Can State Universities Be Managed?Can State Universities Be Managed? By Duane Acker Praeger Publishers; 236 p.p.; $39.95; www.greenwood.com PRESIDENTS AND HIGHER ED MANAGERS OF state universities now have their own primer covering what to do when stepping into leadership. The text, which is written as much for those who have just assumed power as for those who are building careers, covers all bases in a commonsense and easy-to-access style, Author Duane Acker knows much about the topic. He is currently president emeritus at Kansas State University Kansas State University, main campus at Manhattan; coeducational; land-grant and state supported; chartered and opened 1863. There is an additional campus at Salina. Among the university's research facilities are the J. R. but has worked at five other state universities as educator, dean, and vice chancellor vice chancellor n. Abbr. VC 1. A deputy or an assistant chancellor in a university. 2. A deputy to or a substitute for a head of state or an official bearing the title chancellor. 3. . He tackles head-on the realities of Leading such a behemoth behemoth (bē`hĭmŏth, bĭhē`–) [Heb.,=plural of beast], large, fanciful primeval monster, like Leviathan, evoking the hippopotamus mentioned in the Book of Job. as a state university. Job liabilities include burnout Burnout Depletion of a tax shelter's benefits. In the context of mortgage backed securities it refers to the percentage of the pool that has prepaid their mortgage. and the sacrifices to family life. He offers coping strategies, of course. Things like a thick skin, a sense of humor Noun 1. sense of humor - the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous; "she didn't appreciate my humor"; "you can't survive in the army without a sense of humor" sense of humour, humor, humour , and the ability to see the big picture are paramount. So what does a new president do after Landing the dream job? Acker suggests poring over the budget documents. Knowing where the money comes from and how it is used will serve as a base of knowledge for dealing with complex issues: the drying up of state funds, the need to do fundraising, to manage research efforts, and to help run large athletics programs. His succinct chapters cover all aspects of higher ed, including dealing with the donors and the governing board. The book, offered through Greenwood Publishing, is part of the Series on Higher Education offered by the American Council on Education Established in 1918, the American Council on Education (ACE) is a United States organization comprising over 1,800 accredited, degree-granting colleges and universities and higher education-related associations, organizations, and corporations. .--J.M.A. |
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