Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2007

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Joshua Powers

Second Advisor

John Moore

Third Advisor

Eric Hampton

Abstract

The study's objective was to gain an understanding of presidential longevity by gathering archival data. This quantitative study collected data about eight predictor variables that included the Carnegie classification, gender, institutional status (public or private), institutional wealth, insider/outsider status, institutional quality, reporting line, and prior experience for two Carnegie classification groups that included doctoral and baccalaureate liberal arts institutions (N = 4 71 ). The assumption underlying this study was a belief that leadership stability is important to a particular institution. There exists in the current literature anecdotal belief that shorter tenures of college and university presidents diminish institutional effectiveness, and more frequent presidential turnover divert precious time and financial resources that could be better deployed by these institutions. Accordingly, this study attempted to determine if internal candidates achieved increased presidential longevity, when compared to candidates selected externally. Descriptive statistics were provided for both the populations of current presidents (in office as of July 2006), as well as for the population of prior presidents. A regression analysis on the population of prior presidents revealed that the insider presidents and presidents of private institutions were predicted to achieve greater longevity. This study recommended that boards of trustees involve themselves more thoroughly, that individual presidents employ strategies for greater trust and legitimacy, and included a recommendation that new president's academies assist particularly during the transition periods of new leadership. One of the key roles undertaken by boards of trustees is to plan for the future, and nearly one half of the college and universities may need to replace their president at least once over the next five years. It may be more difficult in the future to replace college and university presidents with external candidates, thus boards should consider succession plans that may increase the pool of internal candidates available when selecting new presidents.

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