Category: CIHE Research
The unprecedented growth in non-tenure/tenure track faculty has led to speculation as to the learning environment and learning outcomes for students. Both national media and researchers have raised concerns about the growth in short-term contract faculty, yet there is little evidentiary data to support policy development. (p.3)
By Eric Lavigne
The role of academic deans is often described as multi-faceted and conflict-laden. The reason is that academic deans are meant to serve the interests of multiple groups within their institutions: central administration, faculty, staff, and students. They also need to meet the expectations of multiple external groups: government, alumni, accreditation agencies, regulatory bodies, professional associations, and donors. To complicate things further, these groups do not speak with one voice, nor share common interests. Navigating through this shifting maze of conflicting interests creates role conflict, as deans receive mixed signals about their functions. This explains why becoming an academic dean is best described as a trial by fire. (more…)
By Creso Sá
Students and faculty today have little trouble finding a way to explore entrepreneurial interests and aspirations right on the campus where they study and work. Incubators, accelerators, mentorship programs, entrepreneurship 101 classes, workshops, pitch competitions, hackathons and even entrepreneurship-themed campus residencies can be found in higher education. In Ontario, for instance, growth in such offerings accelerated in the late 2000s. (more…)