Contentious dialogue: University presidential response and the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Issue 6 (2nd November 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: McNaughtan, Jon; Garcia, Hugo; Lértora, Ian; Louis, Sarah; Li, Xinyang; Croffie, Alexis L.; McNaughtan, Elisabeth D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of higher education policy and management. Volume 40:Issue 6(2018)
• Page Start: 533
• Page End: 549
• Publication Date: 2018-11-02
• Subjects: University president -- public response -- presidential communication -- rhetoric -- grounded theory -- election; Universities and colleges -- Administration -- Periodicals; 378.1005
• DOI: 10.1080/1360080X.2018.1462437
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1360-080X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In recent years, technology has made it possible, and at times critical, for college and university presidents to increase their campus-wide public communication. However, there is little research that analyses these frequent and timely presidential communications. Using grounded theory, this study took steps to fill this gap by analysing the unprecedented response campuses had to the 2016 United States presidential election of Donald Trump. The analysis focused on the responses of presidents from the fifty state flagship universities and found emergent themes of unity, contentious election, negative event, university values, civil dialogue, services offered, and emotional rhetoric, while also finding significance in whether the letters were sent proactively or reactively.