The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions

141 Pages·2017·3.53 MB·English

The Lives of
Presidential Partners
in Higher Education
Institutions
Darwin D. Hendel
Karen F. Kaler
Gwendolyn H. Freed
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
December 2016

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The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions
Hendel, Darwin D.; Kaler, Karen F.; Freed, Gwendolyn H.
Te Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. December 2016. 141 pgs.
University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy
http://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/183467
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The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ...............................................................................................................................................................................7
List of Tables .............................................................................................................................................................................................8
List of Figures ...........................................................................................................................................................................................9
Frequently Used Acronyms and Terms ..........................................................................................................................11
Statistical Terms .................................................................................................................................................................................13
Executive Summary ...........................................................................................................................................................................15
Chapter 1: Context .......................................................................................................................................................................17
Change and Challenge for College Presidents ...........................................................................................................17
Our Collaboration............................................................................................................................................................18
Chapter 2: Literature Review ...........................................................................................................................................19
Memoirs .............................................................................................................................................................................19
Essays ..................................................................................................................................................................................22
Institutional Voices ..........................................................................................................................................................23
Guides for Partners ..........................................................................................................................................................24
Opinion ..............................................................................................................................................................................25
Media Coverage ................................................................................................................................................................26
Research .............................................................................................................................................................................27
Our Study in Context of Previous Research ...............................................................................................................31
Chapter 3: Design and Methodology .........................................................................................................................33
Target Population .............................................................................................................................................................33
Data Collection .................................................................................................................................................................34
Anonymity .........................................................................................................................................................................34
Survey Design ...................................................................................................................................................................34
Data Analysis ...................................................................................................................................................................35
Chapter 4: Characteristics of Partners, Presidents, and Institutions.................................37
Chapter Overview ............................................................................................................................................................37
More Males in the Role, Still a Distinct Minority .....................................................................................................37
Partners (and Presidents) Older than in the Past ......................................................................................................38
Partners More Educated than in the Past ...................................................................................................................39
Race and Ethnicity ...........................................................................................................................................................39
Years in Role and Years in Relationship ......................................................................................................................39
Presidents’ Roles ...............................................................................................................................................................40
Presidents’ Institutions ....................................................................................................................................................40
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The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions
Chapter 5: Transition to the Presidential Partner Role .....................................................................41
Chapter Overview ............................................................................................................................................................41
Te Presidential Search, Past .........................................................................................................................................41
Te Presidential Search, Present ...................................................................................................................................42
Adjustment to the Role ...................................................................................................................................................43
Partners Discuss Adjustment Challenges ...................................................................................................................44
Career Changes .................................................................................................................................................................45
Partners’ Advice for Institutions ...................................................................................................................................46
Chapter 6: The Partner Role ...............................................................................................................................................49
Chapter Overview ............................................................................................................................................................49
Situating the Partner Role in the Psychological Literature ......................................................................................49
Words Used to Refer to Partner ....................................................................................................................................51
Specifc Partner Responsibilities ..................................................................................................................................52
Employment Outside the Role ......................................................................................................................................52
Associated Benefts ..........................................................................................................................................................54
Involvement in Partner Role ..........................................................................................................................................54
Activities Assumed in the Role .....................................................................................................................................58
Partners’ Perception of Helpfulness to Presidents ....................................................................................................60
Compensation for Partner Role ....................................................................................................................................60
Institutional Public Relations.........................................................................................................................................63
Perceptions Attributed to Others ..................................................................................................................................64
Chapter 7: Role Clarity ...........................................................................................................................................................66
Chapter Overview ............................................................................................................................................................66
