Semester

Spring

Date of Graduation

1999

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

EdD

College

College of Education and Human Services

Department

Learning Sciences and Human Development

Committee Chair

Ernest R. Goeres.

Abstract

This study was designed to identify the role expectations, reporting hierarchy, years in role and trends in human resource development as reported by the person responsible for human resource development in large public universities within the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) geographic area. The population for this study was all the four-year public universities in Southern Regional Education Board states which were classified by 1997 SREB-State Data Exchange definitions as SREB I (n = 26).;Each institution in the sample was mailed a copy of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Roles Survey, an instrument developed for the purpose of this research. The instrument was based on data from the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) delineations as outlined in the Models for HRD Practice (McLagan & Suhadolnik, 1989). The total return rate for the study was 76.9% (n = 20).;Results of the study found that the greatest average institutional emphasis for the respondents was on those roles involving the delivery and support of existing HRD programs and services; the least average institutional emphasis was on roles involving assisting individual employees with their developmental needs, determining organizational needs, evaluating existing programs, and identifying new programs to meet changing needs.;Regarding future trends, respondents predicted growth in overall human resource responsibilities, an increase in the number of training and development programs, more HRD involvement in strategic planning, an increase in organization and workforce change, and continued advancing technology and resulting new concepts.;In summary, there is a determination that an inconsistency exists in strategic utilization of the human resource development function among the institutions surveyed, and a recognition by the respondents that a continued shift in role emphasis must occur to meet changing institutional needs. This study provides baseline data from which to assess the role of HRD in higher education and seeks to add to minimal existing research on how to utilize human resources to improve effectiveness of large public universities.

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