What type of frame is most commonly used by leaders in your educational system? Why?

I have been at Wilkes Community College (WCC) for 8 years. I first worked in Student Services and am now teaching Geography and Success/Study Skills. While there are some number-driven forces we must endure or defend, I like to think the goals at WCC are qualitative rather than quantitative. Very similar to customer service, we have a need to help students be successful which may mean that we are not graduating students and those appear as non-completers. We have many committees and I was initially required as a member of Student Services to participate in three Standing Committees on our campus. In addition to standing committees, we have a Faculty Senate, Staff Council, and various task forces. Committees can propose changes to items of interest (attendance policy, flexible work week) and most often those must be approved in the proper channels. Interview committees can recommend a new hire to the college president; however, the final decision rests with the WCC President who contacts references and calls to offer employment.

We do have a great deal of flexibility and creativity as instructors-choosing texts, creating assignments, developing presentation methods, inviting speakers to our classes, and collaborating with others. Students are "active agents" (Bolman & Deal, p.64) thus classroom dynamics vary from my 8am class to my 9am class to my 5pm class. I am allowed the freedom to respond to the different dynamics of each group and meet the needs of that group of students where they are in the intellectual process.

Given these facts about WCC, I understand that we are very complex in that we are an organization exhibiting a structural frame of lateral coordination and professional bureaucracy as described in Bolman & Deal chapters 3 and 4. Also, I find that we may be exhibiting some reference to a political frame as some final decisions do lie with the administration. In an effort to demonstrate a Human Resource reference, WCC promotes egalitarianism and participation through the examples herein. "Share the wealth," another HR concept, is also displayed when WCC has received additional funds for earning the Superior Performance ratings within the state system and the funds have been dispersed to all employees including the custodians, groundkeepers, faculty, staff, and administrators.

Why are we such a complex organization? I find that there is no one, best way to solve issues that arise in my personal life and extend that to an organization of any size. To honor the age-old cliche of academic freedom but also to maintain the authority of the administration requires more than one method of creating a successful institution. At present, the right blend of freedom, flexibility, and authority seem to exist as our institution continues to thrive in these economic challenges through the support of our college community.