Aspects of Role Clarity ....................................................................................................................................................67
Overall Measure of Role Clarity ...................................................................................................................................69
Relationship between Perceived Role Clarity and Overall Satisfaction ...............................................................70
Gender Diferences in Perceived Role Clarity ..........................................................................................................70
Diferences in Perceived Clarity as a Function of Institution Characteristics ....................................................70
Partners’ Comments Regarding Role Clarity .............................................................................................................71
Chapter 8: Satisfaction in the Role .............................................................................................................................75
Chapter Overview ............................................................................................................................................................75
Overall Satisfaction ..........................................................................................................................................................75
Satisfaction and Role Clarity ..........................................................................................................................................76
Satisfaction and Involvement ........................................................................................................................................76
Satisfaction Related to Perceived Impact on President’s Decisions and Success ................................................77
Satisfaction Related to Other Variables .......................................................................................................................78
Most Satisfying Aspects of the Role .............................................................................................................................80
Least Satisfying Aspects of the Role .............................................................................................................................82
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The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions
Looking for Clues to Dissatisfaction ............................................................................................................................83
Satisfaction Factors ..........................................................................................................................................................84
Specifc Aspects of Satisfaction by Gender .................................................................................................................86
Specifc Aspects of Satisfaction for Partners of System Heads Who Do Not Head Campuses ......................86
Comparing Satisfaction: 1984 and 2016 .....................................................................................................................87
Chapter 9: Challenges in the Role ...............................................................................................................................89
Chapter Overview ............................................................................................................................................................89
Top Concerns, Past and Present ...................................................................................................................................89
Sharing Stress ....................................................................................................................................................................91
Concerns Afect Satisfaction ..........................................................................................................................................92
Levels of Concern by Partner Involvement ................................................................................................................92
Levels of Concern by Gender .......................................................................................................................................94
Other Concerns ................................................................................................................................................................95
Chapter 10: Official Residences .........................................................................................................................................97
Chapter Overview ............................................................................................................................................................97
Ofcial Residences, a Selected History ........................................................................................................................97
Who Lives in an Ofcial Residence? ...........................................................................................................................98
Partner Involvement ........................................................................................................................................................99
Entertaining and Fundraising .......................................................................................................................................99
Overall Satisfaction with the Residence .................................................................................................................. 101
Most and Least Satisfying Aspects of the Ofcial Residence ............................................................................... 101
Satisfaction, but Frustrations ...................................................................................................................................... 103
Chapter 11: Differing Expectations by Gender ............................................................................................... 107
Chapter Overview ......................................................................................................................................................... 107
Expectations for Males Versus Females .................................................................................................................. 107
Satisfaction Related to Belief that Expectations Are Unequal ............................................................................. 112
Chapter 12: A Changing Role .............................................................................................................................................. 113
Chapter Overview ......................................................................................................................................................... 113
Views Are Changing, Partners Believe ..................................................................................................................... 113
Chapter 13: Support, Advice, and Last Words from Partners .......................................................... 117
Chapter Overview ......................................................................................................................................................... 117
Sources of Support ........................................................................................................................................................ 117
Higher Education Association Partner Groups ..................................................................................................... 117
Advice for Others in the Role ..................................................................................................................................... 118
Anything Else? ............................................................................................................................................................... 122
Chapter 14: Discussion and Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 129
References ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 135
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The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions
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The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions
Acknowledgments
We are grateful that we were able to collaborate on this study with the spouse and partner
groups of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU); the
Association of American Universities (AAU); the Association of Public and Land-grant
Universities (APLU); and the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC). Tey helped us
publicize and disseminate our survey, invited us to present at group meetings, and provid-
ed ongoing support and encouragement. We would like to thank the following, at AASCU:
former Spouse/Partner Planning and Outreach Coordinator Judy K. Ingle, Program
Manager Danita Young, and Vice President for Leadership Development and Member
Services Dorcas Colvin; at AAU: former Director of Partners Programs Elizabeth Trapnell
Rawlings and Ofce and Meetings Assistant and National Meeting Coordinator Nelerene
Barnes; at APLU: Chief of Staf and National Meeting Coordinator Jean Middleton; and at
CIC: Vice President for Annual Programs Kathy Whatley.
Current and former presidential partners, presidents, and others took time to review or
pilot our survey and/or review this report in draf form. Teir comments and suggestions
helped us greatly. We thank Tom Bergman, Connie Black, Kathryn Enke, Pamela Hudson,
Marcia Kelley, Val Peterson, Ann Pfaum, Bruce Shepard, Cyndie Shepard, Jennifer
Tompson, Matthew R. Tompson, Laura Voisinet, Debbie Wagner, and Kathy Whatley.
We owe a special debt of gratitude to Diane Skomars, whose 1984 survey with her late
co-authors, Joan Clodius and Roger Harrold, provided the foundation for this study.
Ms. Skomars has been a source of inspiration throughout this project.
Finally, we appreciate the 461 partners and spouses of college and university presidents
and chancellors who participated in the study. Each respondent gave generously of his or
her valuable time to take our survey. We hope this report is of interest and value to all.
