Combining competing units in higher education: An analysis of voting patterns

Two competing units in teacher education were combined into a single unit at the University of North Dakota. In the first year of the new unit, the Center for Teaching and Learning, several decisive activities have taken place. Among those activities is the formation of three standing committees and the major decision making body, the constituency council. The voting patterns for the committees and the constituency council were investigated, with a major interest in any factionalization in the voting patterns. Generally, the effectiveness of voting blocks was rather limited, indicating a reasonably satisfactory integration of the two competing units.