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Learning By Listening

One of the things I like best about higher education is the amount of self evaluation and assessment we conduct as an industry.

At Old Dominion University, for example, we are accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), which requires us to set standards and goals and regularly assess our progress toward them. The National Collegiate Athletic Association oversees all our athletics programs and we routinely go through reviews not only on our compliance but also on our efforts to increase academic success for our student athletes. And I could fill a file drawer with the number of other academic and professional organizations that evaluate everything from our degree programs to business processes and campus life.

Recently, the American Association of University Professors surveyed ODU faculty to ask how some of us top administrators are performing. The questions were fair and dealt with issues ranging from communication and seeking input to providing resources and integrity.

While the Board of Visitors annually evaluates me, I the Provost, and then she the deans, we all benefit from the feedback provided by a "bottom-up" review. The comments and concerns of the individuals performing on the front lines can only help us do a better job leading the institution forward. Leaders at any level must listen to be successful.

I am grateful to the faculty who participated in the survey and shared their thoughts. I read and considered each one. More importantly, I pledge to continue advocating opportunities to sustain a campus culture where two-way communication is the norm.

This article was posted on: October 29, 2010