Content area
Abstract
The purpose of this study was threefold: first, it was to determine the faculty impact in institutional decision making in the areas of (1) personnel status, (2) academic operations, (3) selection of administrators and/or department/division chairpersons, (4) financial planning and policy, and (5) professional duties; second, it was to identify and examine the similarities and differences between faculty having traditional employment contracts and colleges having collective bargaining contracts in regard to the extent of faculty impact in the five decision-making areas; third, it was to determine the relationship between contextual variables and faculty impact in institutional decision making.
The instrument used to gather data examined the actual and preferred responses to faculty impact in decision making as well as the increased and/or decreased impact of collective bargaining. The data collected were subjected to the following types of analysis: (1) frequencies; (2) chi-square calculations; and (3) crosstabulations. Actual computational procedures were accomplished by utilizing specific subprograms of the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).
Based upon the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn: (1) There was considerable variation in the actual and preferred categories with respect to the areas of institutional decision making. (2) Within each demographic variable there were statistical levels of significance. A great deal of disparity exists between variables and their level of significance. (3) There was reason to believe that there have been increases and decreases in the impact of decision making as a result of collective bargaining. Twenty-six areas were identified as possible increases and twenty-eight areas were identified as possible decreases. (4) To a great extent, respondents indicated a preference to become more involved in the decision-making process at Illinois public community colleges.