higher education leadership Archives - ABHE Knowledge Center

Academic Freedom

The right, without constriction by prescribed doctrine, to freedom of teaching and discussion, freedom in carrying out research and disseminating and publishing the results thereof, freedom to express freely their opinion about the institution or system in which they work, freedom from institutional censorship. UNESCO Recommendation concerning the Status of Higher-Education Teaching Personnel, 1997. Academic freedom under threat? James Caspian, a counsellor who specialises in therapy for transgender people, was refused permission by an ethics committee at Bath Spa University to investigate why growing numbers of people are choosing to ‘detransition’. This was on the grounds that the resulting material could be ‘detrimental to the reputation of the university’.

This content is only available to site subscribers and ABHE Members, Affiliates & Associates. Please LOG IN or SUBSCRIBE.
Academic Leadership as Servant Leadership

Servant leadership is a slippery term. Like hot dogs, people know one when they see one but are not at all sure what goes into one (and may not want to know). Despite its vagueness, the term servant leadership seems to be an appropriate term to describe leadership in a Bible college or seminary setting, not just for those who lead but also for those who are being trained to lead.

This content is only available to site subscribers and ABHE Members, Affiliates & Associates. Please LOG IN or SUBSCRIBE.
Alcohol and Freshmen at Selected Christian Colleges: A Description of Alcohol in their Homes, their Beliefs, and Behaviors in the last Twenty Years

This study is a longitudinal description of freshmen in Christian colleges concerning the presence of alcohol in their homes of origin during high school, their views of consuming alcohol, and their alcohol consumption. The sample of over 3,330 surveys was collected annually for 20 years through selected freshmen courses primarily at two colleges, although surveys were originally collected from six Christian colleges. This research provides empirical data describing the presence of alcohol in the home environments of Christian college freshmen, their views on alcohol, and empirical data on alcohol use by Christian college freshmen. This research attempts to offer conversation starters for students, faculty, and administrators on the topic of alcohol.

This content is only available to site subscribers and ABHE Members, Affiliates & Associates. Please LOG IN or SUBSCRIBE.
Career Paths of Bible College Presidents – Who Leads Bible Colleges?

Results from a survey of ABHE presidents present a profile of the Bible College president and identify career paths individuals have followed to this position of leadership. Bible college presidents are predominantly Caucasian married, males, approximately 53 years of age, who have been serving their current institution for seven years. A majority of presidents have an earned doctorate, as well as significant experience outside higher education, most commonly in pastoral ministry.

This content is only available to site subscribers and ABHE Members, Affiliates & Associates. Please LOG IN or SUBSCRIBE.
Conceptions of Effective Teaching in Higher Education: Extending the Boundaries

This paper reports outcomes of a study that considers different ways university teachers conceive effective teaching and ways they develop as effective teachers. It examines supporting and inhibiting factors in the current higher education (HE) climate and seeks to inform debate for raising the status of teaching and improving student learning. From the mid 1990s the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) implemented several teaching and learning initiatives. The Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund supported this small-scale research study.

This content is only available to site subscribers and ABHE Members, Affiliates & Associates. Please LOG IN or SUBSCRIBE.
Effective Collaboration: A Key Factor in Economic Sustainability in Higher Education

A modest browsing of current research, articles, blogs, etc. regarding the state of higher education globally makes it clear that “The Academy” faces unprecedented challenges. Decline in public and private funding, competition between traditional on-campus, electronic, and hybrid delivery models, competition for and retention of quality faculty, declining belief in the viability of the student tuition models of the past, reduced student retention and completion rates, and many other issues confront the leadership of any higher ed institution. There is growing research and questions about perceived relevance of educational models to real life and the workplace. Meanwhile it is increasingly apparent that the growing complexity of physical, social, and spiritual issues can rarely be addressed effectively in isolation. Adding to the challenge, the rise of communications and collaborative technologies makes the isolated higher department or institution appear increasingly dated. Voices from government, business, community, funders, and, in the world of Christian higher education, the church and her agencies, are all calling for greater collaboration and integration of effort.

This content is only available to site subscribers and ABHE Members, Affiliates & Associates. Please LOG IN or SUBSCRIBE.
Governance In Colleges And Universities

Why do colleges have boards of trustees? Where did they come from? What is the difference between for-profit boards and non-profit boards? What is meant by “shared governance?” What should boards of trustees in colleges and universities be doing to improve their processes and procedures? What are the qualifications that people should possess to serve on college boards? These and other issues are discussed in the article on governance in institutions of higher education.

This content is only available to site subscribers and ABHE Members, Affiliates & Associates. Please LOG IN or SUBSCRIBE.
Hospitable Teaching, Redemptive Formation, and Learning Mobility: A Spirituality of Teaching Based upon the Writings of Henri J.M. Nouwen

College professors should get to know not only their subjects, but also their students, inside-out. Otherwise, students may be lost to academic and social predation early in their academic careers. The late Henri Nouwen offers a rich spirituality of teaching in his emphasis upon hospitable teaching, redemptive formation, and learning mobility. Together, these form a caring educational matrix, one very well suited to contemporary students. As the teacher embraces this model, he or she will also need to move from the classroom to the “dining room,” from outcomes to “incomes,” and from core to “cluster” – all with the students. In this way, professors create a spacious opening for students to learn how to make good choices and follow their genuine calling without pressure or manipulation.

This content is only available to site subscribers and ABHE Members, Affiliates & Associates. Please LOG IN or SUBSCRIBE.
Lessons Learned in the Academic Deanship: Reflections on My First Six Years of Service

During my six years of service as chief academic officer, I have come to understand that my initial perceptions of the role were inaccurate, or at least insufficient. The role of academic dean is much broader and deeper than a checklist of organizational tasks to be completed. It is a position of influence, through which the purposes of God can be accomplished in our institutions, if we are willing to serve Him humbly and faithfully.

This content is only available to site subscribers and ABHE Members, Affiliates & Associates. Please LOG IN or SUBSCRIBE.
Successful Leadership Transitions for Christian Higher Education and Other Faith Based Organizations

Perhaps no other event in an organization’s or institution’s life cycle is filled with a greater sense of both expectation as well as angst than the transition of senior leadership. The departure of the chief executive officer presents unique opportunities and challenges – opportunities to evaluate and re-engineer the vision and mission of the institution - challenges of ensuring continuity and viability of current operations and future services.

This content is only available to site subscribers and ABHE Members, Affiliates & Associates. Please LOG IN or SUBSCRIBE.