Faculty Perceptions of the One Baker Initiative

Abstract

The "One Baker" initiative was used by Baker University to promote unity and common purpose across the four distinct academic units that comprise the university (Baker University, 2011a). It was developed because the university was concerned that the units were too separated and isolated from each other. As a part of this proposal, the university is considering implementing a university faculty senate. The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine the faculty's perception of the initiative. The conceptual framework for this study is based on an understanding of higher education institutions, effectiveness, communication, formal governance including faculty senates, and loose coupling. Seventeen participants in the study represented all of the four units of the university and were selected to capture a diversity of opinions. Themes were developed from semi-structured interviews. Participants indicated that One Baker was needed to present a more unified brand for the university and to overcome the lack of appreciation of the contributions of all of the units. Further developing the initiative would help the university by increasing the faculty member's ability to be a spokesperson for the university, increasing collaboration among the units, and providing advantages for students. Disadvantages would include potential loss of the liberal art identity of the university, and a loss of unit autonomy. Participants identified barriers created by geography, structural differences, and cultural differences of the academic units. They recommended the use of workshops and collaborative projects to help develop more unity. They also recommend ways to improve the effectiveness of the current governance structure, but they did not want to create a university faculty senate. Policy implications for Baker University and similar higher education institutions are given.