Overview
During the last half-century, multicampus systems have become the dominant model of public higher education in the United States. Approximately 80% of the students currently enrolled in two- and four-year public colleges and universities attend institutions that are part of a multicampus system.
Because of their dominance and public funding most receive, these systems, their Presidents and Chancellors are being subjected to intense and unprecedented scrutiny and to pressures for accountability and productivity.
The distinguished contributors—nationally prominent leaders of four- and two-year multicampus institutions—consider such issues as: How can the leaders and managers of multicampus systems cope with the new operational challenges that confront them? How should, or have, leaders responded to dwindling or unpredictable resources; to new public expectations or formal mandates for accountability and productivity? What should their organizations’ missions be? How can they build on organizational strengths and take advantage of opportunities while minimizing organizational weaknesses and overcoming threats to their existence? How can they formulate desirable strategies and implement them effectively?
This is the first comprehensive examination of multicampus systems that has been conducted since Eugene Lee’s and Frank Bowen’s work in the early 1970’s.The environment within which these institutions operate has since undergone seismic economic, demographic, political and technological shifts.
This book fills an urgent need to provide university and community college leaders, trustees and policy makers with guidance and information for developing effective policies in an increasingly complex and uncertain world.