As the chief academic officer, the provost plays the central role in the contemporary university or college. He or she leads the faculty and serves as their key representative to the administration while simultaneously acting as the administration's spokesperson to the academic faculty. How has this essential leadership position evolved over the past few decades, and what are the best practices to adopt for succeeding in specific operational areas? In seventeen essays written by some of the most successful chief academic officers in the United States, The Provost's Handbook outlines key topics related to the changing environment of higher education while explaining what constitutes effective leadership at the college and university level. How, for example, does the provost lead in a time of disruption and shifting needs? What skills should he or she nurture in new faculty? What role should data and institutional research play in decision making? How can a provost navigate the often stormy situations of shared governance? These questions-and many more challenges presented by this role-are addressed in this essential volume. Assembled by James Martin and James E. Samels, accomplished authors and scholars of leadership in higher education, The Provost's Handbook is destined to become the go-to resource for deans, presidents, trustees, and chief academic officers everywhere.

As the chief academic officer, the provost plays the central role in the contemporary university or college. He or she leads the faculty and serves as their key representative to the administration while simultaneously acting as the administration's spokesperson to the academic faculty. How has this essential leadership position evolved over the past few decades, and what are the best practices to adopt for succeeding in specific operational areas? In seventeen essays written by some of the most successful chief academic officers in the United States, The Provost's Handbook outlines key topics related to the changing environment of higher education while explaining what constitutes effective leadership at the college and university level. How, for example, does the provost lead in a time of disruption and shifting needs? What skills should he or she nurture in new faculty? What role should data and institutional research play in decision making? How can a provost navigate the often stormy situations of shared governance? These questions-and many more challenges presented by this role-are addressed in this essential volume. Assembled by James Martin and James E. Samels, accomplished authors and scholars of leadership in higher education, The Provost's Handbook is destined to become the go-to resource for deans, presidents, trustees, and chief academic officers everywhere.

Nearly one thousand colleges and universities in the United States face major challenges-from catastrophic hurricanes to loss of accreditation to sagging enrollment. What can leaders of such at-risk institutions do to improve their situation? Turnaround gives college and university leaders the tools they need to put their fragile institutions back on a path to success. This comprehensive handbook outlines how board members, presidents, and administrators can identify their institutions' weaknesses, implement plans for improvement, and mitigate existing damage. Turnaround also identifies the legal pitfalls that often accompany institutional change, offering solutions for how to overcome such obstacles or avoid them altogether. Evaluating the experiences of two hundred college leaders, the contributors share such critical information as: * 20 indicators of institutional vulnerability * 10 necessary skills for presidents directing a turnaround * 5 characteristics of institutions that have completed successful turnarounds * 10 lessons of successful turnarounds Featuring candid advice from decision makers who have faced severe challenges, Turnaround is a valuable resource for college and university leaders facing tough times.

Colleges and universities are at the forefront of efforts to preserve the earth's resources for future generations. Carbon neutrality, renewable energy sources, green building strategies, and related initiatives require informed and courageous leaders at all levels of higher education. James Martin and James E. Samels have worked closely with college and university presidents, provosts, and trustees to devise best practices that establish sustainable policies and programs in the major areas of institutional operations. While almost seven hundred chief executive officers have signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, several thousand have yet to do so. This book identifies four of the most formidable challenges facing these presidents and leadership teams along with solutions to address them: effectively institutionalizing sustainability thinking; developing an efficient, flexible system of sustainability benchmarks; implementing an accountable university budget model; and engaging boards of trustees in the campus sustainability agenda. The volume's contributors, including recognized authorities on sustainability as well as campus executives with broad-ranging experience, consider these challenges and discuss specific action plans, best practices, and emerging trends in sustainability efforts. They offer sustainability solutions for almost every major operational area of campus and consider what sustainability means for colleges and universities-and the legacy of those entrusted with shaping their future. The meaning of sustainability is evolving, and it differs from one campus to the next. This timely and comprehensive volume guides institutional leaders past the myths and misconceptions to the sustainable university.

Colleges and universities are at the forefront of efforts to preserve the earth's resources for future generations. Carbon neutrality, renewable energy sources, green building strategies, and related initiatives require informed and courageous leaders at all levels of higher education. James Martin and James E. Samels have worked closely with college and university presidents, provosts, and trustees to devise best practices that establish sustainable policies and programs in the major areas of institutional operations.

