Part one:

When the new president at Mid-West U took over, it was only a short time before the incumbent vice president announced his resignation. Unfortunately, there was no one waiting in the wings, and a hiring freeze prevented a national search from commencing.

Many faculty leaders and former administrators suggested that the president appoint Jennifer Treeholm, Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, as interim. She was an extremely popular person on campus and had ten years of experience in the role of associate vice president. She knew everyone and everything about the campus. Treeholm, they assured him, was the natural choice. Besides, she deserved the job. Her devotion to the school was unparalleled, and her energy knew no bounds. The new president, acting on advice from many campus leaders, appointed Treeholm as interim vice president for a term of up to three years. He also agreed that she could be a candidate for the permanent position when the hiring freeze was lifted.

Treeholm and her friends were ecstatic. It was high time more women moved into important positions on campus. They went out for dinner to their every-Friday-night watering hole to celebrate and reflect on Treeholms career.

Except for a brief stint outside of academe, Treeholms entire career had been at Mid-West U. She started out teaching introductory history, then, realizing she wanted to get on the tenure track, went back to school and earned her Ph.D. at Metropolitan U while continuing to teach at Mid-West. Upon completion of her degree, she was appointed as an assistant professor and eventually earned the rank of associate based on her popularity and excellent teaching.

Treeholm was well liked, and she devoted her entire life, it seemed, to Mid-West, helping to form the first union, getting grants, writing skits for the faculty clubs annual follies, and going out of her way to befriend everyone who needed support.

Eventually, Treeholm was elected president of the faculty senate. After serving for two years, she was offered the position of associate vice president. During her ten years as associate vice president, she handled most of the academic complaints, oversaw several committees, wrote almost all the letters and reports for the vice president, and was even known to run personal errands for the president. People just knew they could count on her.

Questions for Part 1 of scenario (Be sure to support all your answers)

1. At this point, what are your predictions about Treeholm as the interim vice president? (3 marks)

2. What do you predict will be her management/ leadership style? (2 marks)

3. What are her strengths? Her weaknesses? (2 marks)

Part TWO

Treeholms appointment as interim vice president was met with great enthusiasm. Finally, the school was getting someone who was one of their own, a person who understood the culture, knew the faculty, and could get things done.

It was not long before the campus realized that things were not moving and that Treeholm, despite her long-standing popularity, had difficulty making tough decisions. Her desire to please people and to try to take care of everyone made it difficult for her to choose opposing alternatives. (To make matters worse, she had trouble planning, organizing, and managing her time.)

The biggest problem was that she did not understand her role as the number-two person at the top of the organization. The president expected her to support him and his decisions without question. Over time the president also expected her to implement some of his decisionsto do his dirty work. This became particularly problematic when it involved fi ring people or saying no to longtime faculty cronies. Treeholm also found herself uncomfortable with the other members of the presidents senior staff. Although she was not the only woman (the general counsel, a very bright, analytical woman was part of the group), she found the behavior and decision-making style to be different from what she was used to handling.

Most of the men took their lead from the president and discussed very little in the meetings. Instead, they tried to influence decisions privately. Often, a decision arrived in a meeting as a fait accompli. Treeholm felt excluded and wondered why, as vice president, she felt so powerless.

In time, she and the president spent less and less time together talking and discussing how to move the campus along. Although her relations with the men on the senior staff were cordial, she talked mostly to her female friends.

Treeholms friends, especially her close-knit group of longtime female colleagues, all assured her that it was because she was interim. Just stay out of trouble, they told her. Of course, this just added to her hesitancy when it came to making tough choices.

As the presidents own image on campus shifted after his honeymoon year, Treeholm decided to listen to her friends rather than follow the presidents lead. After all, her reputation on campus was at stake.

Questions for Part 2: (Be sure to support all your answers)

1. What is the major problem facing Treeholm? (3 marks)

2. What would you do if you were in her position? (3 marks)

3. Do you think a man has the same experience as Treeholm? (This is opinion based; support your answer) (2 marks)