipline. The analysis commends Duffy’s perspective on thriving within merged departments, noting that collegial support and shared commitment matter more than structural autonomy. It also reflects on Rosenfield’s treatment of unionism, suggesting that while collective bargaining once represented liberation for faculty, it risks devolving into an excessive focus on wages and working conditions rather than educational quality. The essay praises Ryan’s …

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A Student Communication Consulting Firm: An Experiential Education Option, Dorothy E. Freeman Oct 1986

A Student Communication Consulting Firm: An Experiential Education Option, Dorothy E. Freeman

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article describes the establishment of a student communication consulting firm at Ball State University as a model of experiential education in applied communication. Created in 1984 with minimal investment by eight students, the firm, Pentad Affiliates, provided consulting services in organizational diagnostics, professional presentations, sales training, interpersonal skills development, and employment preparation. Operating largely within the university but also serving private and public sector clients, the firm generated revenue while offering students direct experience in research, marketing, and professional communication. The discussion outlines administrative structures, faculty support requirements, and procedures for program initiation, including needs assessment, student selection, and …

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So You Want To Be An Administrator, Robert N. Bostrom Oct 1986

So You Want To Be An Administrator, Robert N. Bostrom

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay offers a balanced and candid reflection on the challenges and opportunities of academic administration during a period of economic constraint and institutional change. Framed around the dual themes of “good news” and “bad news,” the analysis situates administrative work within broader systemic shifts in higher education, including the transition from a growth economy to one of fiscal limitation, the persistence of adversarial faculty–administration relationships, and the increasing bureaucratization and unionization of academic life. Despite these impediments, the author identifies countervailing developments such as the growing recognition of communication’s central role in education, the expanding availability of professional development …

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Communication Arts And Sciences In Transition, Douglas M. Trank, Sanuel L. Becker, Barbara Hall Oct 1986

Communication Arts And Sciences In Transition, Douglas M. Trank, Sanuel L. Becker, Barbara Hall

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This study presents a comprehensive appraisal of the state of communication arts and sciences departments in U.S. higher education during the mid-1980s. Drawing on survey data from 373 institutions, the research examines departmental organization, faculty demographics, curricular emphases, and budgetary trends. Findings reveal a field in ongoing transition, marked by diverse departmental structures and naming conventions, frequent reorganizations, and the separation of traditional areas such as theatre, mass communication, and speech pathology into independent units. Faculty data indicate modest levels of tenure and continuing gender disparities, though representation of women and minorities is increasing. Salary levels and resource distributions vary …

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The Concept Of A School Of Communication, John Lee Jellicorse Aug 1986

The Concept Of A School Of Communication, John Lee Jellicorse

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay traces the historical development of the communication disciplines and argues for the reintegration of their fragmented academic structures into unified schools of communication. Beginning with the rhetorical traditions of antiquity, it outlines the evolution of oral discourse education through the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, highlighting key moments such as the elocutionary movement, the separation of speech from English departments, and the emergence of specialized areas including theatre, mass communication, communication disorders, and rhetoric. The analysis attributes administrative fragmentation to uneven disciplinary growth and institutional politics, which produced inefficiency and weakened the field’s collective influence. Drawing on examples from …

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How Vital Is The Basic Course In The 1980'S?, James W. Gibson, Michael S. Hanna Aug 1986

How Vital Is The Basic Course In The 1980'S?, James W. Gibson, Michael S. Hanna

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This empirical study examines the status and trends of the basic course in speech communication across U.S. colleges and universities during the mid-1980s. Drawing on survey data from 552 institutions, the analysis assesses enrollment patterns, instructional practices, faculty assignments, credit hour production, administrative support, and competition from other academic units. The findings indicate that the public speaking orientation remains the dominant model for the basic course, followed by combination formats integrating interpersonal and small-group communication. Enrollment trends show overall stability or moderate growth, particularly at universities and mid-sized colleges, with smaller institutions experiencing minor declines. Class sizes remain small, typically …