While almost seven hundred chief executive officers have signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment, several thousand have yet to do so. This book identifies four of the most formidable challenges facing these presidents and leadership teams along with solutions to address them: effectively institutionalizing sustainability thinking; developing an efficient, flexible system of sustainability benchmarks; implementing an accountable university budget model; and engaging boards of trustees in the campus sustainability agenda.

The volume's contributors, including recognized authorities on sustainability as well as campus executives with broad-ranging experience, consider these challenges and discuss specific action plans, best practices, and emerging trends in sustainability efforts. They offer sustainability solutions for almost every major operational area of campus and consider what sustainability means for colleges and universities--and the legacy of those entrusted with shaping their future.

The meaning of sustainability is evolving, and it differs from one campus to the next. This timely and comprehensive volume guides institutional leaders past the myths and misconceptions to the sustainable university.

Once rare, presidential transitions at institutions of higher education now command the attention of about one-quarter of the nation's colleges and universities at any given time. Though they occur frequently, transitions at this level are hardly routine, and American higher education has not developed a tradition of managing this process proactively. Here, James Martin and James E. Samels bring together a distinguished group of higher education professionals to provide the first comprehensive guidebook to managing change at the top.

Presidents, administrators, trustees, faculty, and others involved in a change in leadership will benefit from this wide-ranging discussion of the issues combined with specific action plans for the busy professional. The volume's contributors address proactive management, best practices for sudden transitions, and how campuses can turn challenges into opportunities. Also addressed are executive search firms, the interim president, boards of trustees, presidential spouses, and public relations.

Contributors: Lee J. Betts, Frederick (MD) Community College; Charles Brown, Stanford University; Jean A. Dowdall, Whitt-Kieffer; E. K. Fretwell Jr., University of North Carolina, Charlotte; Vartan Gregorian, Carnegie Corporation; Allen E. Koenig and Thomas H. Langevin, The Registry for College and University Presidents; Steven Muller, The Johns Hopkins University; Arthur Padilla, North Carolina State University; John Ross, George Dehne & Associates Integrated Services; Patricia Stanley, Frederick (MD) Community College; Thomas J. and Scottie Trebon, Carroll College; William A. Weary, Fieldstone Consulting, Inc.; Nancy L. Zimpher, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

The first full-length study devoted to examining new roles and responsibilities of the chief academic officer--now more often called vice president for academic affairs or provost than the traditional academic dean-- "First Among Equals" addresses the need for vision and leadership by these individuals in an increasingly complex higher education environment. Contributors to this landmark volume--all present or former chief academic officers--conclude that the most effective leaders combine high levels of managerial acumen with professional scholarship while challenging their institutions to provide effective programs for complex and demanding constituencies.

Each chapter of "First Among Equals" explores a different aspect of the chief academic officer's primary responsibilities, including relations with the president and the board, academic governance, curriculum development, new instructional technologies, enrollment management, legal affairs, and faculty development, among others. As higher education institutions compete to unprecedented degrees for the brightest students and the most accomplished faculty, "First Among Equals" provides much needed guidance for those who occupy or aspire to this position, both in understanding its expanding number of tasks and becoming expert at performing them.

Contributors: Roy A. Austenson, Michael Baer, James Coffman, Mark Edelstein, Michael Gallagher, Alice B. Hayes, Ruth Larimer, Georgia Lesh-Laurie, Paula Hooper Mayhew, James Martin, James E. Samels, Peter Stace, Jon Strolle.

In "Merging Colleges for Mutual Growth," James Martin and James E. Samels bring together a distinguished group of higher education professionals to provide the first comprehensive handbook for those involved in--or considering--an academic merger, consolidation, or new form of resource sharing.

Providing practical and theoretical advice on the academic, financial, administrative, legal, personnel, and student aspects of mergers, the authors set forth an action plan for those involved in planning and implementing a mutual growth-rather than a bankruptcy bailout--merger. They cite numerous instances of successful mergers in the United States and Great Britain and offer specific examples to explain why they succeeded.

Among the topics discussed are presidential leadership, the challenges of curriculum restructuring and faculty development, the legal and financial implications of mergers, the role of trustees and governing boards in both public and private institutions, and strategies merging student cultures, alumni organizations, and library resources. The book also includes hints and checklists useful to academic managers planning a merger or anyone affected by one, including alumni and local community members.

Contributors: Bryan E. Carlson, James Martin, Andre Mayer, Sheila Murphy, Franklin Patterson, Patricia Sacks, James E. Samels, Victor F. Scalise, Jr., Paul Temple, John F. Welsh, Celia Whitchurch, Donald L. Zekan.