Higher Education Administration for Social Justice and Equity: Critical Perspectives for Leadership

Cover
Half Title
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Table of contents
Contributors
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
1 Introduction: A Call to Just and Equitable Administrative Practice
Historic and Organizational Barriers to Equity
Administrators’ Neoliberal Psychic Prison
A Framework for Equity and Justice in Higher Education Administration
Clear Definitions of Equity and Justice
Mindful Administrative Practice
Wisdom in Judgment
Critical Consciousness About Power
Knowledge of Self and Positionality
Student Centeredness
Routinizing Mindfulness and Wisdom
References
Part I Setting and Shifting Priorities
2 Renewing and Revitalizing Shared Governance: A Social Justice and Equity Framework
Introduction
Shared Governance in Retrospective
Transforming Shared Governance
A Social Justice and Equity-Based Model for Shared Governance
Conscious Public Commitment
Widening the Circle
Transformative Discourse
Dynamic Institutionalization
Conclusion
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Resources
References
3 Choose Wisely: Making Decisions With and For Equity in Higher Education
Frameworks for Making Decisions
Rationality and its Limits
Cognitive and Social Biases
Decision Making and Organizational Culture
A Framework for Equitable Decision Making
Lessons in Decision Making from Admissions and Hiring
Admitting Students
Admissions Criteria
Quantitative Metrics in Admissions
Qualitative Portions of Applications
Non-Cognitive Competencies in Admissions
Admissions Processes
Outcomes of Admissions Decisions: Access and Exclusion
Hiring Faculty
Hiring Criteria
Processes in Faculty Hiring
Outcomes in Hiring Decisions
Conclusion: Recommendations for Managing Opportunities and Threats to Equity
1. Attend to Your Multiple Contexts
2. Employ Comprehensive, Contextualized, and Systematic Holistic Review
3. Routinize Equity Checks at Each Point of the Process
4. Attend to the Intersectional Positionalities of Those With Decision-Making Power
Conclusion
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Notes
Bibliography
4 Elevating Equity through a Strategic Finance Approach: Empowerment as the Goal
What is Meant by Equity?
Looking Critically at Institutional Context
Understanding the Funding Ecosystem
Revenue
Expenditures
The Strategic Plan
A Framework to Identify Injustices
Economic Outcomes
Outcomes Measures
Equity Measures
Actions to Rectify Injustices
Strategic Allies and Alliances
Create More Inclusive Budgeting Approaches
Make Strategic Budget Cuts
Conclusion
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
References
5 Practitioner Reflection
Working in Topsy-Turvy Higher Education Environments
The Ideal
The Norms in Practice
The Compromise
The “Damned If You Do and Damned If You Don’t” Conundrum
Conclusion
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
References
Part II Human Resources
6 Rethinking Mentoring: Integrating Equity-Minded Practice in Promoting Access to and Outcomes of Developmental Relationships
Access to Mentors
Imbalanced Distributions of Labor
Relationship Quality
Power Dynamics and Dysfunction
Moving the Conversation Forward: A Model for Equity-Minded Mentoring
Strategies to Address Inequities and Promote Better Outcomes
Formalizing Expectations
Incentivizing Participation
Professionalizing Mentoring
Identity Awareness in Professional Development for Mentors
Assessment, Reporting, and Accountability
Conclusion
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Further Reading
References
7 Reconceptualizing “Merit” and “Fit”: An Equity-Minded Approach to Hiring
Introduction
Hiring in Higher Education
Limited Diversity
Myths about Racially Minoritized Candidates
Implicit Bias
Merit and Fit in Hiring Decisions
An Equity-Minded Reconceptualization of Merit and Fit
Critical Inquiry into Merit, Fit, and the Academic Search Process
How Are Your Administrators and Faculty Hired? Interrogating Process and Outcomes
Job Announcements: First Impressions, Instruments of Dominance?
