Knowledge and Involvement of Student Affairs Officers in Financial Decision-Making: A Challenge for the Profession.

摘要: To serve their campuses well, senior level student affairs administrators need to be involved as full partners in institutional deasion-making. do that effectively requires a variety of skills, including an understanding higher education finance. The role personnel financial decision-making has not been studied. Looking at variables involvement and knowledge, the authors surveyed leaders identify factors facilitate participation deasion-making process. In classic article, French Raven (1959) discussed importance expertise concluded special knowledge carried with it influence power. Kirkpatrick Locke (1991), supporting position Raven, \vrote form "knowledge business" (p. 49) is necessary trait leaders. Student educators, committed they are learning development, may lack or successfully advocate for fiscal resources needed work (Kuh & Nuss, 1990; McClelkn Barr, 2000; Schuh, 2000). Understanding how officers becomes important challenge those (SSAOs) who recognize informed participants campus financing discussions helps them gain support programs while, others (Barr Desler, Reisser Roper, 1999; Sandeen, 1991) suggest, enhancing ability decisions, thereby increasing value campuses. Colleges universities usually managed using conservative approach minimizes debt. Real costs, however, can occur when opportunities missed. For example, failure add housing units remodel aging ones could, particularly competitive recruitment market, result decreased enrollments, high attrition, reduced revenue. Among reasons going into debt avoid costs if lost. Campuses also assume order fund capital projects supportive educational objectives (Forrester, 1988). However, long-term commitment, fixed cost impact available other priorities (Hornfischer, 1997; McClellan If only reason, SSAOs decisions related made. use central management because professionals provide broad based leadership, know process leading issuance finance student-use facilities. There many instruments; our study we selected bonds widely used. 2001, institutions issued record $18.6 billion tax-exempt (Blumenstyk, 2002; Fisher, 2002) suggesting accepted commonly used tool. Some portion was facilities life programming and, result, some became assumed by programs. research problem investigated here focuses on identifying determine extent which prepared decision making concerns projects. main questions developed address preparation were these: (a) How about new campuses; (b) what knowledgeable finance; (c) what, any, training have received would prepare projects? …