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Cover image of How Universities Work
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How Universities Work

John V. Lombardi

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The single best description of the inside workings of contemporary universities.

Witty and insightful, How Universities Work is destined to be an essential handbook for anyone wanting to understand universities in the United States. John V. Lombardi gives readers an insider’s view of the academy, describing the structure, logic, dynamics, and operational styles of both public and private institutions of higher education.

Lombardi defines and describes all the bits and pieces that compose a university with remarkable economy—from budgeting systems to tenure, from the library to the athletic...

The single best description of the inside workings of contemporary universities.

Witty and insightful, How Universities Work is destined to be an essential handbook for anyone wanting to understand universities in the United States. John V. Lombardi gives readers an insider’s view of the academy, describing the structure, logic, dynamics, and operational styles of both public and private institutions of higher education.

Lombardi defines and describes all the bits and pieces that compose a university with remarkable economy—from budgeting systems to tenure, from the library to the athletic field. Although focused on research universities, much of the discussion applies to other types of post-secondary institutions. Ideal for students, this book will form a solid foundation for courses in higher education, but it will also be a welcome addition to faculty and administrators’ personal libraries.

Reviews

Reviews

In authoring How Universities Work, Lombardi provides his expert, honest, and, at times, cynical treatise on the complexities of university management... The witty yet succinct treatment he uses to convey his message makes the book a quick read... The book will be a welcome addition to any faculty or administrators' library.

John Lombardi has always looked at higher education through the opposite end of the telescope. In so doing, he challenges the status quo. In How Universities Work he urges us to think differently and to engage disruptive ideas. This is a must-read for those who wish to see the American university regain its leadership role in this century.

How Universities Work should be required reading for all governing boards, trustees, and donors. It provides a perspective of university operations and tells us how and why these wonderful places succeed. This information is essential for us to support and encourage these institutions to thrive.

About

Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
5
x
8
Pages
240
ISBN
9781421411224
Table of Contents

Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Quality Engines
2. Management
3. Critics
4. Characteristics
5. Teaching
6. Research
7. Faculty
8. Finance
9. Budgetts
10. Measurements
11. Quality
12. Managing Improvement
13. Support

Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Quality Engines
2. Management
3. Critics
4. Characteristics
5. Teaching
6. Research
7. Faculty
8. Finance
9. Budgetts
10. Measurements
11. Quality
12. Managing Improvement
13. Support Services and Special Units
14. Regulation and Governance
15. Disruptive Change
16. People
Additional Reading: A Sampler
Index

Author Bio
John V. Lombardi
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John V. Lombardi

John V. Lombardi is a former president of the Louisiana State University System, chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, president of the University of Florida, and provost and vice president for academic affairs at the Johns Hopkins University. He is a regular contributor to Inside Higher Ed.