Dissertation Abstract

Academic Responsibilities and Administrative Functions of the Radiologic Technology Program Director in Two-Year Colleges.

Allied program accreditation standards charge radiologic technology program directors with the responsibility for effective program organization, management, and administration. The purpose of this was to identify what the functions and responsibilities of the program director are, what they should be, and their need for professional development activities. The study was also used to develop a profile of radiologic technology program directors working in two-year colleges.

Data dealing with academic responsibilities and administrative functions were collected via questionnaire from 100 radiologic technology program directors and 87 deans/administrators of allied health divisions at two-year colleges. Data used to develop the background profile were obtained from 103 radiologic technology program directors. Data extracted from returned questionnaires were analyzed through statistical techniques. Data analysis revealed that a majority of the radiologic technology program directors and deans/administrators of allied health division: (1) perceived that program directors were currently performing 30 of 48 administrative functions found within seven areas of academic responsibility. (2) perceived program directors should be performing 40 of 48 administrative functions found within seven areas of academic responsibility. (3) perceived that program directors had a need for professional development in 28 of 48 administrative functions. No significant differences in perception were observed for the areas of academic responsibilities.

A background profile of the radiologic technology program director working in a two-year college indicates that the typical radiologic technology program director discovered the job opening through personal contacts; holds a Master's degree in an educational field; has gained approximately six years of clinical work experience; has been in the job for about 6 years; has no prior program director experience; goes by the title of program director; reports to a dean or chairperson; and, is likely to be in charge of department with fewer than three full time faculty members. Further, most program directors: hold an academic rank below the associate professor level; are not tenured or work in colleges where tenure does not apply or where faculty are unionized; are appointed to the position; have 12 month contracts and carry teaching load in excess of nine semester/quarter credit hours; are about 40 years of age; and by gender are about evenly split between the sexes.

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