Fully online principal preparation: prevalence, institutional characteristics, geography

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-301
Author(s):  
Frank Perrone ◽  
Mary F. Rice ◽  
Erin A. Anderson ◽  
Sajjid Budhwani
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Principal Preparation ◽  
Classification Tree ◽  
The United States ◽  
Course Delivery ◽  
Gis Mapping ◽  
Institutional Characteristics ◽  
Preparation Program ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Principal Preparation Program

PurposePrincipal preparation program pedagogy and course delivery are critical to principal candidates' preparedness to lead. Research around online program delivery, however, is relatively sparse. This study examined the extent to which university-based educational leadership programs offered fully online (FOL) pathways to the principalship, as well as program geographic locations and institutional characteristics most associated with FOL offerings.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through website reviews and coding checks, and then merged with national postsecondary data. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, classification tree analysis, and geographic information system (GIS) mapping.FindingsRoughly 43 percent of all reviewed programs offered an FOL pathway to licensure, which suggests substantial growth in FOL offerings over the last 10 years. While a number of factors were deemed important, geographic characteristics were most associated with FOL status. GIS mapping further illustrated findings with a visual landscape of program FOL offerings.Research limitations/implicationsThis study considered only programs for which degrees or certificates could be earned without ever visiting campus in-person for classes. Hybrid programs were excluded from the analysis.Practical implicationsFindings make a clear call for more research into online principal preparation program design and course delivery.Originality/valueThis study provides the first overview of fully online university-based principal preparation programs in the United States while also offering a previously unavailable landscape of all programs specifically leading to licensure. It is also the only higher education study to map or investigate factors associated with FOL offerings and raises questions about prior FOL higher education research.

Modeling critical leadership competences for junior high school principals

Kybernetes ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (11) ◽  
pp. 2589-2613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hui-Wen Vivian Tang
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
High School Principals ◽  
Junior High School ◽  
Principal Preparation ◽  
Junior High ◽  
School Principals ◽  
School Principal ◽  
Preparation Program ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Principal Preparation Program

Purpose Based on generic reviews of research on school leadership, this study aims to conceptualize an emerging leadership competence model for further prioritizing school leadership training needs by decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL)-based analytic network process (ANP). Targeting at a specific group of junior high school principals in Taiwan, the synthesized prioritization of core competences and competence indicators computed by DEMATEL-based ANP can be used as a blueprint for systematically developing school principal preparation programs elsewhere based on contextually specific needs and concerns. Design/methodology/approach For the purpose of detecting the priority of competences extracted from a plethora of literature in relation to school leaders’ skills, abilities and knowledge, a hybrid MCDM model, known as DEMATEL-based ANP, is used to snapshot critical leadership competences for tailoring the intended junior high school principal preparation program. Findings Results of global weight computations by DEMATEL-based ANP show that the overall prioritization of the five dimensions in ranking order are “Redesigning the organization,” “Related leadership practices,” “Setting Directions,” “Personal Characteristics” and “Developing People.” Factor-level analysis indicated that “Legality,” “Consensus Building,” “Shared Vision,” “Strategic Management,” “Authoritarianism,” “Modeling Behavior” and “High Performance Emphasis” were prioritized factors to be included in developing the intended school principal preparation program. Research limitations/implications Contextually based findings yielded from DEMATEL-based ANP would only be applicable to the target context under investigation. Generalizing the findings to junior high school principals elsewhere might not be appropriate. Methods introduced in this study are extensible to further studies aiming at shaping leadership trainings in other school settings to achieve maximum impact based on contextually specific needs. Limitations associated with sophisticated mathematical computations involved in performing high-leverage MCDM models would shed light on the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations between scholars, practitioners and methodologists. Practical implications To efficiently deliver training for junior high school principals, the prioritization of core competences and competence indicators solicited by DEMATEL-based ANP can be used as a scenario-based reference for planning the intended school principal preparation program planning, as well as a mechanism for selecting and evaluating potential and incumbent school principals with desired leadership competences. Originality/value This study has used DELATEL-based ANP as a decision-making tool to disclose a plethora of competences extracted from different threads in the literature into a prioritized competence framework that differs from past one-size-fit-all approach to design and plan school principal preparation programs.

