“Deans on Deaning: Secrets of Success” 

“Excellent, don’t miss it! This video tells it like it is. It is a valuable tool for all deans, but especially for new deans. I also plan to incorporate the video in faculty development.”

Tom Case, Dean
College of Business and Public Policy
University of Alaska Anchorage

 The Making of the Video 

Two years ago, Al Spritzer, drawing on 18 years of experience as dean of the College of Business at East Tennessee State University, assisted AACSB staff in developing the revival of the association’s New Deans Seminar. The theme of the seminar is “What Every New Dean Needs to Know About Being The Dean.” Spritzer and his fellow seminar leaders, veteran deans Ridley Gros (Nicholls State University) and Otis Baskin (Pepperdine University) were putting the final touches on the program’s curriculum when they found that something was missing. 

The trio, later dubbed “The Three Tenors of Deaning,” by a seminar attendee, realized that only the wisdom and experiences of many successful business school deans would truly ensure the seminar’s success. “After all,” says Spritzer, “no business dean has achieved success without the help and guidance of other deans who are willing to share the secrets of their own successes and failures.”

Spritzer decided to capture this guidance on video. “Why not videotape interviews with successful AACSB deans who are willing to share insights, and use their comments to enrich the New Deans Seminar sessions?” asked Spritzer. Prior to this, he had no thoughts of becoming a documentary movie maker. Today he is gaining recognition as the producer, director and editor of AACSB International’s highly acclaimed “Deans on Deaning: Secrets of Success.” 

Spritzer invited a group of diverse and respected deans to appear before the camera and share their insights and wisdom on key topics for deans, including:

·         Career paths and success factors for new deans

·         Planning and organizing the business school

·         The Dean’s team

·         Mastering the inside game

·         Friend raising, fun raising and fund raising

·         Challenges and challengers

·         Staying out of court

·         Changing with the changes, and 

·         When the thrill is gone

Twenty-eight deans offered to sit before the video camera, including six who have served as elected presidents or chairs of AACSB’s board of directors. In the 95-minute video, each provides reflections on their experiences with a view toward helping other deans achieve success in their positions.  

“The openness, honesty and helpfulness of the deans is remarkable,” states Spritzer. “Not only is the shared information and guidance tremendously helpful,” he adds, “but so much of it comes straight from the heart!”

The result? It’s a hit.  At the May 2002 New Deans Seminar, participants rated the video presentations a 3.83 out of 4.0. Requests for copies of the video led AACSB to arrange for its sale to the membership and others. All reviews indicate that “Secrets of Success” is a success. The video provides an opportunity for viewers to receive coaching on many career and management issues facing today’s academic deans. Here is a sample of some notable quotes from the video:

·         “The dean’s role is basically a marathon and not a sprint. You can’t do it all at one time. You need to manage your time and have patience.”   
    Dean Jerry Trapnell, Clemson University

·         “The dean is a political appointment who serves at the pleasure of stakeholder groups. Stay in good communication with them…It doesn’t hurt to go back and read Machiavelli.”   
    Dean Dave Billings, University of Alabama in Huntsville 

·         “You need to figure out early on what your management style is. That is, are you going to be a decision-maker or are you going to be a person who is going to involve the faculty in collective decisions? …Collective decision-making for me is an afterthought.”  
    Dean John Kraft, University of Florida

·         “The new dean must develop a relationship with the faculty…Being respected is more important than being liked.”  
    Dean Otis Thomas, Morgan State University

·         “One of the assumptions not to make with the faculty is that everybody is knowledgeable of the AACSB standards and processes.”  
    Dean Betty Jo Licata, Youngstown State University

·         “The most important thing is attitude. You won’t be successful unless you can come to work every day looking to have fun and with a good attitude.”  
    Dean Carl Gooding, Samford University 

·         “Your job will become a lot better when you realize that when the president of the university wants your advice, he will ask for it.”  
    Dean Ken Stanley, Valdosta State University

·         “If you lie, you’re dead.” 
    Dean Frank Navratil, John Carroll University

“Deans on Deaning: Secrets of Success” is the only source of such candid guidance for business deans and others. According to Spritzer, “If I had the benefits of the wisdom of the 28 deans in the video early in my career, I would have been a much better dean for those 18 years.” 

Spritzer has not yet decided whether he will produce a sequel. 

The video is available for purchase from AACSB International. The price is $149.95 for members and $199.95 for non-members. Part of the proceeds go support faculty development through the ETSU College of Business Foundation. A limited number of copies will be available at Member Services at the International Conference and Annual Meeting. Orders can be placed by telephone, 314-872-8481.

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