Exploring the Transition of University Professors to Positions of Additional Responsibility (PAR)

Abstract

Effective leadership by academic administrators is an area of significant relevance to self-governing institutions of higher education (Dean et al., 2021; Weaver et al., 2019). Universities’ success depends upon a high degree of competent performance from professors and researchers of varying ranks, particularly those who assume positions of additional responsibility (PAR), including deans, associate deans, department chairs, and program directors. Most universities do not adequately prepare faculty for the challenges of PAR, leading newly appointed academic administrators to experience needless stress and to be less effective administrators, particularly in their early years in PAR (Armstrong & Woloshyn, 2017). Although the higher education literature contains an abundance of research about university presidents, academic deans, and department chairs (White, 2014), studies that focus specifically on these role transitions are sparse. This study explores six faculty members’ transitional experiences to PAR at a southern Ontario university, how they were prepared for their administrative roles, what challenges they faced, and how they were supported in their role. Participants revealed that they were unprepared for their respective PAR, they faced challenges related primarily to “human and people” and budget administration, and the support they received was varied and lacking. Participants also provided recommendations regarding how universities can better support their transitions.