Program goals and faculty activities: the case of Atlanta University's department of educational administration, 1981

King, Robert E.

1981-05-01

1980-1989

Statement of the Problem Atlanta University is committed to further improving, expanding, and strengthening its program of educational administration and has decided to seek membership in the University Council for Educational Administration. The author of this study served as a volunteer assistant to the department in collecting information to satisfy the requirements for application for membership in the University Council for Educational Administration. As a result of this task, the thesis problem was derived as a description of the department's goals as they relate to faculty activities of the Department of Educational Administration. Purpose of the Study The purpose of this research was to develop a case study describing program goals of the Department of Educational Administration as they relate to faculty activities of the department. It was expected that program goals and faculty activities should be closely related and one could predict the other. They were assessed in terms of membership criteria for the University Council for Educational Administration. Findings The author surveyed department resources including the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Report, Atlanta University Bulletin, questionnaire responses, personal interview responses, taped interview responses, faculty resumes, and faculty status reports in pursuit of goals and activities of the department. The findings revealed general background information and two sets of goals, both formal and operative, of the department. The operative goals were found in questionnaire responses and the formal goals were located in the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education Report and Atlanta University's Bulletin. The operative goals were found to be somewhat different, broader, and more future oriented than were the goals represented in the department documents. The operative goals of the department were categorized as follows: 1. to expand research and development activities 2. to increase student enrollment 3. to modify the curriculum to meet the needs of the 80s. The formal goals of the department were categorized as follows: 1. to prepare students for administrative positions in public school systems 2. to expand the curriculum to meet certification requirements 3. to provide programs that will meet career goals of students 4. to provide training in research methods, techniques, and experiences in the pursuit of improving competencies for students in the field of educational administration. The faculty activities were found in faculty status reports and faculty resumes' . They were representative of six full-time faculty members employed in the department during the 1979-80 school year. These activities were categorized as follows: 1. Teaching preparation, teaching assignments and educational preparation. The findings indicate a balance in the number of teaching preparations per faculty member, a cross section of teaching assignments, and appropriate achievement in the area of educational preparation. These activities are consistent with the formal goal of using expertise in preparing students for administrative positions in public school systems and applying the curriculum to meet the needs of students. 2. Service activities: The findings indicate that all faculty members are involved in professional service, technical service/evaluator and public service activities. All faculty members but one are involved in training activities. The total number of service activities averages about two per faculty member. These activities are represented by the operative goals of advancing research and development, curriculum expansion and providing training in the use of research methods, techniques and experiences in pursuit of improving competencies of students in educational administration. Recruitment activities should also be implemented in this category as a means of dealing with the problem of declining enrollment. 3. Research and Scholarly Activities: The findings revealed a low percentage (less than 40 percent) of faculty members were involved in published work and advanced study activities. However, over 80 percent of the faculty were involved in research activities. In the low percentage area, less than two activities per faculty member were found in the data which is inconsistent with the formal goal of advancing research and development programs in the future. 4. Academic Advising Activities: The findings indicate that the department has placed emphasis on involving all faculty members in this process. The department is specializing in key areas of student needs and department requirements. One faculty member is advising twice as many students as others in the department. The doctoral program is attracting the largest number of students in the three degree level programs. This category of activities is consistent with the formal goal of allowing student and advisor to plan formal course work to meet career goals of students, but modification in the number of students being advised per faculty member is needed. Conclusions and Recommendations This study indicates that the department does have well formulated goals as well as sufficient activities to achieve these goals. However, the findings indicate that there are certain activities performed by faculty members which are inconsistent with the goals that guide the behavior of the department. The department should take a serious look at reformulating some specific formal and operative goals in light of inconsistencies facing the department in terms of (1) service activities: the department should involve all faculty members in training activities and increase the total number of activities in this area; (2) research and scholarly activities: the department should increase the percentage of faculty participation in the area of published work, unpublished work, and research and scholarly activities; (3) academic advising activities: the department should take a serious look at balancing these activites among faculty members at all-degree levels to insure continuity in the program and implementing recruitment goals to deal with the problem of declining enrollment. The author has taken a serious look at the original criteria for membership in the University Council for Educational Administration which framed this study. It is therefore his opinion that the department has sufficient information on the various facets required to file application with the University Council for Educational Administration.

text

application/pdf

thesis

Education Specialist (EdS)

Atlanta University

School of Education

Clark Atlanta University

Georgia--Atlanta

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/cau.td:1981_king_robert_e

https://rightsstatements.org/page/InC-EDU/1.0/