Forces and Factors that Impact Canadian College Presidents

Abstract

Prior to the 1960s, higher education in Canada consisted primarily of universities. Subsequently, the Canadian higher education (HE) system then grew markedly as a result of a range of factors, including: economic growth, infrastructure development, increasing immigration and an expanding population. The shape of higher education (HE) also diversified, as it moved from an elitist to mass system. This expansion relied, in part, on the introduction of community colleges to provide vocational training and academic upgrading. Unlike universities, the government tightly controlled these new unicameral institutions and aligned them directly to meet local community, industry, and business needs. Academic senates, tenure, and freedom were not considered. For the most part, this continues today and has created unique leadership challenges and opportunities. The author reviewed a national survey of current college presidents and conducted interviews with presidents who were identified by peers as outstanding leaders to truly comprehend these opportunities and threats, including the future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Date of Award	23 Mar 2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Supervisor	Michael Mayer (Supervisor) & Ian Jamieson (Supervisor)