TY - JOUR
T1 - Making Meaning of the Mid-Level Administrator Roles in International Student Service Centers
AU - Bodine Al-Sharif, Mary Ann
AU - García, Hugo A.
AU - McNaughtan, Jon
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Ohio State University.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - This study explores how mid-level administrators working in international student service centers make meaning of their roles and perceive the support their institutions provide. Utilizing critical discourse analysis and the theoretical framework of empowerment, this study reveals the social problems, power struggles, and avenues mid-level administrators utilize for change. Specifically, we find that participants cope with significant social problems that impact society and higher education. They are often caught between internal and external power struggles over policy and procedures on their campuses and face expectations that are unrealistic given their available resources. In order to be empowered, mid-level administrators need their centers and spaces in favorable locations on campus; strategic actions and planning must include the internationalization of their institutions as a whole; organizational leadership must be engaged in their center and in international student programming; and the compliance component of their roles and the student service function must be separate.
AB - This study explores how mid-level administrators working in international student service centers make meaning of their roles and perceive the support their institutions provide. Utilizing critical discourse analysis and the theoretical framework of empowerment, this study reveals the social problems, power struggles, and avenues mid-level administrators utilize for change. Specifically, we find that participants cope with significant social problems that impact society and higher education. They are often caught between internal and external power struggles over policy and procedures on their campuses and face expectations that are unrealistic given their available resources. In order to be empowered, mid-level administrators need their centers and spaces in favorable locations on campus; strategic actions and planning must include the internationalization of their institutions as a whole; organizational leadership must be engaged in their center and in international student programming; and the compliance component of their roles and the student service function must be separate.
KW - International student services
KW - internationalization
KW - managerial Empowerment
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85086841276&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00221546.2020.1762155
DO - 10.1080/00221546.2020.1762155
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85086841276
SN - 0022-1546
VL - 92
SP - 116
EP - 139
JO - Journal of Higher Education
JF - Journal of Higher Education
IS - 1
ER -