Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Educational Policy Studies Dissertations Department of Educational Policy Studies 10-27-2009 A Historical Analysis of the Leadership and Strategic Plan of Chancellor Stephen R. Portch in the University System of Georgia Jennifer El Fairchild-Pierce Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/eps_diss Part of the Education Commons, and the Education Policy Commons Recommended Citation Fairchild-Pierce, Jennifer El, "A Historical Analysis of the Leadership and Strategic Plan of Chancellor Stephen R. Portch in the University System of Georgia." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2009. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/eps_diss/51 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Educational Policy Studies at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Educational Policy Studies Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ACCEPTANCE This dissertation, A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC PLAN OF CHANCELLOR STEPHEN R. PORTCH IN THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA, by JENNIFER ELÍS FAIRCHILD-PIERCE, was prepared under the direction of the candidate’s Dissertation Advisory Committee. It is accepted by the committee members in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Education, Georgia State University. The Dissertation Advisory Committee and the student’s Department Chair, as representatives of the faculty, certify that this dissertation has met all standards of excellence and scholarship as determined by the faculty. The Dean of the College of Education concurs. ___________________________ __________________________________ Philo Hutcheson, Ph.D. Sheryl A. Gowen, Ph.D. Committee Chair Committee Member ___________________________ __________________________________ Dennis N. Thompson, Ph.D. Wayne J. Urban, Ph.D. Committee Member Committee Member ___________________________ Date ___________________________ Sheryl A. Gowen, Ph.D. Chair, Department of Educational Policy Studies ___________________________ R. W. Kamphaus, Ph.D. Dean and Distinguished Research Professor College of Education AUTHOR’S STATEMENT By presenting this dissertation as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for the advanced degree from Georgia State University, I agree that the library of Georgia State University shall make it available for inspection and circulation in accordance with its regulations governing materials of this type. I agree that permission to quote, to copy from, or to publish this dissertation may be granted by the professor under whose direction it was written, by the College of Education's director of graduate studies and research, or by me. Such quoting, copying, or publishing must be solely for scholarly purposes and will not involve potential financial gain. It is understood that any copying from or publication of this dissertation which involves potential financial gain will not be allowed without my written permission. ___________________________________________ Jennifer Elís Fairchild-Pierce NOTICE TO BORROWERS All dissertations deposited in the Georgia State University library must be used in accordance with the stipulations prescribed by the author in the preceding statement. The author of this dissertation is: Jennifer Elís Fairchild-Pierce 3114 Leeland Road Decatur, Georgia 30032 The director of this dissertation is: Dr. Philo Hutcheson Department of Educational Policy Studies College of Education Georgia State University Atlanta, GA 30303-3083 VITA Jennifer Elís Fairchild-Pierce ADDRESS: 3114 Leeland Road Decatur, Georgia 30032 EDUCATION: Ph.D. 2008 Georgia State University Educational Policy Studies M.A. 1996 Georgia State University English B.A. 1992 Oglethorpe University Philosophy PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 2007-Present Planning and Implementation Specialist Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Atlanta, GA 2000-2007 Associate Secretary to the Board of Regents Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Atlanta, GA 1997-2000 Assistant Secretary to the Board of Regents Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, Atlanta, GA PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND ORGANIZATIONS 2003-Present Association for the Study of Higher Education PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLICATIONS Presented poster session on historical dissertation as a work-in-progress, Association for the Study of Higher Education Conference, Louisville, Kentucky, November 7-11, 2007. Chaired paper session, Association for the Study of Higher Education Conference, Kansas City, Missouri, November 3-6, 2004. Presented paper on the African-American male participation, retention, and graduation rates in the University System of Georgia at the Eastern Education Research Association Conference, Hilton Head, South Carolina, March 1, 2003. Presented oral history project on the college experiences of Southern Jewish women at the Southern History of Education Society Conference, Georgia State University, March 16, 2001. Poetry published in Sundog, The Distillery, Georgia State University Review, and The Tower. ABSTRACT A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC PLAN OF CHANCELLOR STEPHEN R. PORTCH IN THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA by Jennifer Elís Fairchild-Pierce This dissertation provides historical insight into the design and implementation of one strategic plan of a public higher education system in an effort to inform future similar strategic planning processes. On July 1, 1994, the Board of Regents appointed Stephen R. Portch the ninth Chancellor of the University System of Georgia. The timing was advantageous because then Governor Zell Miller was determined to leave his legacy as Georgia’s “education governor,” and in those prosperous economic times, the Governor was eager to pour money into the university system. The regents selected Portch because they recognized his potential to lead the system through a period of unprecedented transformation. They were looking for a leader with vision, and they saw that in Portch. The goal of the Portch chancellorship was to move the University System of Georgia into the national forefront, and he achieved this objective via strategic planning. The strategic planning process occurred in three phases. The first phase was the development of a vision statement; the second stage was the ratification of 34 guiding principles; and the final stage was implementation of the plan. This dissertation provides an analysis of the strategic planning process and its resulting policy directives. Using historical research methods, I carefully examine the primary goals the strategic plan set forth, and whether and how it met those goals. Further, I examine Portch’s leadership style, identifying both strengths and weaknesses, as well as how his leadership influenced the success of the plan. Using oral history methods, I interviewed the Chancellor Emeritus as well as members of the Board of Regents and the University System Office staff who played key roles in the development and implementation of the strategic plan. I also interviewed faculty members, students, and legislators to solicit their perspectives on the Chancellor, the plan, and their legacy. In the mid-1990s, the university system benefited greatly from the synergy of having a unified board, a supportive governor and legislature, and a booming economy. These conditions enabled Portch, a chancellor with a vision and strong leadership skills, to move the system forward significantly in a relatively short time. A HISTORICAL ANALYSIS OF THE LEADERSHIP AND STRATEGIC PLAN OF CHANCELLOR STEPHEN R. PORTCH IN THE UNIVERSITY SYSTEM OF GEORGIA by Jennifer Elís Fairchild-Pierce A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Policy Studies in the Department of Educational Policy Studies in the College of Education Georgia State University Atlanta, GA 2008 Copyright by Jennifer Elís Fairchild-Pierce 2008 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation would not have been possible without the considerable effort of Dr. Philo Hutcheson. Philo taught the first course I took in this program, History of Higher Education, and it is only fitting that he should chair my dissertation committee. We have been through both academic and personal trials together, and I would not have persevered through this program of study had it not been for Philo’s commitment to the program and willingness to stand by me every step of the way. I also owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Shelley Clark Nickel, my supervisor, my mentor, and my friend. Shelley encouraged and supported me both professionally and personally through the arduous process of crafting this dissertation.She also assisted me significantly in understanding the budgetary implications of semester conversion. Many other professional colleagues also assisted me in this endeavor. Chancellor Emeritus Stephen Portch was available to me not only for interviews, but also for phone calls and emails. He was always responsive and candid, and I greatly appreciate his willingness to let me write this account of his chancellorship. Gail Weber ensured when she retired from the Board of Regents that I would have access to all of the Chancellor’s Office files I would need to research the development of the 1994 strategic plan and Portch’s term as Chancellor. John Millsaps