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 1 The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions Hendel, Darwin D.; Kaler, Karen F.; Freed, Gwendolyn H. The 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 2 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 3 The Lives of Presidential Partners in Higher Education Institutions Chapter 5: Transition to the Presidential Partner Role .....................................................................41 Chapter Overview ............................................................................................................................................................41 The Presidential Search, Past .........................................................................................................................................41 The 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 Specific Partner Responsibilities ..................................................................................................................................52 Employment Outside the Role ......................................................................................................................................52 Associated Benefits ..........................................................................................................................................................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