Dive Brief:
- Effective budget management can be the clearest way for a college president or administrator to establish their most important priorities on campus, according to recently retired University of Iowa vice president for student life Tom Rocklin, who wrote for Inside Higher Ed on what he wished he had known when starting his career.
- Rocklin advises budding administrators that, as team leaders, it is important to understand that important (or unimportant) issues don't necessarily arrive at your desk or inbox marked with the need for immediate attention, and administrators should also learn ways to dial up and dial down the pressure and attention paid to issues.
- Administrators and team leaders should be sure to repeat the mission statement and focus to keep the team's momentum on the stated goal, and leaders should constantly check with themselves regarding lines they are unwilling to cross, even if it costs them their job. Such an instance, Rocklin warns, may not provide the time to consider all options and will require a quick reaction.
Dive Insight:
Rocklin's advice for budding college administrators and presidents can be helpful, but it is important for institutions to ensure that potential (and current) college presidents are indeed receiving the advice they need in the midst of their tenures to ensure success.
Earlier this year, the Aspen Institute released the findings of a task force made up of numerous college presidents and administrators, focused on what could be done to help future presidents learn more about the role prior to taking it on. The task force suggested that schools institute leadership development programs for exceptional candidates in the faculty or staff, particularly for female candidates or candidates of color. These kinds of programs could serve as a form of mentorship, allowing administrators in Rocklin's position to directly offer counsel and discussion of exactly the types of lessons he hoped to impart in his article.
Current presidents could also benefit from ongoing mentorship regarding the role. Colleges and universities could endeavor to maintain relationships with prior presidents as a source of information and guidance for administrators to call upon. In its report, the Aspen Institute also urged institutions to try to move away from the shortened tenures that have become the norm in college presidencies. In addition to offering schools more stability, it would also help current presidents feel a sense of relief and an increase in confidence that they will have the ability to learn on the job, drawing lessons from the people and places that can offer it.