Dr. Blake Faulkner

Wayne, I think that you bring up a couple of very good points. "Confronting Reality" is important if organizations are going to remain viable and continue to improve. At times it does take courage to stand up and state what the current reality really is (many times others intuitively feel the same thing but are afraid to say because it might disrupt the status quo). Organizations that create a culture that allows openness in saying what needs to be said even though it may not be popular, tend to adapt and change much more effectively. Alignment with the mission of… >>>

Kelly, I think you are correct. We are dealing with a unique time in higher education. On one hand we are seeing significant enrollment growth across higher ed that is running counter cyclical to the troubled economy. On the other hand we are seeing increased regulation and significant changes. Leadership in higher ed today requires a unique balance of managing growth and as well as adapting policies, procedures and processes to align with changing regulations. This will require all of us to "think outside the box" in how we adapt to these trends. In addition to the vision and creativity… >>>

Pamela, I think that putting students at the center of our decision making in higher ed is what really seperates outstanding, sustainable institutions whether they are proprietary, non-profit private or public. I think you are correct that at times some institutions loose sight of this and forget to consider the impact of decisions on students. We all have tough decisions to make to ensure our instituions remain fiscally viable and work within budgets. To not make these tough decisions can risk the institutions ability to serve students effectively in the future. However, institutions that remain committed to the core values… >>>