Interim Administrative Appointments in Higher Education: An Institutional Perspective

Although not the result of any formal survey research, the prevalence of interim appointments in administrative positions from department chair level and higher seems to be on the rise. Whether driven from financial considerations or personnel qualifications, the diminished commitment to a long-term solution seems to be a desirable option. In recent years this has been the case at our home institution, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and at other IU campuses. While it is difficult to ascertain the explicit motivation in every interim appointment situation, we have identified some benefits by closely examining the circumstances of individual cases. In this article, we will discuss the motivations for making interim appointments and the benefits derived from them by the institution, as well as the roles for an interim in the context of the needs of the campus and local unit. The impetus and value for an individual to seek and secure an interim appointment will be the subject of a subsequent article.