Dr. David A. Hoag

Dissertation Digest

Evaluation of the Formal Assessment Process of College Presidents at Liberal Arts Institutions: Three Case Studies

David A. Hoag, B.S., M.S.

A Digest Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School of Saint Louis University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy

2003

Presidential assessment is a crucial area for boards of trustees. The recent call by the Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities (AGB) that the assessment process be inclusive and conducted by an external consultant needs study and refinement. Presidents at three liberal arts colleges, who had undergone comprehensive assessment by an external consultant, were studied to determine if their performance changed.

A qualitative approach using interviews with selected subjects gathered answers to the research questions. A protocol of interview questions guided the researcher as he solicited performance data from observers of each president’s leadership behavior; those interviewed (28) included members of the board of trustees, faculty leadership, the president, and the president’s cabinet of vice presidents. Each subject had been involved in the previous assessment of the president. Each president was treated as a separate case study. In addition to the interviews, data from document analysis was used to support the findings from interviews.

The principal finding is that in each case study the president did address the areas needing improvement that was identified in their initial assessment, and there was improvement in the performance of the president at each institution. Furthermore, each president indicated that the assessment was a positive experience for them and the institution.

Also, while it was not a primary research question, neither the presidents nor the interviewees believed that the assessment process reduced the authority or standing of the president. The study determined that a comprehensive formal assessment conducted by an external consultant did lead to improvement of the president’s performance.

Last updated: March 5, 2003