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The Wisdom Of Reclaiming A Legacy, Allen S. White Aug 1986

The Wisdom Of Reclaiming A Legacy, Allen S. White

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay responds to William J. Bennett’s To Reclaim a Legacy, offering a balanced perspective on the report’s critique of the humanities and its relevance to theatre education. The author acknowledges the value of reaffirming the study of Western civilization and the great books but contends that Bennett’s vision is incomplete without a more inclusive, pragmatic, and pedagogically dynamic approach. The argument emphasizes that higher education in a democratic society must balance excellence with accessibility, teaching the humanities as living, applicable knowledge rather than static tradition. Using theatre as a model discipline, the essay illustrates how creative interpretation, performance, and …

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Why A Department Of Communication? Hanging Together Or Hanging Separately, Robert O. Blanchard Aug 1986

Why A Department Of Communication? Hanging Together Or Hanging Separately, Robert O. Blanchard

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay argues for the unification of the fragmented academic fields that study human communication, contending that the separation among speech, journalism, mass communication, and related disciplines weakens their collective intellectual and institutional standing. The author identifies three revolutions reshaping the field: the communication revolution, driven by interactive technologies that collapse distinctions between interpersonal and mass communication; the intellectual revolution, which demands integrative theoretical frameworks; and the campus revolution, which pressures academic programs to justify their disciplinary coherence and relevance to liberal education. The discussion critiques the persistence of outdated departmental divisions and vocational curricula, emphasizing the need for convergence …

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Speech And Mass Communication: Together Again, E. Culpepper Clark Aug 1986

Speech And Mass Communication: Together Again, E. Culpepper Clark

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay examines the historical development and administrative philosophy behind the integration of speech and mass communication programs at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. It situates the merger within broader debates over the relationship between professional and liberal arts education, arguing that the disciplines share enough theoretical and pedagogical ground to justify collaboration at the undergraduate level. Through a detailed account of departmental structure, curriculum, faculty composition, and tenure policy, the essay demonstrates how institutional design can balance academic and professional objectives. The author advocates for a liberal arts orientation rooted in rhetoric, hermeneutics, and language-based theory, even within career-oriented …

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The Oxford Accord: Documenting Off-Campus Professional Productivity, James M. Symons Aug 1986

The Oxford Accord: Documenting Off-Campus Professional Productivity, James M. Symons

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay analyzes the treatment of off-campus professional productivity in the Oxford Accord, a document establishing guidelines for evaluating theatre faculty. It argues that the Accord represents a significant evolution from earlier standards by broadening the concept of professional accomplishment beyond employment in commercial or professional theatre. The discussion reframes off-campus activity as a means of demonstrating professional recognition and quality rather than replicating the scholarly publication model used in other disciplines. The author emphasizes that faculty may document their achievements through multiple forms of evidence, including leadership in professional organizations, competitive recognition, invited teaching, or demonstrated artistic competence. The …

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The Big Click: Burnout And The University Td, William R. Peeler Aug 1986

The Big Click: Burnout And The University Td, William R. Peeler

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This empirical study investigates professional burnout among university technical directors and designers, a population often neglected in research on faculty stress. Using a nationwide mailed questionnaire distributed to 373 faculty members listed in a directory of design and technical theatre staff, the study achieved a 61 percent response rate, with 83 percent of respondents reporting burnout at some point in their careers. Analysis of survey data reveals that burnout is pervasive but multifactorial, arising from excessive workload, inadequate recognition, limited peer support, and undervaluation of technical contributions within academic hierarchies. Although respondents frequently cited long hours and production pressures, the …

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The Impact Of Communication Apprehension On Student Retention And Success: A Preliminary Report, James C. Mccroskey, Steven K. Payne Apr 1986

The Impact Of Communication Apprehension On Student Retention And Success: A Preliminary Report, James C. Mccroskey, Steven K. Payne

