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Full-Text Articles in Education
Leadership And “Followership”: Do Department Chairs Actually Have “Followers”?, Jeff Buller
Leadership And “Followership”: Do Department Chairs Actually Have “Followers”?, Jeff Buller
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
There is a paradox in higher education: Everyone agrees that good, creative leadership is essential … but no one wants to be led. Most books on leadership or management discuss a leader's "followers" or use some other expression (such as team members, direct reports, or associates) that appears to suggest a different sort of relationship but, when examined carefully, is really just a euphemism for followers. The chair role in higher education is distinctive, however, in that, although it includes supervisory aspects, the members of our departments are also our colleagues. So, how do you lead when you don't really …
Practical Strategies For Establishing Yourself As A Responsible Leader, Butler Cain
Practical Strategies For Establishing Yourself As A Responsible Leader, Butler Cain
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
Establishing a reputation as a responsible leader within higher education is a practical and achievable goal. It creates opportunities for individuals and programs, it helps build trusting relationships, and it effectively positions people for professional advancement. These strategies can help establish and maintain a positive reputation for leadership.
New Way To Be A Chair Via Distributed Shared Model, Dennis Anderson
New Way To Be A Chair Via Distributed Shared Model, Dennis Anderson
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
Being a chair in today's higher education is more stressful due to various issues related to enrollment, administration demands, and limited and shrinking resources. Chairs have to manage and juggle demands from all stakeholders including students, faculty, staff, and administration. This presentation is about how to meet these challenges by creating a shared management system that enables and empowers faculty in the department by giving them portfolios. This model moves away from chair centric model that one person holds all decision making power by controlling resources. Since my department moved to shared distributed chair model, the department productivity is higher …
Faculty Reopening Committee: A Study Of Chair And Faculty Collaboration, Jeffrey Ward
Faculty Reopening Committee: A Study Of Chair And Faculty Collaboration, Jeffrey Ward
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
The presenter will share experiences with a self-selected group of volunteer faculty to form a Reopening Committee, offering conclusions not only about the committee but also about also how it more broadly illustrates principles of faculty governance and collegial relationships among faculty and between the faculty and the department head.
Faculty Reopening Committee: A Study Of Chair And Faculty Collaboration, Jeffrey Ward
Faculty Reopening Committee: A Study Of Chair And Faculty Collaboration, Jeffrey Ward
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
The presenter will share experiences with a self-selected group of volunteer faculty to form a Reopening Committee, offering conclusions not only about the committee but also about also how it more broadly illustrates principles of faculty governance and collegial relationships among faculty and between the faculty and the department head.
Navigating The Realm Of Faculty Evaluation, Sonal Dekhane, Patrice Bell, Neelam Khan
Navigating The Realm Of Faculty Evaluation, Sonal Dekhane, Patrice Bell, Neelam Khan
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
In this presentation the presenters will discuss annual evaluation process followed at a young, liberal arts institution. Chairs from three different STEM disciplines will provide an overview of the annual evaluation process and share strategies to ensure successful and consistent evaluation in departments of various sizes.
From Without And Within: Challenges Of Assuming Leadership, Melody Loya, Sue Joiner
From Without And Within: Challenges Of Assuming Leadership, Melody Loya, Sue Joiner
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
This presentation shares experiences in leadership at a regional university (from two perspectives, promoting from within and without) and discusses how the presenters built support systems to navigate changes. In a highly interactive format, participants will help guide the direction of the workshop.
From Surviving To Thriving: Top Tips For Newer Chairs, Ethan Krase, Gian Pagnucci
From Surviving To Thriving: Top Tips For Newer Chairs, Ethan Krase, Gian Pagnucci
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
This session shares concrete strategies for helping department chairs navigate common problems more effectively and efficiently. With attention to managing email, handling complaints, constructing schedules, building relationships, and working with upper administration, the presenters offer practical tips to help newer chairs succeed.
Developing A New Department Culture: When Programs Merge, William Hoon, Aimee Shouse
Developing A New Department Culture: When Programs Merge, William Hoon, Aimee Shouse
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
This presentation will discuss some best practices that help transitioning cultures in merged or merging academic departments.
The Four Quadrants Of Administrative Effectiveness, Rob Jenkins
The Four Quadrants Of Administrative Effectiveness, Rob Jenkins
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
Administrative effectiveness can be charted on X and Y axes, with X representing responsibility and Y representing control. The best administrators tend to fall in the “High Responsibility / Low Control” quadrant. The session includes an assessment that allows administrators to chart themselves and see which quadrant they typically inhabit.
