Pursuing Excellence in Higher Education: Eight Fundamental Challenges
In this important book, Brent D. Ruben, distinguished professor of communication and organizational psychology and executive director of the Center for Organizational Development and Leadership at Rutgers University, proposes an inclusive view of excellence for higher education that emphasizes the importance of higher standards in the service and operational dimensions as well as in academics. Pursuing Excellence in Higher Education offers an in-depth examination of eight key challenges for the academyBroadening public appreciation for the work of the academyIncreasing our understanding of the needs of workplacesBecoming more effective learning organizationsIntegrating assessment, planning, and improvementEnhancing collaboration and communityRecognizing that everyone in the institution is a teacherDevoting more attention and resources to leadershipMore broadly framing our vision of excellenceEach of the book’s chapters features narratives contributed by colleagues from across the nation and the higher education enterprise that clearly illustrate the challenges and responses to them. The book also explores the fundamental question of developing a vision for higher education that emphasizes excellence in practice and challenges everyone involved to achieve greater goals in the future.