Presidential Evolution to the Steady State

Abstract

Presidential evolution is part of the history of US higher education. The college presidency in the United States has a history of evolutionary breakthroughs, a steady state, and may be evolving in the context of current sustained trends, issues, and challenges. In response to forces such as trends, issues, and challenges, there have been no less than three significant breakthroughs in the evolution of the college presidency. Those three were followed by a steady state in the evolution, regardless of the forces of trends, issues, and challenges. Presently, 10 sustained forces are upon the presidency. Each or the combination of these trends, issues, and challenges has the potential to change or evolve the presidency for long into the foreseeable future; however, there is a countervailing pattern of response.