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The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions
List of Tables
Table 3.1 Number of Institutions and Number of Partners Identifed by Associations ............................................ 34
Table 4.1 Gender and Age of Survey Respondents......................................................................................................... 37
Table 4.2 Race and Education of Survey Respondents, Overall and by Gender ................................................................37
Table 4.3 Descriptive Characteristics of Presidents ....................................................................................................... 38
Table 4.4 Descriptive Characteristics of the Colleges/Universities of Survey Respondents’ Partners .................... 40
Table 5.1 Challenges in the First Year, by Gender, Change in Employment, and Institution Type ......................... 43
Table 5.2 Challenges in the First Year, by Length of Marriage/Committed Relationship ......................................... 44
Table 6.1 Employment Status of Partners, by Gender ................................................................................................... 53
Table 6.2 Level of Involvement in the Role of Partner, by Gender ............................................................................... 55
Table 6.3 Roles and Responsibilities Assumed by Partners and Associated Levels of Enjoyment,
by Gender ............................................................................................................................................................ 58
Table 6.4 Frequency of Participation in Activities Associated with Role, by Gender................................................ 59
Table 6.5 Descriptions of the Partner Role and Time Spent in Role, by Gender ....................................................... 61
Table 6.6 Partners’ Opinions on How Tey are Perceived by Others, by Gender ...................................................... 64
Table 6.7 Partners’ Opinions on How Tey are Perceived by Others
as a Function of Teir Level of Involvement in Partner Roles, by Group .................................................. 66
Table 7.1 Partners’ Opinions on Clarity about Aspects of the Partner Role ............................................................... 68
Table 7.2 Clarity in the Role of Partner, by Gender ....................................................................................................... 70
Table 8.1 Overall Satisfaction in the Role of Partner, by Gender ................................................................................. 76
Table 8.2 Levels of Satisfaction Associated with the Role of Partner, by Gender ....................................................... 85
Table 9.1 Levels of Frustration Regarding Possible Issues Related to Role, Overall and by Gender ....................... 90
Table 9.2 Frequency of Conversations about Work of President/Chancellor, by Gender ......................................... 91
Table 10.1 Partners’ Opinions Regarding Value and Importance of the Ofcial Residence .....................................100
Table 10.2 Challenges in the First Year, by Ofcial Residence ......................................................................................105
Table 10.3 Levels of Frustration Regarding Possible Issues Related to Role, by Ofcial Residence ........................105
Table 11.1 View of Gender Expectations in the Role of Partner, by Gender ..............................................................108
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The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions
List of Figures
Figure 2.1 Previous and Current Survey Figure 6.12 Involvement in the Role,
Participants, by Institution Type ............31 by Demographic Variables of Partners ...56
Figure 2.2 Previous and Current Survey Figure 6.13 Involvement in the Role,
Participants, by Partner Gender ..............31 by Institutional Variables .........................56
Figure 4.1 Gender of the Partner ...............................38 Figure 6.14 Involvement in the Role,
by Leadership Position
Figure 4.2 Age of the Partner .....................................38
of the President ..........................................57
Figure 4.3 Partners’ Educational Attainment ...........39
Figure. 6.15 Involvement in the Role,
Figure 4.4 Years in the Role ........................................39 by Change in Employment ......................57
Figure 4.5 Years Married/Committed .......................39 Figure 6.16 Involvement in the Role,
by Employment Status ..............................57
Figure 5.1 Partner Interaction with Search
Committee/Board .....................................41 Figure 6.17 Satisfaction in the Role,
by Involvement in the Role ......................58
Figure 5.2 Institutional Expectations
of Partner Impacted President’s Figure 6.18 Perceived Impact of Involvement
Career Decisions .......................................41 on President’s Success ...............................60
Figure 5.3 Greatest Challenges in the First Year ......43 Figure 6.19 Role in the Institution,
by Public/Private Status ............................60
Figure 5.4 Schedule Demands,
by Intercollegiate Athletic Association ...44 Figure 6.20 Annual Salary for Tose Paid
in the Role ..................................................61
Figure 5.5 Partners’ Change
in Employment Status...............................45 Figure 6.21 Satisfaction in the Role,
by Position Status ......................................61
Figure 5.6 How Employment Has Changed .............45
Figure 6.22 Institutional Public Relations ..................63
Figure 5.7 Advice to Institutions ...............................46
Figure 6.23 Perception of Partner,
