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Cover image of The Empowered University
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The Empowered University

Shared Leadership, Culture Change, and Academic Success

Freeman A. Hrabowski III
with Philip J. Rous and Peter H. Henderson

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A practical and hopeful examination of how colleges and universities can create the best possible experience for students and faculty.

There are few higher education leaders today that command more national respect and admiration than Freeman A. Hrabowski III, the outspoken president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Named one of America's Best Leaders by US News & World Report and one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World, Hrabowski has led a community transformation of UMBC from a young, regional institution to one of the nation's most innovative research...

A practical and hopeful examination of how colleges and universities can create the best possible experience for students and faculty.

There are few higher education leaders today that command more national respect and admiration than Freeman A. Hrabowski III, the outspoken president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Named one of America's Best Leaders by US News & World Report and one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World, Hrabowski has led a community transformation of UMBC from a young, regional institution to one of the nation's most innovative research universities.

In The Empowered University, Hrabowski and coauthors Philip J. Rous and Peter H. Henderson probe the way senior leaders, administrators, staff, faculty, and students facilitate academic success by cultivating an empowering institutional culture and broad leadership for innovation. They examine how shared leadership enables an empowered campus to tackle tough issues by taking a hard look in the mirror, noting strengths and weaknesses while assessing opportunities and challenges.

The authors dig deeply into these tough issues in higher education ranging from course redesign to group-based and experiential learning, entrepreneurship and civic engagement, academic inclusion, and faculty diversity. The authors champion a holistic approach to student success, focusing on teaching and learning while offering an array of financial, social, and academic supports for students of all backgrounds. Throughout the book, the authors emphasize the important role of analytics in decision-making. They also explore how community members and senior leaders can work together to create an inclusive campus through a more welcoming and supportive racial climate, improved Title IX processes, and career support for faculty of all backgrounds.

Ultimately, The Empowered University is as much a case study of the authors' work as it is an examination of institutional change, inclusive excellence, and campus-community partnerships. Arguing that higher education can play a unique role in addressing the fundamental divisions in our society and economy by supporting individuals in reaching their full potential, the authors have developed a provocative guide for higher education leaders who want to promote healthy and productive campus communities.

Reviews

Reviews

In The Empowered University, [Hrabowski] describes a theory of shared leadership within a campus culture that is proudly aspirational, driven by clear mission and values: people first; shared governance; innovation and risk taking; and 'inclusive excellence,' the improvement of academic success for all students.

In fifty years, people will still be talking about Freeman Hrabowski's influence on American higher education. Under his leadership, UMBC has proven the possibilities when it comes to expanding opportunity, promoting inclusion, empowering students, and using the resources of the university to improve society. The Empowered University tells that inspiring story and is a must-read for all who believe in the power of education.

Freeman and his team are for real. I have been on campus, talked to students, and studied the numbers. As Freeman says, 'change is hard as hell,' and this is the story of transforming UMBC to high student success and impacting research. It is a practical and interesting drama.

Freeman Hrabowski writes with the precision of a mathematician, which he is, the nuance of a poet, and the clarity of a fine journalist. He and coauthors Philip Rous and Peter Henderson skillfully weave hard-learned lessons from UMBC into a thoughtful blueprint for building and maintaining a healthy, thriving campus community.

In The Empowered University, Hrabowski shows with a powerful beam of light the potential of a public university to contribute to a prosperous American future and outlines how it can be replicated across our complex and diverse nation. Brilliantly written, this work shows how truly democratic universities harness the inherent intellect, drive, and grit of their people to attain greatness.

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Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
6
x
9
Pages
320
ISBN
9781421432915
Table of Contents

Preface. It's about Us
Part I
1. And Then We Did It
2. Higher Education Matters
3. Culture Change Is Hard as Hell
4. Leadership and Empowerment
5. Grit and Greatness
Part II
6. At the Crossroads
7

Preface. It's about Us
Part I
1. And Then We Did It
2. Higher Education Matters
3. Culture Change Is Hard as Hell
4. Leadership and Empowerment
5. Grit and Greatness
Part II
6. At the Crossroads
7. Pillars of Success
8. An Honors University
9. A Challenge of Quality
10. The New American College
11. Difficult Conversations
12. Looking in the Mirror
13. Success Is Never Final
Epilogue. A Great Challenge
Notes
Index

Author Bios
Freeman A. Hrabowski III
Featured Contributor

Freeman A. Hrabowski III

Freeman A. Hrabowski III served as president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County from 1992 to 2022 and as chair of the President's Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans under President Obama. He is the author of The Empowered University: Culture Change, Shared Leadership, and Academic Success.
Featured Contributor

Philip J. Rous

Philip J. Rous is provost, senior vice president for academic affairs, and a professor of physics at UMBC.
Featured Contributor

Peter H. Henderson

Peter H. Henderson is senior policy advisor to the president at the University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB). He previously served as senior advisor to the president at UMBC and director of the Board on Higher Education and Workforce at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.