Academic administrative effectiveness and the influence of decisions affecting teacher education in institutions of higher education in Texas

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to determine the academic decision making levels at which decisions affecting teacher education are primarily influenced and are made with the greatest degree of administrative effectiveness. Four academic administrative decision making levels were studied. These levels included: (1) faculty within the college or school of education, (2) department heads or chairpersons in the college or school of education, (3) deans of school or college of education, and (4) chief academic officers (e.g. vice president for academic affairs or provost). Five categories of decisions were identified as fundamental to the administration of teacher education. These categories included: (1) instructional program decisions, (2) research decisions, (3) student affairs decisions, (4) faculty affairs decisions, and (5) financial affairs decision. These decisions categories served as a classification plan to relate major areas of academic administrative functions to the decision making process in higher education.