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article reports preliminary results from a longitudinal investigation of how communication apprehension influences academic performance and student retention in college. Data were collected from 1884 incoming freshmen at a large public university, who completed a standardized communication apprehension measure during orientation. Official academic records over four consecutive semesters provided grade point averages, credits earned, and enrollment status. Analyses reveal that students with high communication apprehension consistently earned lower grade point averages and completed fewer credits than moderate or low apprehensive students. Retention patterns also differed. High apprehensive students were substantially more likely to withdraw from the university over the …

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Speech Communication As Seen From The Top: University Presidents Look At The Discipline, Donald N. Dedmon Jan 1986

Speech Communication As Seen From The Top: University Presidents Look At The Discipline, Donald N. Dedmon

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay presents a university president’s reflection on the state and identity of speech communication as an academic field. The author observes that despite decades of growth, the discipline still lacks consensus on its core definition and intellectual boundaries. Journals demonstrate increasing sophistication, yet the author questions whether specialized language risks insularity and diminished public relevance. Drawing analogies to sociology and computer science, the essay warns against excessive internal focus and argues that communication must cultivate clearer relevance to contemporary social questions and professional practice. The author notes that subfields once housed within communication, such as communication disorders and theatre, …

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The Phd In Theatre — A Vanishing Degree?, Richard Hornby Jan 1986

The Phd In Theatre — A Vanishing Degree?, Richard Hornby

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay examines the decline of doctoral study in theatre and argues for the continued necessity of the PhD as the primary academic credential in the field. The author documents a significant reduction in PhD programs, student enrollments, and degree completions since the late 1970s, and attributes this trend to both broader reductions in humanities hiring and the rapid expansion of MFA programs. The essay contends that many MFA graduates enter academic positions for which they lack sufficient academic and historical preparation, particularly in areas of dramatic literature, theory, and non realistic performance styles. The author asserts that this shift …

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A Survey Of Communication Research Centers, Barry S. Sapolsky, Nancy Byrd Jan 1986

A Survey Of Communication Research Centers, Barry S. Sapolsky, Nancy Byrd

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article reports the results of a national survey designed to profile communication research centers affiliated with American universities. The study sought to document the number of centers, their organizational structures, staffing patterns, facilities, funding levels, research activities, and methodological orientations. Seventy six centers were identified through directories and institutional inquiries, and data were collected through a mailed questionnaire followed by telephone follow up. Forty centers completed the instrument. Findings indicate significant variation across centers, but the typical unit had operated for approximately thirteen years, was housed within an academic department, and maintained five dedicated rooms, limited staff support, and …

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Speech Communication Profession As Seen By A President, Donald W. Zacharias Jan 1986

Speech Communication Profession As Seen By A President, Donald W. Zacharias

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This essay offers a university president’s assessment of the speech communication discipline and outlines challenges facing academic programs as higher education enters a period of intensified competition and financial constraint. The author notes substantial scholarly growth over the preceding two decades, marked by increased publication and methodological rigor. The discussion emphasizes that declining enrollments, limited state support, and heightened institutional competition will require departments to articulate clear objectives aligned with institutional missions and to demonstrate measurable value to students and administrators. Recommendations include narrowing curricula to avoid unfocused expansion, establishing rigorous instructional standards, prioritizing individualized communication skills training supported by …

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Presidents Look At The Field Of Speech Communication: A Commentary, Donald Smith Jan 1986

Presidents Look At The Field Of Speech Communication: A Commentary, Donald Smith

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This commentary responds to essays by two university presidents on the condition of the speech communication discipline. The author affirms concerns about the field’s longstanding struggle to define a coherent intellectual identity, noting that communication emerged historically as a coalition of underrecognized instructional areas rather than through shared conceptual foundations. While acknowledging that disciplinary ambiguity is not unique in academia and may coexist with creativity and public appeal, the essay questions whether ambiguity can remain viable amid changing higher education environments. The author critiques tendencies toward imitative scholarship and excessive methodological debate at the expense of substantive inquiry into rhetorical …