What Are Search Committees Looking For? Unpacking “Merit” and “Fit”
Who Is Allowed to Shine? The Role of Interview Protocols
Conclusion
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Notes
References
8 Social Justice and Collective Bargaining in Higher Education: Untangling the Issues
A Complex Context
Labor History and Social Justice Concerns
Collective Bargaining in Higher Education
Negotiating from a Social Justice Perspective
Conclusion
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Notes
Bibliography
9 Practitioner Reflection
Leading for Social Justice in Enrollment Management and Policy
Slow Progress
Tuition Dependence and the Prestige Hierarchy
A Troublesome Triangle
The Space for Moral Action
Structural Barriers
Claims on Admission Spaces
Definitions of Merit
Admission Plans
Merit Aid and Discounting
Recruitment Decisions and Demonstration of Interest
A Brief Discussion on Remedies
Accepting Responsibility to Lead Change
Two Examples Are Illustrative
Addressing Salient Issues
In It to Win It
A Demographic Dividend
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Additional Resources
References
Part III Accountability and Data
10 Leadership for Equity-Minded Data Use Toward Racial Equity in Higher Education
Organization of the Chapter
The Equity Scorecard: A Practitioner Inquiry Model of Data Use
The Craft of Equity-Minded Data Use
Equity-Minded Data Use: A Vignette
The Value of Fine-Grained Cohort Analyses to Make Data Actionable
Addressing the Challenge of Faculty Engagement
The Importance of Racial Literacy for Disaggregated Data Use
Recommendations for Equity-Minded Leadership
Engage in Trust-Building Behavior
Develop a Capacity for Racism-Conscious Interpretations of Inequities
Articulate an Anti-Racist Stance
Develop a Multifocal Lens for Leadership
Conclusion
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Resources
Notes
References
11 An Examination of Anti-Sexual Harassment Policies and Practices: Legal Administration for Socially Conscious Campuses
Campus Safety and Sexual Misconduct
Evolutionary Voluntary Approaches to Legal Administration
Assets and Drawbacks of Compliance Approach
Power, Privilege, and Administrators’ Assumptions
Unclear Scope of Protections and Support
Negative Effects from Reporting or Referral Policies
Lack of Understanding about Victimization and Trauma
Social Biases on Roles and Perspectives
Criminal-Like Proceedings
Social Justice and Equity-Minded Legal Administration
Restore Values and Demonstrate Consistency Through Policies and Procedures
Reconsider Paradigmatic Lens
Adopt a Trauma-Informed Care Approach with a Survivor Goal
Establish Community Intervention Program Strategies
Conclusion
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Notes
References
12 Practitioner Reflection: Feeding the Data Hungry: The Role of the IR Professional in Ensuring Social Justice and Equity in
Institutional Research Defined
The Functions of IR from an Equity Perspective: Identifying Information Needs
The Functions of IR from an Equity Perspective: Working With Data
Data Collection and Reporting
Data Analysis and Interpretation
The Functions of IR from an Equity Perspective: Collaborating in Strategic Planning and Evaluation
The Functions of IR from an Equity Perspective: Serving as Stewards of Data
The Functions of IR from an Equity Perspective: Educating Data Producers, Users, and Consumers
Social Justice in Higher Education
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
References
Part IV Culture and Structure
13 Navigating Neoliberal Organizational Cultures: Implications for Higher Education Leaders Advancing Social Justice Agendas
The Origins and Core Tenets of Neoliberalism
Neoliberalism and the Culture of Higher Education
Neoliberal Environments: External Economic and Political Pressures
Neoliberal Missions: Espoused, But Not Enacted, Justice Values
Neoliberal Knowledge Economy: Equating Quality with Revenue
Neoliberal Socialization: Planting Seeds of Oppression in Future Professionals
Neoliberal Strategy: The Normalized Prioritization of Neoliberal Agendas Over Justice
Strategies to Advance Social Justice in a Neoliberal Era
Minimize the Power and Influence of Oppressive External Forces
(Re)Focus the Mission and Resources on Advancing Democracy and Justice
Embrace and Support Resistance from the Ground
Create Subversive Structures of Support, Rewards, and Socialization
Conclusion
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Note
Bibliography
14 Developing Equitable WORK–LIFE Policies on Campus: The Importance of Addressing Power and Hierarchy
Work–Life Balance Defined
Work–life Balance in Organizational and Social Contexts
Equity Literacy
Recommendations
Equity Literate Evaluation of Work–Life
Professional Development for the Equity-Literate Leader
Advocacy for Work–Life
Conclusion
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Note
References
15 Words Matter: Social Justice and Policy Discourses in Higher Education
Social justice: A Multidimensional Lens
Efficiency, Economics, and Equity: Tensions in Higher Education Policy Discourses
Words Matter: Implications of Policy Vocabularies
Leadership Matters: Mindfulness about Language in Enacting Just and Equitable Policies
Take Nothing for Granted
Leaders Should Engage in Deconstruction
Determine Who Benefits from Particular Ways of Thinking About the Organization
Give Voice to Traditionally Silenced Groups
Embrace Paradox
Integrate Moral Reasoning into Professional Development
Conclusion
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
References
16 Practitioner Reflection
Equity-Minded Leadership Perspectives for Community Colleges
The Equity Landscape in Higher Education and Community Colleges
Operationalizing Social Justice and Equity-Minded Leadership
Challenges of Equity-Minded Leadership
My Changing Identities and Journey as a Community College Leader
Equity-Minded Leadership Strategies and Recommendations
Examine Assumptions
Define and Operationalize Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Identity Sharing and Storytelling Matters
Provide Direct and Clear Feedback
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
References
Index