We have a culture which seems to value job hopping. CEOs of major corporations have limited lifespans in their positions. In the community college system (and maybe in other segments of higher ed) there has been a trend toward turnover in administrative positions. Deans and VPs stay for a short time and leave for the next rung of the ladder. Presidents move on to be president of a multi-college district or Chancellor of the entire district. Our society values this ladder climbing and the short term commitments that it creates. I have even heard arguments that changing positions is good because of "new blood" and that long timers are complacent, resting on laurels, not interested in innovation, etc. My response is that educational administration is public service, not ladder climbing. (Then again, our society doesn't value long term commitments among the public servants who serve as our elected officials, either. Hence term limits. But that is another rant!)
Well, the longest serving CSU president is retiring now after service of 30 years. He is the President of Cal Poly SLO and during his leadership Cal Poly has become a college that few even realize is part of the CSU system. It's reputation is so great, the admissions are so competetive, that it rivals programs at some of the best schools in the country (I am thinking of engineering, in particular). I know this is a very small sample (n = 1!) but doesn't it speak for the value of a long term commitment in a public service career?
3 comments:
Wow! That's amazing! I have seen administators come-and-go like hummingbirds to flowers. EE
yes, but faculty move in for the long term like those gophers you can't get rid of!
Gophers, they're good at what they do. Aren't they?
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