Perceptions, reality and semantics: exploring perceptions of coaching and academic advising as distinct roles

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alicia Sepulveda ◽  
Matthew Birnbaum
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
United States ◽  
Academic Advising ◽  
Distinct Type ◽  
The United States ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Academic Coaching ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeCoaching in higher education has become increasingly common across the United States. Our qualitative study explores the perceptions of coaches and advisors, as they consider academic coaching as a role distinct from academic advising.Design/methodology/approachOur study adopts a qualitative research approach. Two focus groups were conducted with 14 coaching and academic advising professionals.FindingsOur findings identify at least three major themes when considering academic coaching as a role distinct from academic advising: (1) Potential role overlap, (2) Caseload disparities and (3) Philosophical differences. The indiscriminate use of the title of “coach” contributed to confusion, ambiguity and tension.Practical implicationsWithout a clear understanding of the coach role as a distinct type of support in higher education, confusion and ambiguity are likely to continue.Originality/valueNo studies have explored the perceptions of coaches and advisors, as they consider academic coaching as a role distinct in the United States.

Globalization, Cross Border Education, and Student Migration

2015 ◽  
pp. 397-442
Author(s):  
Ryan Vance Guffey
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
United States ◽  
Student Mobility ◽  
The United States ◽  
Institutional Characteristics ◽  
Cross Border ◽  
Education Environment ◽  
Perceived Importance ◽  
Push And Pull ◽  
The Relationship

Presently, there are more than two million students studying outside their home countries and the total number is expected to grow to eight million by 2025. This trend has inspired research into the “push” and “pull” factors that drive student mobility within the global higher education environment. However, despite the growing presence of cross border student enrollments throughout the United States, which is also the number one location for cross border students to study in the world, limited efforts have been made to identify what characteristics motivate particular groups of cross border students to leave their home countries to attend particular types of higher education in the United States. This chapter addresses that gap in the literature. In response, this study sought to build upon existing global higher education literature by determining the relationship between the perceived importance of institutional characteristics and cross border students' age, gender, and country of origin.

Central Europe's universities will fall further behind

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Education Reform ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
The United States ◽  
Higher Education Reform ◽  
Private Funding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Central Eastern Europe ◽  
Central Eastern ◽  
Talented Students

Subject Higher education in Central-Eastern Europe. Significance Higher education reform has been on Central-Eastern European (CEE) governments’ agenda since the transition to democracy and market capitalism in 1989-90. Many CEE universities now offer courses in English and attract international students. Yet the most talented students and most successful academics go to Western Europe or North America, reflecting poorly on CEE's economic prospects. Impacts Limited access to quality education is impeding productivity across CEE, depressing overall economic growth. CEE is holding back European higher education in the competition not only with the United States, but also, increasingly, Asia. Countries that enact bold reforms, invite private funding and engender domestic competition may shoot ahead in the regional race.

QoS in higher education institutions: the concept, a literature review and future directions

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gyan Prakash
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Literature Review ◽  
Student Satisfaction ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
The United States ◽  
The Body ◽  
Teaching Excellence ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Body Of Knowledge

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the meaning and operationalisation of quality of service (QoS) in the context of higher education institutions (HEIs).Design/methodology/approachA systematic literature review of 167 articles published in various peer-reviewed journals between 1990 and 2019 is performed.FindingsThe findings reveal that around 40 dimensions have been used to conceptualise QoS in HEIs. Reliability followed by responsiveness, tangibility, empathy, assurance, programme design, academic and non-academic processes, reputation and facilities have received the highest attention. The most popular approach is empirical, and surveys and single-context studies are the most popular methods. The United Kingdom (UK) leads research on quality in HEIs, followed by the United States of America (USA) and India.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper contributes to the body of knowledge by presenting a comprehensive synthesis of articles addressing QoS in HEIs.Practical implicationsPolicymakers and academic administrators can use the findings of this study to conceptualise student satisfaction along the educational value chain. The discussion on HEIs’ and students’ perspectives will help policymakers create teaching excellence.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the body of knowledge by presenting a unified synthesis of various strands of the literature on QoS in HEIs.

Characteristics of Teachers Nominated for an Accelerated Principal Preparation Program

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 35-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve J. Rios ◽  
Daniel Reyes-Guerra
Keyword(s):  
Principal Preparation ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
Educational Leaders ◽  
Race To The Top ◽  
Department Of Education ◽  
Master's Program ◽  
Preparation Program ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Principal Preparation Program ◽  
Initial Statistical Analysis

This article reports the initial evaluation results of a new accelerated, job-embedded principal preparation program funded by a Race to the Top Grant (U.S. Department of Education, 2012a) in Florida. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, and chi-square analyses were used to describe the characteristics of a group of potential applicants nominated to the program by their principals. Demographic and education-related variables for the group were compared to a group of self-selected students enrolled in an existing educational leadership master’s program at the same public university. Initial statistical analysis revealed that more than two-thirds of the nominated teachers belonged to a minority group and had not majored in education as undergraduates. These findings have immediate implications for this new program and for research related to the identification of potential future educational leaders.

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