The college I used to work at has a split personality. Many prefer to hire from within, while others prefer to hire outside. I was always torn on that account. When you hire from within you know what you get and you get someone familiar with the culture. You can even train them to be the kind of employee you feel you need. This is all good. To a point.
The college I used to work for hired a secretary who became an administrative assistant who became a Dean. This is where I feel the system breaks down. This person can easily continue that trajectory, becoming a VP at a college and eventually becoming a college president. What is wrong with that? I think it undermines the very nature of the academic schema. I believe all college presidents should spend a significant amount of time as faculty. You have to understand both sides of the business in order to really administrate the business. While I admire what it takes to go from scheduling meetings and answering phones as the front door for an administrator to being that administrator and finally that administrator’s ultimate boss, I feel that journey wipes away the ability to understand the academic side of operation from a practical standpoint.
I’ve struggled with this for some time, and I see it happening time and again. There needs to be a clear pathway to advancement, but right now, in some places, it is easier to go from Secretary to President than it is to go from Faculty to President. That isn’t how it should be.
Some Thoughts:
1. Day two of Nano and I have yet to touch my novel. Failure in progress…