Fitting Form to Function: A Primer on the Organization of Academic Institutions, 2nd Edition

Weingartner, Rudolph H.

ISBN 10: 1442211997 / ISBN 13: 9781442211995

Published by Rowman & Littlefield, 2011

About this Item

Seller Inventory # I-9781442211995

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Fitting Form to Function: A Primer on the Organization of Academic Institutions, 2nd Edition
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
• Publication Date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1442211997
• ISBN 13: 9781442211995
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 2nd Edition
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Institutions of higher education are not like corporations: they have multiple goals, not even limited to the central ones of teaching and research, nor are they organized hierarchically. One class of leading inhabitants, faculty members, are a cross between independent contractors and employees; another class, administrators, are a cross between bosses and colleagues. Fitting Form to Function discusses how such institutions are best organized; how decisions are best made at various levels; how administrators and faculty can effectively collaborate in giving shape to a university or college. The book takes up such topics as the office of the president, of the provost, the dean and the chairperson of a department. It considers how committees are formed to function effectively-from a faculty senate to budget and planning committees to those that advise on promotions and others that adjudicate when there are grievances. Fitting Form to Function is written in an informal style. No jargon, no footnotes, but sporting 27 recurring maxims, such as Maxim 1, In academic institutions, the forces of nature are centrifugal; organizational art must be used to create propensities toward coherence; Maxim 17, Boundaries are less likely to create solidarity among those who live within them than they constitute barriers for those residing outside them; and Maxim 23, 'A' people hire (or retain) 'A' people, while 'B' people hire 'C' people.

About the Author

Rudolph H. Weingartner is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh. He was also dean of arts and sciences at Northwestern and provost at the University of Pittsburgh.