Poor coordination biggest problem for relief work - report

While humanitarian organizations collectively have far more money and employees than a decade ago, coordinating their efforts remains the key challenge in global relief work. The network's State of the Humanitarian System report—compiled from 500 interviews, mostly with staff members at United Nations and nonprofit aid agencies—found that at times of crisis, relief groups often fall short due to poor coordination and a lack of strong leadership. The findings echo criticisms of aid groups' performance in Haiti, where poor communication and other coordination issues have delayed delivery of food and medical supplies.

Full text article by Olesya Dmitracova is available via AlertNet, 2/10/10.

U. of Virginia Names Michigan Provost as Its New President

Teresa A. Sullivan, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, will become the president of the University of Virginia on August 1 when John T. Casteen III retires, the university announced Monday. Ms. Sullivan will be Virginia's first female president and its eighth over all.

Full text article by Kathryn Masterson is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 1/11/10.

The Future Starts Now

Some nonprofit leaders and futurists are looking beyond the immediate concerns of the bad economy to ponder what the charity world will look like in the next 10 years. The Chronicle’s special report looks at key changes in technology, demographics, and other issues that will affect philanthropy.
Full text article by Ian Wilhelm is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 1/14/10.

A Real-Life Lesson in Why Accountability Matters

New leadership seems to be making a difference at one of the nation's most troubled urban universities. Students at Chicago State University now walk across a campus that the institution has renovated, including improvements to a rundown dormitory and a new shuttle service in an attempt to make the campus more appealing.

Full text article by Goldie Blumenstyk is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 11/8/09.

College Leaders Offer Blunt Advice for Campuses Hit by Hard Times

Speakers at a leadership forum sponsored by the TIAA-CREF Institute called on public colleges to become more creative, efficient, and entrepreneurial. "The bigger issue is that most colleges are too concerned with trying to compete for prestige rather than serve their students and their communities," said Cal State's chancellor, Charles B. Reed.

Full text article by Goldie Blumenstyk is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 11/5/09.

Presidents Favor Reining In Athletics Costs but Feel Powerless to Effect Change

A majority of college presidents at the nation's largest athletics programs favor sweeping change to contain the escalating costs associated with big-time college sports, but are hard-pressed to identify an entity that can achieve it. Those are among the key findings of a new report on the financing of major-college athletics programs that was issued on Monday by the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. The report was based on a survey of 95 college presidents in the National Collegiate Athletic Association's most competitive grouping and was conducted last spring. The report also includes comments based on interviews with nearly a quarter of the campus leaders surveyed.

Full-text post by Libby Sander is available via The Chronicle of Higher Education, 10/26/09.

CEO Job Doesn't Appeal to Many Potential Nonprofit Leaders, Study Finds

A study released today shows that many potential charity managers are not inclined to pursue leadership posts, demonstrating how hard it could be to replace the baby boomers now retiring from top nonprofit jobs, The Chronicle of Philanthropy reports.

Full-text article by Jennifer C. Berkshire is available via The Chronicle of Philanthropy, 3.6.08.