Chief liberal arts academic officers: The limits of power and authority

The careers and administrative behaviour of chief liberal arts academic officers are examined based on a national survey conducted during 1984. The paper is based on the conviction that the quality of teaching in higher education is significantly influenced by the administrative behaviour of department chairs, deans, and chief academic officers. Specifically, the study describes grants administration, evaluation mechanisms, satisfactions and frustrations, and career success of chief liberal arts academic officers.