Leading People From the Middle: The Universal Mission of Heart and Mind
William P. Robinson
© 2002

Robinson, president of Whitworth College (WA) and former president of Manchester College (IN), presents a new perspective on leadership in this book, guiding the reader through past theories, studies, and beliefs on leadership, identifying leadership styles, and describing the six qualities of today’s successful leaders. His concept of “leading from the middle” refers to “influencing from among, rather than from above, below, or in front of one’s group… [It] refers to positioning ourselves alongside those whom we’ve empowered…[and] to living in the center of a mission, rather than simply lifting it up.” He offers practical strategies for effective leadership that one reviewer said “allows leaders to be at once optimally adaptable, open to opportunities, and above all, connected to their stakeholders.”

     Copies of this book are available for $22.95 from Executive Excellence Publishing.

Reclaiming the Game: College Sports and
Educational Values
William G. Bowen and Sarah A. Levin
© 2003

Over the last four decades, the athletic-academic divide on elite campuses has widened substantially. This book examines the forces that have been driving this process and presents concrete proposals for reform. Authors Bowen and Levin disentangle the admissions and academic experiences of recruited athletes, walk-on athletes, and other students, and argue for the reestablishment of athletics as a means of fulfilling, not undermining, the educational missions of colleges and universities. Their analysis of the backgrounds, academic qualifications, and college outcomes of athletes shows that recruited athletes are as much as four times more likely to gain admission than are other applicants with similar academic credentials. They also found that recruited athletes are substantially more likely to end up in the bottom third of the college class than students who do not play sports. Bowen is going to be speaking at the Presidents Institute in San Diego. He is president of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and president emeritus of Princeton University.

     This publication from Princeton University Press is available for $22.50 for CIC members, a discount of 20 percent, valid until February 24, 2004.

Legitimacy in the Academic Presidency:
From Entrance to Exit
Rita Bornstein
© 2003

At last year’s CIC Presidents Institute, Rita Bornstein, president of Rollins College (FL), offered a teaser for her about-to-be-published book on presidential legitimacy. “Legitimacy is essential to a successful academic presidency. Higher education history is littered with presidential failures from a loss of legitimacy. These failures are costly both to the individuals and institutions involved; many of them could be avoided,” said Bornstein. Bornstein was elected president of Rollins College 14 years ago, at a time when the national economic climate was bleak and college and university enrollments were down around the nation. She identified strengthening Rollins’ quality, reputation, and financial health as her priorities, and all have flourished under her leadership. This book focuses on the impetus for leading change, and draws on numerous sources for a theoretical perspective on the factors associated with the president’s role in creating legitimate change.

     Copies of this book are $42.95 and can be ordered from Greenwood Publishing Group at (800) 225-5800.

Educating Citizens: Preparing America’s Undergraduates for Lives of Moral and Civic Responsibility
Anne Colby, Thomas Ehrlich, Elizabeth Beaumont,
and Jason Stephens
© 2003

This book shows how institutions can equip students with the understanding, motivation, and skills of responsible and effective citizenship. It includes examples from in-depth studies at 12 institutions and from a wide range of effective programs on other campuses. It is “essential reading for all who believe that higher education can play a critical role in the health of American democracy by helping students become responsible citizens.” The authors explain the educational and developmental goals involved in educating citizens, and they examine the challenges institutions face when they dedicate themselves to this task.

     Published by Jossey-Bass, the book is available for $28.00 through bookstores nationwide.

Shakespeare, Einstein and the Bottom Line: The Marketing of Higher Education
David L. Kirp
© 2003

How do you grade students if they are “customers” you must please? What happens when the life of the mind meets the bottom line? In his book, Kirp, who is currently professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley, examines these and other questions, and argues there’s a place for the market—but the market must be kept in its place. In particular, he describes how universities “brand” themselves for greater appeal in the competition for top students; how academic super-stars are wooed at outsized salaries to boost an institution’s visibility and prestige; and how the liberal arts shrink under the pressure to be self-supporting.

     This book, published by Harvard University Press, is available for $29.95 through bookstores nationwide.

A 150-Year History of Beaver College and
Arcadia University
Samuel M. Cameron, Mark P. Curchack,
and Michael L. Berger
© 2002

This first-edition hardbound (9x12) “coffee-table” book details the history of Arcadia University (PA), from its founding as Beaver College, a small female seminary on the banks of the Ohio, to its emergence as a mid-sized university outside of Philadelphia. Filled with accounts of key historical events and interesting essays, it is heavily illustrated with photographs from 1853 to today. All three authors have deep connections to Arcadia: Cameron taught psychology for 38 years and is now a professor emeritus; Curchack came to the university in 1977 as an assistant professor of anthropology and is currently the dean of graduate and professional studies; and Berger was appointed vice president for academic affairs in 1993 and has been provost for the last two years.

     Copies of this book are $49.95 and can be ordered from Arcadia University Bookstore at (215) 572-2971.

Higher Education Issue Guide
Public Agenda (NY)
© 2003

This new online resource from Public Agenda provides policy makers, educators, journalists, and consumers with easy access to the latest facts and figures on higher education and analysis of major issues, including rising costs and affirmative action. The guide will provide frequently updated analysis of public attitudes captured in surveys conducted on higher education issues. Sections include “Overview” —higher education issues at a glance; “Notable & Newsworthy”—a digest of recent stories; “Fact File”—facts, trends, graphs, tables, and charts on topics suchs as enrollment, salaries, and institutional size; “Framing the Debate”—three perspectives on how to approach higher education policy; “Sources and Resources”—a listing of the major players, and “People’s Chief Concerns”—how the public defines the issues.

     For more information, visit www.publicagenda.com or call (212) 686-6610.

Fund Raising from Black-College Alumni: Successful Strategies for Supporting Alma Mater
Marybeth Gasman and Sibby Anderson-Thompkins
© 2003

The economic downturn has increased pressures on all colleges to generate more donations from private sources. Small colleges and HBCUs often lack the sizable fundraising and alumni staffs that are needed to sustain higher levels of private support. This book provides an overview of the history and traditions of black philanthropy, outlines the challenges that HBCU fundraisers and alumni staff face, and offers practical advice for turning goodwill into generosity. Alumni and staff from about 30 colleges and universities participated in the institutional study, representing private, public, four-year, and two-year HBCUs in different regions of the country. 

     This book is available from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education by calling (202) 328-CASE. The price is $36.95 for CASE members and $48.95 for non-members.