Leading a Small College or University

Few works on presidential leadership in higher education focus on the unique aspects of small colleges and universities. Too often leaders treat these universities as smaller versions of larger institutions and, while extensively trained in academic disciplines as faculty, typically acquire an understanding of their organization only through this limited experience. This is scant preparation for the difficult job of leading a complex university in the 21st century.

Under WISCAPE sponsorship, Harry Peterson, a long-time administrator and leader in higher education, has written a guide designed to help small college presidents—or those preparing for a presidency at some point in their careers—obtain a thorough understanding of their organization. Leading a Small College or University: A Conversation That Never Ends is also useful for other leaders in small colleges and universities who play important roles in their institutions.

Peterson supports his ideas with the theoretical work of several higher education scholars and his own extensive experience as a small college president. He has held senior administrative positions at three institutions and a central system administration and has reported to six chancellors and presidents. Peterson’s administrative career culminated with the presidency of Western State College, a small institution in Colorado. He also earned a doctorate from the UWMadison Department of Educational Policy Studies, where he studied leadership and organizational change.

Peterson discusses the many challenges, opportunities, and other issues associated with being the president of a small college or university, including:

Understanding the organization of universities;
Recognizing and utilizing the unique characteristics of small institutions;
Sources of influence for small college presidents;
Availability and mobilization of authority at small universities;
Responsibilities and activities of effective presidents;
Choosing and leading a senior team;
External relations;
A walkthrough for the first year of the presidency; and
How and why presidents fail.

Purchasing Information

Leading a Small College or University is available from Atwood Publishing and Amazon.com.

Leading a Small College or University In the Media

Why Presidents Fail—and How They Can Succeed, by Harry Peterson (The Chronicle of Higher Education, June 13, 2008)

Why is There Tension with the Faculty?, by Harry Peterson (Academic Leader, June 2008, Vol. 24, No. 6)

Small Group Behavior, by Harry Peterson (Academic Leader, July 2008, Vol. 25, No. 7)

Books of Note, by The Council of Independent Colleges (Independent, Fall 2008)

Presidential Hiring: A Team of Colleagues, by Harry Peterson (American Council on Education, The Presidency, Fall 2009)

Leading a Small College or University

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