title: Creating an administrative structure to support faculty governance: a participatory process.
abstract: Change in academic units is essential but challenging to new deans. This article describes principles of change applied to academic departments in general and a specific description of how one well-established academic unit in nursing changed its administrative structure. The goal of the dean in creating a new structure was to facilitate faculty governance. The process used was one of faculty participation and involvement in decision making. Evaluation of the effectiveness of the new structure provided support for how well it was working and suggestions for refinement. The entire process and the reflection on how and when to make changes when one is new to the position of dean will provide insight for others in similar positions.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Littlefield
mesh_terms: D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D005181:Faculty, Nursing; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership; D015279:Organizational Culture; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*