Higher education for our time

Abstract

Public higher education is currently experiencing a decline in financial support from state governments, an acceleration of enrollment growth, and a shift from a transformational to a transactional student relationship. Private institutions are also struggling with increasing operational costs, and decreases in revenue from endowments and fund-raising, all of which have dictated record high tuition rates. Institutional leaders faced with rising costs and falling resources have fewer options from which to choose in order to maintain the fiscal health of their institutions. Outsourcing provides the benefits of services provided by specialists with expertise, and the availability of the economies of scale to reduce the cost side of an institutional ledger. If institutional mission is clearly defined, and the academic program delivered is directly linked to this mission and approved by the faculty, online courses and those drawn from open educational resources can provide counters to the fiscal challenges of the twentyfirst century.

Entrepreneurial leadership in higher education : Does the presidential career pathway make a difference?

“…The findings suggest campus executive officer's use of entrepreneurial concepts are directly associated with developing a vision and strategy for the institution of higher education in the 21 st century. The findings support Metcalf (2009), Duderstadt (2006), and Burnett and Collins (2010) of the need to apply the principle, themes, and values of entrepreneurship to lead a 21 st century higher education institution contributing to the knowledge economy for human capital as an important resource for prosperity.…”

“…A campus leader can be the integral dynamic shaping the institution through leadership. The university leaders, who develop ways to operate efficiently and connect their programs to mission are more likely to maintain robust enrollments, provide excellent academic programs, balance budgets and prosper in the 21 st century (Burnett & Collins, 2010). The leader operating in a capital and knowledge drive economy provides vision and strategy for the future.…”

“…In addition, Amey (2006) speculated "[a]cademic leaders create learning environments that include cultural awareness, acceptance of multiple intelligences and ways of knowing, strategic thinking, engagement, and a sense of collective identity as collaborators in developing knowledge and active investigators into practice" (p. 56). While Burnett and Collins (2010) trusted higher education "evolution will make certain the survival of colleges and universities" willing to embrace "prudent change" and remain grounded in the mission responsiveness and consistency towards the needs of their clientele (p. 198). The leadership model for higher education must undertake significant change to manage the complexity of enterprises operating in a 21 st century knowledge economy.…”

“…Colleges and universities are frequently viewed by business partners as key constituents in the creation of knowledge including the knowledge-based economy supporting both industry-university partnerships and the market-oriented trend of academic entrepreneurship (Mars & Metcalf, 2009). Burnett and Collins (2010) discussed "[l]eaders of our institutions must not only seek new revenue sources, but must also find more efficient means to provide high quality education in the challenging times of the twenty-first century" (p. 193). The campus executive officer sense of balance of entrepreneurship and leadership highlights the changing role for higher education in the knowledge economy.…”

“…The mission becomes a defining element of culture." The university leaders who develop ways to operate efficiently and connect their programs to the university's mission are more likely to maintain robust enrollments, provide excellent academic programs, balance budgets and prosper in the 21 st century (Burnett & Collins, 2010). Moreover, the President of Mission University (traditional career pathway) communicated a concern around mission complacency:…”