The book that every dean and department chair needs to survive--and thrive--in the twenty-first-century university. First released in 2006, The College Administrator's Survival Guide has served as the bible for a generation of provosts, deans, department chairs, and program directors. Shrewd administrators have returned to the guide time and again for C. K. Gunsalus's advice on handling complaints, negotiating disagreements, and dealing with difficult personalities. Now, in this revised and updated edition, Gunsalus guides rookie administrators and seasoned veterans through today's most pressing higher-education challenges. These days academic leaders must respond to heightened demands for transparency and openness. These demands are intensified by social media, which increases the visibility of university conflicts and can foster widespread misinformation about campus affairs. Meanwhile, institutions have become flatter, with administrators expected to work more closely with faculty, students, and a range of professionals even as support staffs shrink. Between the ever-replenishing inbox, the integration of often-exasperating management systems into every dimension of academic life, and the new demands of remote learning, deans and department heads are juggling more balls than ever before. Tightening budgets have already forced administrators into more difficult choices and, in the wake of COVID-19, there will be no relief from financial constraints. From #MeToo to partisan battles over curricula and funding, college and university leaders need more savvy and greater sensitivity than ever. What hasn't changed are the challenges of dealing with difficult people and the importance of creating and maintaining environments in which faculty, staff, and students have the support they need to do their best work. The College Administrator's Survival Guide provides the tools to keep cool and get the job done.

Three community college leaders--John H. Anderson, Donald G. Crist, and Charles R. Novak--address changes that need to be made to the system to strengthen its evolving role in economic development as well as its expanding partnership with the nation's K-12 system.

The book that every dean and department chair needs to survive—and thrive—in the twenty-first-century university. First released in 2006, The College Administrator’s Survival Guide has served as the bible for a generation of provosts, deans, department chairs, and program directors. Shrewd administrators have returned to the guide time and again for C. K. Gunsalus’s advice on handling complaints, negotiating disagreements, and dealing with difficult personalities. Now, in this revised and updated edition, Gunsalus guides rookie administrators and seasoned veterans through today’s most pressing higher-education challenges. These days academic leaders must respond to heightened demands for transparency and openness. These demands are intensified by social media, which increases the visibility of university conflicts and can foster widespread misinformation about campus affairs. Meanwhile, institutions have become flatter, with administrators expected to work more closely with faculty, students, and a range of professionals even as support staffs shrink. Between the ever-replenishing inbox, the integration of often-exasperating management systems into every dimension of academic life, and the new demands of remote learning, deans and department heads are juggling more balls than ever before. Tightening budgets have already forced administrators into more difficult choices and, in the wake of COVID-19, there will be no relief from financial constraints. From #MeToo to partisan battles over curricula and funding, college and university leaders need more savvy and greater sensitivity than ever. What hasn’t changed are the challenges of dealing with difficult people and the importance of creating and maintaining environments in which faculty, staff, and students have the support they need to do their best work. The College Administrator’s Survival Guide provides the tools to keep cool and get the job done.

A nationally recognized expert on professional ethics uses pungent real-world examples to help people new to the work world recognize ethical situations that can lead to career-damaging mistakes—and prevent them. Gunsalus offers questions to ask yourself, sample scripts to use on others, and guidance in handling disputes fairly and diplomatically.

How can colleges stay relevant in the twenty-first century? Residential colleges are the foundation on which US higher education is based. These institutions possess storied traditions fondly cherished by students, alumni, and faculty. There is no denying, however, that all colleges today struggle with changing consumer preferences, high sticker prices, and aging infrastructure. Technological and pedagogical alternatives—not to mention growing political pressure—present complex challenges. What can colleges and smaller universities do to stay relevant in today’s educational and economic climate? In their concise guide, How to Run a College, Brian C. Mitchell and W. Joseph King analyze how colleges operate. Widely experienced as trustees, administrators, and faculty, they understand that colleges must update their practices, monetize their assets, and focus on core educational strategies in order to build strong institutions. Mitchell and King offer a frank yet optimistic vision for how colleges can change without losing their fundamental strengths. To survive and become sustainable, they must be centers of dynamic learning, as well as economic engines able to power regional, state, and national economies. Rejecting the notion that American colleges are holdovers from a bygone time, How to Run a College shows instead that they are centers of experimentation and innovation that heavily influence higher education not only in the United States but also worldwide.

Survival Guide for College Graduates provides readers with valuable advice to help them navigate their careers during ups and downs in the economy or during recessions. Readers learn how to prepare for challenges related to job scarcity, as well as how to compete successfully for professional positions that are available within their field. The book, written like a manual or guide, encourages readers to recognize their worth in the job market and identify the competitive skillsets they possess. It underscores the importance of self-awareness, valuing oneself, and how self-confidence can come across in an application or during a job interview. Readers learn how to research and better understand the condition of the economy and job market so they can make informed, confident decisions that align with their personal economic needs and situations. Dedicated chapters examine the personal issues and challenges they may encounter--including stress, anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflict, and substance use--and offer advice for cultivating positive habits to counteract these challenges. Each chapter features questions and prompts to inspire self-reflection and help readers consider how the material applies to their lives. The book answers common questions by undergraduate students and recent graduates, including: * How do I survive during a major recession or economic downturn when jobs are scarce? * How to I explain the value of my degree to others, including parents? * What can I do with my bachelor's degree? * Do I need to go to graduate school to get a well-paying, professional job? * Is my bachelor's degree the same as a high school diploma? * Do I have to move to better myself financially with my bachelor's? * Do I have to get a job right away after I graduate, or can I take a break? * What job skills do employers want me to have? * What job skills should employers need me to have? * How does graduate school differ from undergraduate school? * What kinds of universities are best to go to for a graduate degree? Are there differences between them? * How do I deal with stress, anxiety, and depression during an economic downturn or pandemic? * What types of resources are available to me locally in my area to help me with stress, anxiety, depression, or mental health issues as I prepare for my career? Survival Guide for College Graduates is an essential resource for graduating seniors across all disciplines, as well as past graduates who are transitioning into the workforce and seeking jobs.

When you're on the front line of administration, you're in the direct line of questions, situations, and challenges that arise daily. As a community college administrator, you're required to tackle the firestorms that flare up, which may include addressing no-win decisions and effectively dealing with unjustified, as well as justified, criticism. Firsthand practical advice is presented direct from experienced professionals and details the skills and attributes needed to succeed as a community college leader. Drawing from the authors' varied experiences, this helpful guide covers the most pressing topics of concern to community college administrators, including * Making defining career choices * Thriving and surviving in your role * Expertly navigating institutional politics * Taking on roles and responsibilities * Becoming a trustee * Selecting a board * Evaluating a CEO