Department heads and academic unit leaders in higher education occupy some of the most challenging administrative positions, balancing the often competing needs of faculty, students, and senior leadership. While all these stakeholders would agree that student learning is the core mission of higher education, the diverse needs of the different groups may seem to pit them against each other. For faculty, an overwhelming focus on student success initiatives may seem to come at the expense of their own well-being, leading to burnout and disengagement.
Expertise, Credentials, and the Value of the University
It seems we can’t trust our own credentials or those that we provide to our students. Or perhaps it would be better to say that we have so much confidence
Constance C. Relihan
May 18, 2026
