WASHINGTON, DC – DECEMBER 05: (L-R) Harvard University President Dr. Claudine Gay, Liz Magill, … (+) University of Pennsylvania President Dr. Pamela Nadell, Professor of History and Jewish Studies at American University, and Dr. Sally Kornbluth, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, testify before the House Education and Workforce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on December 05, 2023 in Washington, DC. The Committee held a hearing to investigate antisemitism on college campuses. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch//JOBs Apply News/Getty Images)
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Colleges and universities, both public and private, are facing enormous pressures today. Enrollments are It is expected to begin to decrease In the coming years, as the number of traditional-age college students declines, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported, an increasing number of prospective students are wondering whether a college education is still worth it. Is it worth the investmentAccording to a Gallup poll, most recent graduates are underemployed. Institutions face questions about their free speech policies and accusations of being too partisan.
It’s a difficult time to be president.
In extreme cases, some universities are faced with… Congressional Investigations In their policies and social media campaigns to overthrow their presidents, some presidents of Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania – two of the most prestigious in the world – have resigned under such pressure.
It is enough that some presidents decide to leave voluntarily because they feel they can be more effective without the constraints of office. L. Song Richardson this month Announced Richardson would step down as president of Colorado College and return to the University of California, Irvine, law school. Her reason? As a faculty member, Richardson said in a statement that she can “fully engage” in discussions about equity and justice.
Less time at work
Even before the scandal at Harvard and Penn, the average tenure of university presidents had been declining for some time. By 2022, presidents had been in office for an average of 5.9 years, according to the latest data. Survey of American university presidents According to the American Council on Education, that figure is down from 6.5 years in 2016 and 8.5 years in 2008. In addition, 55 percent of the more than 1,000 presidents surveyed said they planned to leave their current position within the next five years.
“The job is really complex,” says Hironao Okahana, deputy vice president and executive director of ACE’s Education Futures Lab, who led the latest survey. “You’re running a complicated enterprise. In some cases, you’re running a hospital, a major sports company, and the largest conference center (in the region), in addition to the education and research component.”
Lack of understanding of what lies ahead can impact a president’s level of success. One survey finding suggests that some presidents, particularly those of color, have different experiences with transparency during the search process. Those presidents indicated they were less likely to fully understand their board’s expectations and the challenges they would face, including the financial health of the higher education institution.
“If they don’t have the bigger picture, an already challenging job can become even more challenging,” Okahana says.
Leading an institution of higher education is undoubtedly a daunting task. In addition to overseeing the mission of education, research, and athletics (all big business on campus), presidents must constantly worry about a myriad of issues that keep them up at night. These include: student safety; affordability and access; quality of life for faculty and staff; local, state, and federal policies and politics; fundraising; student and faculty activism on campus; and legal issues, including lawsuits. And that’s just the beginning.
Presidents are now under greater scrutiny than ever to prove the value they bring. As someone who has supported five university presidents and advised several others, I can tell you that the job is not for the faint of heart.
To further complicate matters, success can be open to interpretation. For students, the true test of a degree’s worth is often the job they’ll get after graduation. new report A study by the Strada Institute for the Future of Work and the Burning Glass Institute suggests that universities – and therefore their presidents – have more work to do in this department.
According to the report, more than half of recent college graduates are underemployed one year after graduation, meaning they are in a job that does not require a four-year degree. A decade after graduation, 45% are still underemployed. The first job is critical. Among those who land a college-level job after graduation, 79% are still in that job five years later.
Creating impact
The best presidents set themselves up for success by setting clear priorities, staying true to their institution’s values, and staying focused on their mission. These leaders do an exceptional job of communicating with their stakeholders, sharing their goals and expectations, and being as transparent as possible when making difficult decisions, especially in times of crisis.
In many cases, presidents are champions of access, offering life-changing opportunities to thousands of people and acting as agents of social mobility for the most vulnerable. They also have the potential to attract new industries and drive economic growth, depending on the strategies they promote and the policies they adopt.
They also remember that the most important component of their mission is to educate students, to teach them to think critically and for themselves, and to create open and fearless environments for learning. When that happens, graduates tend to view their experience more favorably.
Being a university president is hard work. But most will tell you that when they see those graduates walk across the stage, it will have been worth it.
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