Date of Award
1-1-1984
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Educational Leadership
Abstract
The literature suggests that women have been under-utilized in higher education administration. This study was designed to determine what selected women holding an administrative position of President or Chancellor, Vice President, Dean of an Academic College, or Dean of Students in an Upper Midwest public four-year institution of higher education perceived to be: (1) Significant constraints to career advancement in administration for women in general and in their own career in regard to training and experience; intra-institutional processes, procedures, and attitudes; extra-institutional processes, procedures, and attitudes; and self-imposed factors or behaviors. (2) Some of the skills and characteristics necessary to overcome these constraints.Twenty administrators were identified from the Higher Education Directory 1983. Eighteen of the administrators supplied a recent curriculum vita, completed a questionnaire, and were interviewed. A profile of the respondents was developed from the information on the curriculum vita. The data obtained from the questionnaires were categorized, tabulated according to frequency distributions and means, and summarized quantitatively. The data obtained from the interviews were summarized and presented in the narrative.Constraints related to training, institutions, society, and self were perceived by the women administrators to be major constraints for women in general. In contrast, the women administrators perceived these to have been minor constraints in their own careers. Apparently these women administrators had already overcome these constraints and therefore no longer saw them as constraints.Goal-setting and networking were perceived as major skills for women to develop in advancing their careers in higher education administration. Self-confidence, communication skills, and human skills were additional characteristics considered to be valuable.One factor that was identified in the interview data was that most of the women administrators grew up in families where girls were encouraged to maximize their potential; they were not limited to a particular sex role.
Recommended Citation
Willoner, Williams Robyne Carol, "Perceptions Of Women Administrators In Higher Education In The Upper Midwest As To The Constraints To Career Advancement For Women And The Skills And Characteristics Necessary To Overcome Those Constraints." (1984). Theses and Dissertations. 8939.
https://commons.und.edu/theses/8939