Figure 6.1 Preferred Introduction .............................51 by Constituency .........................................64
Figure 6.2 Role in the Institution ...............................52 Figure 6.24 Perception of Partner ................................64
Figure 6.3 Role in the Institution, by Gender ..........52 Figure 6.25 Perception of Partner,
by Involvement ..........................................65
Figure 6.4 Additional Employment ...........................52
Figure 7.1 My Responsibilities Were Clarifed
Figure 6.5 Additional Employment, by Gender ......52
Prior to Role ...............................................68
Figure 6.6 Change in Employment Status,
Figure 7.2 Currently, My Role and
by Gender ...................................................53
Responsibilities Are Clear to Me .............68
Figure 6.7 How Employment Has Changed,
Figure 7.3 My Spouse and I Have a Common
by Gender ...................................................53
Understanding About My Role ..............68
Figure 6.8 Benefts, Compared
Figure 7.4 Histogram of Overall Clarity ...................69
to Overall Satisfaction ..............................54
Figure 7.5 Satisfaction in the Role,
Figure 6.9 Involvement in the Role ...........................54
by Clarity of Role Expectations ...............70
Figure. 6.10 Involvement, by Gender ...........................55
Figure 8.1 Satisfaction in the Role .............................75
Figure. 6.11 Hours Spent per Week by Partners
Figure 8.2 Satisfaction in the Role,
Who Are “Somewhat Involved,”
by Involvement in the Role
by Gender ...................................................55
and Gender ................................................77
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The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions
Figure 8.3 Involvement in the Role, Figure 10.3 Living Status in the Ofcial Residence ...98
by Satisfaction in the Role ........................77
Figure 10.4 Partners’ Involvement,
Figure 8.4 Satisfaction in the Role, by Ofcial Residence ................................99
by Expectations of Partner Impacting
Figure 10.5 Institution Has an Ofcial Residence
President’s Career Decisions ....................77
Correlated to Partner’s Involvement
Figure 8.5 Satisfaction in the Role, in the Role ..................................................99
by Impact of Involvement ........................78
Figure 10.6 Guests Entertained per Year
Figure 8.6 Satisfaction in the Role, in Ofcial Residence .................................99
by Leadership Role of the President .......78
Figure 10.7 Percentage of Events in the Residence
Figure 8.7 Satisfaction in the Role, Concerned with Fundraising .................100
by Athletic Association .............................78
Figure 10.8 Te Ofcial Residence
Figure 8.8 Satisfaction in the Role, Is Viewed Positively ................................100
by Employment Status ..............................79
Figure 10.9 Satisfaction
Figure 8.9 Overall Satisfaction with the Ofcial Residence ....................101
Related to Hosting Events .......................80
Figure 10.10 Most Satisfying Aspect
Figure 8.10 Most Satisfying Aspects of the Role ........80 of Ofcial Residence ...............................101
Figure 8.11 Least Satisfying Aspects of the Role .......82 Figure 10.11 Least Satisfying Aspect
of Ofcial Residence ...............................101
Figure 8.12 Partners’ Mean Satisfaction with Factors
Associated with the Role ..........................84 Figure 10.12 Location of the Ofcial Residence ........101
Figure 8.13 Degree to which 14 Satisfaction Factors Figure 10.13 Age of the Ofcial Residence .................103
Correlate with Overall Satisfaction
Figure 10.14 Satisfaction with the Ofcial Residence,
in the Role ..................................................85
by Selected Characteristics ....................104
Figure 8.14 Partners’ Satisfaction Levels
Figure 10.15 Glad the Institution Owns the Home ...105
with Factors Associated with the Role ...86
Figure 11.1 Expectations Are Diferent
Figure 8.15 Most Satisfying Aspects of the Role
for Men i n the Role .................................107
in 1984 and 2016 .......................................87
Figure 11.2 Expectations Are Diferent for Men
Figure 9.1 Top Five Areas of Concern/
in the Role, by Gender ............................108
Frustration .................................................90
Figure 11.3 Comments Regarding Difering
Figure 9.2 Sharing Stress .............................................91
Expectations .............................................109
Figure 9.3 Overall Satisfaction in the Role,
Figure 11.4 Satisfaction in the Role, by Agreement
by Mean Level of Concern/
with Gender Expectations Statement ..112
Frustration ................................................92
Figure 12.1 Perspectives Are Changing ....................113
Figure 9.4 Individual Concerns/Frustrations,
by Involvement in the Role ......................92
Figure 12.2 Comments about
Changing Perspectives............................114
Figure 9.5 Mean Concerns/Frustrations,
by Involvement in the Role ......................93
Figure 13.1 Most Helpful Support .............................117
Figure 9.6 Issues of Concern, by Gender ..................94
Figure 13.2 Higher Education Association
Membership of Respondents’
Figure 10.1 Institution Has an Ofcial Residence .....98
Partners’ Institutions...............................118
Figure 10.2 Existence of Ofcial Residence,
Figure 13.3 Advice to Other Partners ......................118
by Enrollment and Public/
Private Status of Institution .....................98
Figure 13.4 Final Toughts From Partners ..............122
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The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions