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LEADING THE ENTERPRISE

Big Business, Bigger Challenges, Great Opportunities

BY RICHARD STRAND

I’ve been involved in post-secondary education for a number of each of these organizations there are a cadre of staf, faculty, and
years; more than I’d like to admit to in some cases. Back in the administrators who are charged with managing and leading the
mid-1970s I started as adjunct faculty teaching business transfer enterprise itself, in addition to all the things they must do to
classes at Central Texas College in, of all places, Pisa, Italy. teach, mentor, and assess student competency.
Twenty years later I was a professor and program coordinator Sufce it to say, education is a business – a big business. In many
at National Defense University in Washington, DC. As I refect cases, the organizations involved in post-secondary education
back on these experiences, I recall that the overriding focus of are among the largest business entities in their communities. For
my attention was teaching, developing lesson plans, perfecting this reason alone we felt it important to provide some time and
ways to engage students in the learning process, and refning attention on the subject. We are pleased that in this edition we
assessment practices. I gave little, if any, thought to the actual are able to address the topic from many diferent perspectives.
enterprise of education itself. Provost Patrick Burkhart provides an expansive overview of the
Tat changed in a big way when I became an instructional enterprise as it has evolved over time from his perspective as a
dean at a mid-size college in Washington State. Budgets, class Campus Executive Manager; John Bonner and Becky Nickoli
schedules, short and long-term planning, facilities management, expound on the growing importance and role of the Corporate
personnel issues, etc., dominated my time and attention. On College, while Keith Houck weighs in with his perspective as
top of that, I was tasked with equipping and stafng a newly a Vice President of Operation and Finance from his perch in
constructed satellite campus location and, if that wasn’t enough, central Florida; and fnally, Shelley Ballantyne, Manager of
assuming responsibility for the college food service program - a Business Development at Nova Scotia Community College
program that had incurred over $500,000 in debt and needed shares valuable insights on the need to look beyond conventional
more operational oversight than had previously been provided. community boundaries to increase market share.
But the realization that really brought to light the importance We hope and trust you’ll fnd the theme relevant to those
of this theme was the initial exposure I had to the landscape of involved in post-secondary education, regardless of your
education when I frst arrived in Phoenix back in the winter of position or perspective. Te fact is that while to some of us
2010. I was surprised to learn that three of the largest employers education may be a calling, indeed an industry flled with
in this sprawling metropolis were none other than the University people who are more singularly focused on student learning
of Phoenix, the largest private university in the nation with some and success—none of that would be possible if it weren’t
370,000 students registered linked to 200 campus locations; for those who are dedicated to maintaining, managing, and
Arizona State University, the largest public university with some leading the enterprise itself. We invite you to read and learn
70,000 students registered; and, last but not least, the Maricopa from the perspective of those who know.
County Community College District with its 10 colleges and As always, let us know what you think in response to what
two skill centers, 270,000 students and 10,000 employees. In you read. Happy New Year!

LEADERSHIP Vol. 19.3 Winter 2014 3

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