Book 132

This book is the quintessential manual for what department chairs must know to excel at the many administrative tasks assigned to them on a day-to-day basis. For instance, how do you cultivate a potential donor for much-needed departmental resources? How do you interview someone when your dean assigns you to a committee searching for an administrator in a different academic area? How do you fire someone? How do you get your department members to work together more harmoniously? How do you keep the people who report to you motivated and capable of seeing the big picture? This book is about the "how" of academic administration. Based on a series of workshops given by the author in the area of faculty and administrative development, each topic deals concisely with the most important information chairs will want to have at their fingertips when faced with a particular challenge or opportunity. Intended to be a ready reference that chairs turn to as needed, this book emphasizes proven solutions and stresses what chairs need to know now in order to be most successful in their administrative positions.

"A book that every academic leader should read and put into practice." Kim Cameron, associate dean of executive education, Ross School of Business, University of Michigan Praise for Positive Academic Leadership " Buller has produced a book that every academic leader should read and put into practice. Positive Academic Leadership pulls together an amazing array of scientific findings and practical guidelines that will be invaluable for academic leaders looking to improve themselves and their institutions." Kim Cameron, associate dean, William Russell Professor of Management and Organizations, Ross School of Business; professor of higher education, School of Education, University of Michigan " If I had a magic wand and could make one wish for all of higher education, it would be that we had better institutional leadership. Whether one is a chair, dean, provost, president, or on the Board of Trustees, this book can make a world of difference in your ability to provide that leadership!" L.
Dee Fink, author, Creating Significant Learning Experiences; former president, Professional and Organizational Development Network in Higher Education " Buller's book brings hope for leadership in higher education by emphasizing the importance of a positive approach that empowers and inspires others. Positive Academic Leadership has the potential to transform higher education for the benefit of students, faculty, and ultimately our communities and our world." Kina S. Mallard, provost and vice president of academic affairs, Carson-Newman University " Academic leaders who find themselves engulfed in negative thinking and considering only damage control scenarios for pressing issues will want to read this book. Employing what Jeffrey Buller calls 'positive academic leadership' is, I believe, essential to transforming feelings of despair into constructive leadership." Mary Lou Higgerson, vice president for academic affairs, emerita, Baldwin Wallace University " I can't recall reading any book on leadership that is more applicable to the work of faculty development.
Every academic leader faculty member, chair, dean, or campus administrator will benefit from Jeffrey Buller's evidence-based model and practices of positive academic leadership." Mary Deane Sorcinelli, associate provost for faculty development, University of Massachusetts Amherst

The go-to reference for academic leaders seeking practical answers to everyday challenges The Essential Academic Dean or Provost explains the "how" of academic leadership, providing a practical, comprehensive, reality-based reference for almost any problem, challenge, or opportunity. This updated second edition includes new chapters on the difference between leadership and management in higher education, leadership in politically charged environments, effective strategies for making decisions, and working with associate deans or provosts, plus new case studies, new research, and ten additional chapters available on the companion website. Each topic deals concisely with the most important information deans and provosts need when faced with a particular situation, providing both a comprehensive guide to academic leadership as well as a ready reference to be consulted as needed. The role of a dean or provost at a modern university is extremely complex, involving budgeting, community relations, personnel decisions, management of a large enterprise, fundraising, and guiding a school, college, or entire institution toward a compelling vision of the future.
The details academic leaders have to deal with are numerous and critical, and every little thing matters. This invaluable guide provides the answers you need when you need them, and gives you framework for successfully navigating your job's many competing demands. * Build support for a shared vision of the future * Interact effectively with different internal and external constituencies * Learn decision-making techniques specific to the academic environment * Set, supervise, and implement a budget that allows your programs to flourish Academic leaders need a handy, focused reference that provides authoritative answers to the many issues and questions that arise every day. With proven solutions to a multitude of challenges, The Essential Academic Dean or Provost shows academic leaders what they need to know in order to successfully guide their institutions into the future.