To Rise Above Principle

Book excerpt: In this lighthearted yet serious look at the trials and tribulations of an academic dean, Josef Martin recounts stories that may astonish many members of the academic community but will sound hauntingly familiar to other deans. He describes the dean's role in such matters as tenure decisions, budgeting, affirmative action, and coping with "unreasonable demands" of faculty members, department chairs, vice presidents, parents, and students. His characterizations of typical faculty members will delight academics--except, perhaps, when they read about themselves.