The Academic Chair's Handbook, 2nd Edition

About the Authors xi

Foreword xiii

Preface xvii

Part I • Fifteen Strategies in the Building Process

1. Difficulties in the Building Process 3

The Context for Leadership 4

Chairing the Department 7

The Nature of the Department 8

The Nature of Faculty Work 9

A Self-Assessment 10

Endnotes 13

Suggested Resources 13

2. Consider Your Own Development 15

Learn About Your Role and Responsibilities in the Department and the Institution 18

Create a Balance Between Your Professional and Personal Lives 24

Prepare for Your Professional Future 28

Conclusion 32

Endnotes 32

Suggested Resources 33

3. Reflect on Your Role as an Academic Leader 37

Establish a Collective Departmental Vision or Focus 38

Develop Faculty Ownership of the Vision 40

Initiate Changes Carefully 44

Allocate Resources of Time, Information, and Assignments to Implement the Vision and Departmental Goals 47

Monitor Progress Toward Achieving the Vision and Goals 50

Conclusion 51

Endnotes 52

Suggested Resources 52

4. Create a Positive Interpersonal Work Environment 55

Establish an Open Atmosphere to Build Trust 57

Listen to Faculty Needs and Interests 58

Motivate Faculty and Collaboratively Set Goals 60

Develop Leadership Skills that Empower Faculty and Provide Effective Feedback 62

Feedback Techniques 66

Represent Faculty to Colleagues and Senior Administrators 68

Serve as a Role Model and Mentor 69

Encourage and Support Faculty 70

Conclusion 72

Endnotes 72

Suggested Resources 73

Part II • Applying the Strategies

5. Help New Faculty Become Oriented 77

Communicate Expectations for Performance 80

Provide Feedback on Progress 83

Enhance Collegial Review Processes 84

Create Flexible Time Lines for Tenure 85

Encourage Mentoring and Integration by Senior Faculty 85

Extend Mentoring and Feedback to Graduate Students Who Aspire to be Faculty Members 87

Recognize the Department Chair as a Career Sponsor 88

Support Teaching, Particularly at the Undergraduate Level 90

Support Scholarly Development 91

Foster a Balance Between Professional and Personal Life 92

Conclusion 93

Endnotes 94

Suggested Resources 94

6. Improve Faculty Teaching 97

Promote Excellence in Teaching 98

Support Teaching Improvement 103

Address Teaching Problems 106

Employ Case Studies to Guide Your Response to

Teaching Problems 114

Conclusion 116

Suggested Resources 117

7. Improve the Scholarship of Faculty 119

Foster a Strong Research Climate 120

Detect a Problem Situation as Early as Possible 124

Clarify the Reasons for Lack of Performance 126

Identify a Plan for Improvement 128

Follow Up on the Plan 134

Conclusion 135

Endnotes 136

Suggested Resources 136

8. Refocus Faculty Efforts 139

Detect the Signs of Lack of Focus 141

Explore Options with the Individual 144

Mutually Design a Plan for Intervention 147

Arrange for Activities, Resources, and Feedback 149

Conclusion 150

Suggested Resources 152

9. Address Personal Issues of Faculty 155

Differentiate Between Short- and Long-Term Issues 156

Adopt Strategies for Temporary Problems 157

Adopt Strategies for Intervening in Chronic Cases 159

Conclusion 166

Suggested Resources 167

10. Employ Technology Wisely 169

Be Aware of Technological Developments 170

Encourage Faculty and Staff Technology Literacy 173

Support Technology Training 175

Use Technology Efficiently 176

Use Technology to Facilitate Outcomes, Assessment, and Accountability 179

Develop a Plan for Resource Allocation 181

Adopt Emerging Technologies Prudently 183

Consider the Impact on Student Services 185

Conclusion 185

Endnotes 186

Suggested Resources 187

11. Adapt to Funding and Resources Challenges 189

Clarify Responsibility for Budget Development and Allocation 190

Recognize the Implications of Budget Pressures 194

Diversify Funding Through Revenue Generation Strategies 197

Capitalize on Changes in Staffing 202

Maintain High Morale During Trying Times 203

Conclusion 206

Endnotes 206

Suggested Resources 207

12. Foster a Culture of Continuous Improvement 209

Make Continuous Improvement a Priority 211

Devise Strategies and Resources to Support Quality Improvement Efforts 213

Student Learning Assessment 214

Teaching Effectiveness Assessment 216

Program Effectiveness Assessment 217

Encourage Support of Continuous Improvement Efforts 218

Adopt Reliable Assessment Measures to Track Progress Over Time, Make Comparisons, and Demonstrate Results 220

An Illustration of the Process 222

Conclusion 223

Suggested Resources 225

13. Build an Agenda 227

Four Dimensions of the Building Process 228

Implementing the Agenda 238

Conclusion 239

Endnotes 242

References 243

Appendix A: The National Study and the Follow-Up Study 255

Appendix B: Topical Index to Strategies 259

Index 267