Our Inside Higher Ed columns focus on academic leadership challenges and tools for strengthening shared governance. To learn about new columns as they are published, follow us on Twitter or on LinkedIn.
Below is the list of our published entries:
What the Debate Over Civility Is Really About
As academic leaders struggle to balance demands for civility with those for free speech, Nicholas C. Burbules, C. K. Gunsalus, Brian C. Martinson and BrandE Faupellhighlight three underexplored aspects.
How to Raise Your Leadership EQ
Jacob J. Ryder, Nicolas C. Burbules, BrandE Faupell and C. K. Gunsalus offer advice to academics for enhancing the vital quality of emotional intelligence in their work groups.
Defining A Culture of Excellence in Research
The principal investigator and other leaders play a key role in encouraging group dynamics that make people feel respected and included — or not, Elizabeth A. Luckman, C. K. Gunsalus, Nicholas C. Burbules and Robert A. Easter write.
Leading Students During Departmental Conflicts
As the mentor, guide and role model, you have the responsibility to maintain inclusive environments and steer the debate in a productive direction, advise Ronald J. Threadgill, Nicholas C. Burbules and C. K. Gunsalus.
Dealing with the Now
Much of what occurs in the next weeks and months will turn on how academic leaders make choices and adapt no longer effective behaviors, write Nicholas Burbules and C.K. Gunsalus.
The Tension of We vs. I
As a leader, when should you put the focus on yourself and when should you put it on others? Virginia K. B. Lehmann, Jarvis Smallfield and several other scholars share some advice.
Incivility, Bullying and Academic Dysfunction
How can departments foster an environment that encourages productive discourse, even in the face of vigorous disagreement? Nicholas C. Burbules, Ashley Albrecht Weaver, Elizabeth A. Luckman and C. K. Gunsalus provide some recommendations.
Why Listening Matters for Leaders
It can help you build a healthy and productive unit in a least three significant ways, write Sebastian Wraight, Nicholas C. Burbules, Elizabeth A. Luckman and C. K. Gunsalus.
The Self-Aware Leader
Effective leadership is rooted in understanding the leader you currently are as well as the leader you need to become for your unit to thrive, write Elizabeth A. Luckman, Nicholas C. Burbules, C. K. Gunsalus and Robert A. Easter.
How to Change an Unhealthy Department Culture
It can make the difference between a high-performing collegial unit and one riven by factions, rivalries or unproductive friction, argue Elizabeth A. Luckman, Robert A. Easter, C. K. Gunsalus and Nicholas C. Burbules.
Fostering Trust in Academic Departments
It is crucial in a vibrant academic unit, and you can cultivate it in some specific ways, advise Elizabeth A. Luckman, C. K. Gunsalus, Nicholas C. Burbules, and Robert A. Easter.
Understanding and Navigating Cognitive Biases: Part 2
Sebastian Wraight, Nicholas C. Burbules, C. K. Gunsalus, and Robert A. Easter explore how to reduce the problems cognitive biases can produce in your academic department.
Understanding and Navigating Cognitive Biases
They are often at work in troubled academic units and in how people react — or fail to react — to the problems, write Sebastian Wraight, C. K. Gunsalus, and Nicholas Burbules.
Taking Over a Troubled Unit?
Robert A. Easter, C. K. Gunsalus and Nicholas C. Burbules offer advice to increase the likelihood you’ll leave things better than you found them — as well as remain healthy and balanced yourself.
Reforming Challenged Departments: The Faculty Role
Dysfunctional departments have identifiable patterns, and faculty members share some responsibility for dealing with them, argue Nicholas C. Burbules, C. K. Gunsalus, and Robert A. Easter.
Challenged Academic Units
C. K. Gunsalus, Nicholas C. Burbules, Robert A. Easter and Jeremy D. Meuser recommend five steps for managing conflicts and disputes.
Creating and Sustaining a Culture of Excellence
How can academic leaders foster a culture of excellence in their departments and other units? Robert A. Easter, C. K. Gunsalus, Sebastian Wraight, Nicholas C. Burbules and Jeremy D. Meuser suggest some specific actions to take.
How Healthy Is Your Academic Department?
Nicholas C. Burbules, C. K. Gunsalus, Robert A. Easter and BrandE Faupell have created a tool to help you diagnose problems in your academic unit and identify ways to improve it.