1. Planning, Institutional Change, and Our Work as Faculty Planning, Institutional Change, and Our Work as Faculty Robert L. Taylor Professor of Management and Dean Emeritus University of Louisville

2. Overview Higher education today Questions we should address The environment and consequences Current issues Challenges to higher education Implications Our work plans

3. Purpose To take an hour to really think about strategic issues related to our work in the metropolitan university

4. Higher Education Today Reactive or proactive? –The dilemma of leading and/or following –Is it possible to stay ahead of the curve? –There appears to be a disconnect between what we teach and what is happening in the world around us

5. Higher Education Today What is the model of higher education leadership? –Generic -- applicable globally? –U.S. defined? –Culturally defined?

6. Higher Education Today Is a university degree a commodity? –Common curricula –True differentiation a function of: Location Student selection Networking Opportunities Placement activities

7. Higher Education Today Are we still seeking a pedagogy? –Marketed defined on the bases of convenience, flexibility, and … –E-learning without a philosophy Increase revenues Minimize interaction Maximize “convenience”

8. Higher Education Today Students –Do they want an education, or –Are they seeking a degree (credential)?

9. Questions We Should Address Towson as a Metropolitan University –Research University –Comprehensive University –Liberal Arts College –Specialized College –Proprietary Institution –For-profit Institution

10. Questions We Should Address What is the scholarly agenda for the metropolitan university? –Teaching remains a primary emphasis? –Scholarship is related to the issues of a metropolitan setting? –Service is emphasized in translating research into action for the metropolitan area

11. The Environment and Consequences Rapidly changing –Economic –Technological –Social –Political

12. The Environment and Consequences Every institution a “university” –European experience –Asian experience

13. The Environment and Consequences Communication –Linking the world instantaneously Satellites Internet –Providing us with world events (and non- events) –Changing the role of the professorate From provider of knowledge To arbiter of information

14. The Environment and Consequences Immediate gratification –Urgent –Overnight –Just-in-time

15. Current Issues Perceptions and realities of higher education leadership today –Perspectives unrelated to the mission –Greed –Absence of trust

16. Current Issues Public funding of higher education is weakening –Other priorities –Absence of clear accountability –Publicity associated with tuition hikes and tradition of low cost

17. Current Issues Technology mediation –Resistance to adopt new technologies –Increased popularity of online options –Unrealistic assessment of technology-based learning The Open University example

18. Challenges to Higher Education Increasing challenges to the importance of higher education –Apparently little or no correlation between an undergraduate (or most graduate degrees) and career success –First (undergraduate) degree holders do not appear to have any advantage in obtaining their first job

19. Challenges to Higher Education Teaching –Understanding and applying the technology- mediated options for effectiveness and efficiency –Delivering learning at the time and place most appropriate for students –Measuring outcomes and engaging in continuous improvement

20. Challenges to Higher Education Quality of higher education research –Widespread criticism that the research has not been influential in making our world a better place – exception is health sciences –Proliferation of research expectations beyond the traditional research institutions

21. Challenges to Higher Education Research and scholarship can be used to address the problems and opportunities of metropolitan areas –Applied research that is sponsored and conducted with metropolitan constituents –Faculty scholarship focuses on identified problems and needs from the community

22. Challenges to Higher Education Who will do the research? –Capacity of schools and colleges differ –Interests and capabilities of individual faculty differ –The institution must engage in a discussion of and decisions related to comparative advantage

23. Challenges to Higher Education Research and scholarship –Identifying needs and matching skills –Addressing the unique issues of the metropolitan area –Unit differences in terms of contributions –Individual faculty differences and expectations

24. Challenges to Higher Education The role of service –Metropolitan universities are expected and well-positioned to engage faculty resources in solving important problems –Coordinated service is as important in the metropolitan setting as research and scholarship

25. Challenges to Higher Education Service –Expectations for discipline, governance, and metropolitan area –Assessing contributions –Creating equity with teaching and scholarship

26. Implications Historical perspectives –Democratization of higher education –Faculty compensation in the Middle Ages –The role of teacher –Technology mediation in learning –Research and service

27. Implications Observe the airline situation –One of two industries left that are labor-driven –The business model has changed but the companies cannot –Higher education is next Structural model is questioned Funding model is changing Focus is shifting from faculty to students

28. Implications Continuous change is a reality –We cannot return to the “good old days” –Adaptability and flexibility replace stability and comfort –The choice is to react or to plan

29. Implications Importance of initiative –Choose to move from a comprehensive institution to a research-intensive institution –Develop the transition with a strategic plan –Manage the plan with: Variable career emphases Flexible work loads Faculty ownership and commitment

30. The Work Plan Linking individual work and contributions to the unit and the strategic vision of the university Recognizing that each work plan will be different but equitable

31. The Work Plan Faculty work –Is our perspective of work consistent with the world around us? –How difficult is faculty work today and how is it perceived by others? Three or four courses per term Same standards of research for all Limits to the numbers of students taught Availability for advising and counseling students Example of what can be done

32. The Work Plan Enrollment management, growth and mix Student experience and success Resources for success Partnerships Philosophy Teaching Research Service

33. The Work Plan University –Define metropolitan research –Unit portfolio –Ensure university portfolio meets the goals of the strategic plan

34. The Work Plan Unit –Portfolio Teaching Research Service

35. The Work Plan Individual –Time allocation –Quality of contributions –Outcomes and Rewards

36. The work Plan Participate in the changes –Define the processes and outcomes rather than allowing others to set our objectives –Be willing to negotiate and compromise – each of us cannot “have it all” –Reinforce each other –Be positive in our approach – it’s much easier and more fun

37. Summary Higher education today Questions we should address The environment and consequences Current issues Challenges to higher education Implications Our work plans

38. Your Agenda Questions Feedback