Peabody Professional Institutes

Higher Education Management

The Higher Education Management Institute is a one-week institute for individuals who are new (within the past 3 years) to senior management positions in colleges or universities, or those who aspire to such positions. Examples of appropriate non-vice presidential administrative titles include: director of athletics, associate vice president of student affairs, and director of development or major gifts.

Colleges and universities typically tap individuals with proven skills in a narrow area to lead various campus divisions. One of the challenges for individuals who assume senior management positions involves the expectation that as senior institutional leadership they will contribute to overall institutional strategies.

More importantly, upon assuming a senior position, these administrators must participate in the overall strategic decision-making and management of the entire educational enterprise. Participation in these endeavors necessitates a broad understanding of issues related to college and university governance; student access, choice and retention; academic unit management; resource diversification; facilities management; and state and federal higher education policy-making.

The Peabody Professional Institute in Higher Education Management will provide training designed to enable participants to make decisions for their home organizations grounded in theory and supported by data. The institute’s design is grounded in the intellectual core of Peabody College’s Department of Leadership, Policy and Organizations, which takes human learning as its central focus with connections to social, financial, and political capital; organizational dynamics; leadership; instruction; curriculum; and decision analyses. Additionally, the institute draws upon the expertise of the Higher Education Leadership and Policy faculty and other experts from across the nation.

"I can attest that this program continues to provide pertinent insights that inform and guide my decisions as an academic administrator. I would strongly recommend this program to any administrator in higher education who wishes to gain a more informed and global perspective as an educational leader."– Tim Downs, Dean, College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences, Gannon University