The major issue that I selected impacting higher education is the issue of budget cuts specifically in Virginia. The theory that I would like to apply to this issue is the situational approach to leadership. After our discussion in class relating to the case study about Northern University, I chose to focus my blog this week on George Mason's budget. Yes, I am an employee and a student but I would say that I am not as up-to-date on issues relating to the university as maybe I should be.
I have found that at Mason we have been hit with budget cuts for the past few years and " In the 2007-08 fiscal year, it absorbed a 5 percent general fund reduction and another 7 percent reduction in the current fiscal year. "
From the Mason Gazette, on December 19, 2009: The cuts to Mason’s budget, as announced earlier in the week by Gov. Timothy Kaine, total approximately $11 million. This is in addition to the $9.8 million in cuts imposed upon the university for the current fiscal year.
The Gazette also mentioned that there will be no cuts in student financial aid nor in safety resources for employees and students. I also read this in the blog that I chose to follow for last week's assignment. Dean Flagel mentioned that schools are agressively responding to the economy when he spoke on a panel at the Education Policy Institute. Flagel stated that some schools may cut back on enrollment while others are seeing student struggle to receive aid.
The budgets cuts will in all likelihood result in restructuring at the university.
I believe that the university is utilizing the Situational approach to leadership as senior administration is using the Supporting style. The supporting style is based on the approach of high supportive and low directive behavior. The detailed description of this style states that the leader is exclusively focused on goals but uses supportive bahavior to bring out the employees skills around the task to be accomplished. Campus wide we are experiencing budget cuts and the university has established town hall meetings and forums where senior administration address the Mason community. This to me is an example of the suppporting leadership style as the university bridging the gap between the different levels of management and supporting throught budget concerns.
In searching more information relating to higher education budgets, I came across this fable from Inside Higher Education. The article is a fable about a president struggling to access budget cuts. She evaluates consolidating departments, closing off campus programs, decreasing the athletic budget, and in all of these situations a concerns by a stakeholder group is heard. To read the story click here. Story . I can only imagine the situation that a president or provost when they must impliment budget cuts....where do you start? But if they use the supporting or coaching leadership approach information and assistance will be available to the employees and departments.
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2 comments:
Nice post! It makes my head spin thinking of all the groups and subgroups that will be impacted by any and all decisions made by upper adminstration for GMU. How in the world do you keep the background noise out of your head to make good decisions? Well, just like President Obama told a reporter - (one) doesn't want to be a president during good times. A true test of leadership is upon us all.
Meghan,
I just returned from San Francisco, where a number of college president where in attendance for the Achieving the Dream Strategy Institute. Talking to a number of the presidents, this is a really tough time to be a leader. Just the pressure of the daily decisions has to take it toll when the actions you take can utimately affect the your community and the students/constiuents you serve. I saw President of GMU's letter to the GMU community. I believe that his honesty and open communication, is a true sign of his leadership, during this tough time.
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