Top administrative appointments at one time used to be rewards for life-long scholarly achievements. Now
it has become merely another career path.
When administrative positions are regarded rewards for lifetime scholarly achievement, the incumbents have a
short half-life and long-time tenure at the school implies loyalty. Therefore, decisions are taken for the long term good of the institution.
On the other hand, when administrative positions become an alternative career path to scholarship, the incumbents look upon the position as just a stepping stone to a higher position elsewhere. And the utility function demands making hay while the sun shines.
When university administration becomes a career path, greed for money and perks takes over.
Should we be surprised that the half-life of business school Deans is just a few years (4-5), and we have deans who are businessmen first and scholars last.
At Albany we had a strange situation some years ago when the dean candidate did NOT want tenure coming in. Obviously the guy looked at Albany as just a stepping stone. The school foolishly bought the idea, and he was soon gone. We felt like the hero in a Greek tragedy.
On the other hand I know of schools (I went to one) where the same person was the dean for over 25 years and the school went from a mediocre school to a well-known one today during his tenure.
I know assistant professors who already are planning (I am tempted to say scheming) to be administrators,
and for them, obtaining tenure is merely a hurdle to be negotiated and not a recognition to be sought for scholarly work done.
Academia has made this possible by proliferating journals just to support such a "business model".
it has become merely another career path.
When administrative positions are regarded rewards for lifetime scholarly achievement, the incumbents have a
short half-life and long-time tenure at the school implies loyalty. Therefore, decisions are taken for the long term good of the institution.
On the other hand, when administrative positions become an alternative career path to scholarship, the incumbents look upon the position as just a stepping stone to a higher position elsewhere. And the utility function demands making hay while the sun shines.
When university administration becomes a career path, greed for money and perks takes over.
Should we be surprised that the half-life of business school Deans is just a few years (4-5), and we have deans who are businessmen first and scholars last.
At Albany we had a strange situation some years ago when the dean candidate did NOT want tenure coming in. Obviously the guy looked at Albany as just a stepping stone. The school foolishly bought the idea, and he was soon gone. We felt like the hero in a Greek tragedy.
On the other hand I know of schools (I went to one) where the same person was the dean for over 25 years and the school went from a mediocre school to a well-known one today during his tenure.
I know assistant professors who already are planning (I am tempted to say scheming) to be administrators,
and for them, obtaining tenure is merely a hurdle to be negotiated and not a recognition to be sought for scholarly work done.
Academia has made this possible by proliferating journals just to support such a "business model".
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