Date of Submission
8-27-2024
Document Type
DiP
Degree
Doctor of Education
Department
Education
Keywords
higher education, satellite campuses, multi-campus models, shared leadership, paternalism, political model
Abstract
It is commonplace in higher education for universities to have multiple campuses, as they face growing pressures to increase enrolment and maintain the viability of their complex organizations. In speaking to this complexity, universities are often described as more of political jungles than a purely collegial environment or rigid bureaucracy. It is within this environment that decisions are made regarding an institution’s policies, administrative structure, and processes. As universities add more campuses, the level of intricacy of their operations increases. This Dissertation-in-Practice (DiP) identifies a lack of autonomy on a satellite campus within a dual-campus university struggling to achieve its enrolment targets and deliver on its mission to increase access to post-secondary education for underserved communities. Hidden within the jungle of the university is a solution within reach that, with a successful implementation plan, will respect the nuances of the political climate of the institution at its current stage of development in the organizational lifecycle. Leveraging the political model of organizational theory, the change plan maps out a journey that integrates a shared leadership model that respects the knowledge and expertise of the leaders with responsibility for the satellite campus while, most importantly, ensuring that the satellite campus’ local context is integrated into decision-making.
Recommended Citation
Glover, C. (2024). Remote Leadership, Centralization, and Paternalism: Leveraging Shared Leadership to Address Issues of Autonomy within the Political Jungle of a Dual-Campus University. The Dissertation in Practice at Western University, 401. Retrieved from https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/oip/401