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Evaluating Art: Policies And Practices, Samuel L. Becker, Geprge Gunkel, Rebecca Arbogast, Lisette Sell Aug 1985

Evaluating Art: Policies And Practices, Samuel L. Becker, Geprge Gunkel, Rebecca Arbogast, Lisette Sell

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article presents the results of a national survey that examined how colleges and universities evaluated artistic work produced by theatre faculty in promotion and tenure decisions. The study gathered responses from 304 institutions representing two year colleges, four year institutions, master’s level programs, and PhD granting universities. The authors document considerable variation in theatre curricula across institutional types and identify systematic differences in the availability of theatre degrees. The findings indicate that institutions lacked consistent procedures for assessing artistic work and rarely maintained written guidelines for evaluators. Many departments kept incomplete or irregular records of production evaluations, and the …

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Analysis Of Teaching Evaluation Instruments Collected By Aca, Betty Jo Welch Aug 1985

Analysis Of Teaching Evaluation Instruments Collected By Aca, Betty Jo Welch

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This article analyzes twenty nine student evaluation instruments collected from seventy five higher education institutions in the United States and Canada in order to determine how teaching effectiveness is conceptualized and measured. The study identifies substantial variation in instrument design yet finds seven recurring dimensions: organization, student teacher interaction and rapport, classroom skill and lecturing ability, workload and course difficulty, grading and evaluation, personal satisfaction, and course content. Representative literature is reviewed to assess the strengths and limitations of evaluation approaches such as alumni surveys, self evaluation, student achievement measures, classroom visitation, and peer review. Research evidence indicates that well …

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Regular Education Teachers’ Attitudes And Knowledge Concerning The Mainstreaming Of Handicapped Students, Kenneth R. Brown Jan 1985

Regular Education Teachers’ Attitudes And Knowledge Concerning The Mainstreaming Of Handicapped Students, Kenneth R. Brown

Dissertations (Pre-2016)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether regular education teachers, when given an intensive training program in all aspects of special education, will be more at ease when teaching handicapped students and in turn have im proved attitudes when working with these students. The data for the study were collected in 1984 and 1985 using a researcher-designed instrument entitled Special Education Attitude Survey (SEAS). A total of 93 teachers in the Spring Branch Independent School District (Houston, Texas) was in cluded in the study. A treatment group was administered training in a two-day workshop setting. The control group …

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The Influence Of Federal Administrative Trends On The Budgetary Processes Of Nigeria’S Federal Universities., Iliya Wambi Samaila Jan 1985

The Influence Of Federal Administrative Trends On The Budgetary Processes Of Nigeria’S Federal Universities., Iliya Wambi Samaila

Dissertations (Pre-2016)

The proliferation of university educational demand in Nigeria occurred as a result of the oil boom and the subsequent creation of nineteen states. In 1974, Ibadan and Lagos Universities were the only federal universities; in 1976 seven more universities were created. The sudden increase, from two in 1974 to thirteen federal universities in 1976, necessitated the adoption of the formula funding model, which was perceived as being capable of allocating resources to all similar academic programs in the institutions. The thirteen federal universities were used in the study. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the applicability outcome of …

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The Problem Of Publication: A Response, Donald H. Ecroyd Jan 1985

The Problem Of Publication: A Response, Donald H. Ecroyd

Association for Communication Administration Bulletin

This response essay addresses the increasing pressure on communication faculty to publish in refereed venues as part of tenure and promotion review. It situates publication within a changing academic environment marked by tighter budgets, greater competition for journal space, and heightened scrutiny of scholarly output. Drawing on the perspective of a journal editor, the essay notes that professional journals receive many more submissions than they can publish and that early-career faculty face particular difficulty in securing publication. The essay responds to related discussions of why, what, and how scholars should publish by emphasizing that publishable work must offer scholarly value, …

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