Fitting Form to Function: A Primer on the Organization of Academic Institutions (American Council on Education Oryx Press Series on Higher Education)

The way in which the various departments within colleges and universities are organized has a direct impact on their effectiveness. Factors such as reporting structures, what kinds of committees are formed, and how the administration and faculty collaborate to make decisions all play key roles in how well an institution meets its objectives.

In a series of succinct chapters, the author examines the functions of each department within an academic institution, then offers explicit recommendations on the types of organizational structures and processes that are best suited to carry them out.

RUDOLPH H. WEINGARTNER is professor emeritus of philosophy, University of Pittsburgh. He is also former dean of arts and sciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, and former provost, University of Pittsburgh.