Term of Award

Spring 2014

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Document Type and Release Option

Dissertation (restricted to Georgia Southern)

Department

Department of Leadership, Technology, and Human Development

Committee Chair

Daniel Calhoun

Committee Member 1

Devon Jensen

Committee Member 2

Gemma Frock

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive quantitative study was to measure the frequency data to determine which essential leadership skills, competencies, and leadership development techniques should be emphasized in leadership programs offered to non-academic leaders at four-year public higher education institutions. The focus of this study was on the perceptions of program coordinators at four-year public institutions in Georgia and South Carolina. Three research questions guided this study: What do leadership development program coordinators perceive as the essential skills needed for non-academic higher education leaders? What do leadership development program coordinators perceive as the essential competencies needed for non-academic higher education leaders? What do leadership development program coordinators perceive as the essential leadership development techniques of a leadership development program? A survey was electronically administered to 44 participants, of whom 32 responded. This study offers a lens into the essential leadership skills and competencies that are considered important to prepare and develop future non-academic leaders. Results suggest that program coordinators perceived the best way to learn the identified top leadership skills and competencies was through seminars, mentoring, and hands on experiences. The top essential leadership competencies perceived by program coordinators were: Communication, Leadership, Personnel Selection, Strategic and Institutional Planning, and Conflict Resolution. Similarly, the top essential leadership skills perceived by the program coordinators were: Policy skills, Board Relationships, Employment Practices, Motivation skills, and Time Management. Additional findings suggested succession planning in higher education is perceived to be a highly important topic, but is still not a focal point of development initiatives.

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