Leveraging Technology For The Recruitment Of Students And Faculty, William Hoon, Christopher Hirschler
Leveraging Technology For The Recruitment Of Students And Faculty, William Hoon, Christopher Hirschler
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
This presentation will discuss some best practices in using the latest technology to assist in student and faculty recruitment in two distinct departments at two universities.
New Chair Alliance, Katherine Frank, Dan Wheeler
New Chair Alliance, Katherine Frank, Dan Wheeler
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
Those who will soon transition into a chair position or who have been a chair for two years or less will find this workshop particularly valuable. Topics covered include transitioning to new roles and responsibilities, annual planning, everyday management, strategic planning for the future, personal development, and finding satisfaction in being a chair and making a difference. Participants will gain practical tips and tools to improve effectiveness, become familiar with essential resources, learn how to identify an administrative mentor, as well as connect and network with others at a similar career stage.
Desperate Times? Recruiting Students For Your Department, William Hoon
Desperate Times? Recruiting Students For Your Department, William Hoon
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
This presentation will review how one department at a regional Midwest university has dealt with the pressure of recruiting students. While the number of high school students in our state has declined, our department numbers has remained steady. Initiatives and best practices on how to attract and communicate with prospective students will be discussed.
“Managing A Department, Working With The School Dean And Staying Research Active.”, Valerie J. Watnick
“Managing A Department, Working With The School Dean And Staying Research Active.”, Valerie J. Watnick
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
This session will consider and discuss the literature regarding academic chairperson/dean management styles, and best department management practices. The session will involve consideration of typical fictional scenarios potentially faced by department chairs and deans and brainstorming to flesh out management strategies that allow time for both a well-managed department and quality research by the department chairperson and other faculty. The program will involve interactive (fictional) fact-based exercises.
Thriving In A Changing Academic Landscape: Moving At The Speed Of Light, Brenda Sims, Christy Crutsinger
Thriving In A Changing Academic Landscape: Moving At The Speed Of Light, Brenda Sims, Christy Crutsinger
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
Academic leaders are facing pressure to change how they deliver education. To respond, universities are increasingly charged with setting up educational programs that challenge the traditional notion of delivering classes. Using a case study approach, this session highlights how one university built a collaborative industry hub , developed interdisciplinary programs, and gained departmental and faculty buy-in in a sixth month window. Strategies for remaining nimble and transforming the ivory tower will discussed.
Mentoring, Managing, And Motivating Online Course Instructors: Emerging Chair Responsibilities, Mary B. Schreiner Ph.D., Scott Ballantyne Ed.D., Karen Thacker Ph.D.
Mentoring, Managing, And Motivating Online Course Instructors: Emerging Chair Responsibilities, Mary B. Schreiner Ph.D., Scott Ballantyne Ed.D., Karen Thacker Ph.D.
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
The number of online university courses continues to grow, and instructors of these courses need unique kinds of involvement with their department chairs. The presentation outlines best practices department chairs can use to mentor, manage and motivate online course instructors, based on both experience and emerging literature in this field.
Departments In Crisis: What To Do When The Department Is Threatened, Craig D. Hlavac
Departments In Crisis: What To Do When The Department Is Threatened, Craig D. Hlavac
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
Falling enrollments coupled with scarce resources have forced many institutions to urgently cut costs. While reducing discretionary spending may solve short-term financial shortfalls, institutions are more frequently considering academic reorganization or program elimination. Managing these situations as chairperson is not only challenging, but extremely stressful. This session will provide participants with practical, research-based advice for dealing with several exigent department-level situations. Crisis leadership, enrollment management, recruitment, program development, and discovering new revenue streams will be discussed.
Leading From The Middle: Managing Your Dean...And Others, Dr. Walter H. Gmelch
Leading From The Middle: Managing Your Dean...And Others, Dr. Walter H. Gmelch
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
Department chairs find themselves caught in the middle, swiveling between faculty and administration. Sometimes they don’t know which way to turn — in essence, caught in the godlike role of Janus, a Roman god with two faces looking in two directions at the same time. While chairs don’t have to worry about being deified, they must learn to swivel without appearing dizzy, schizophrenic or “two-faced.” They hold the most unique management position in the country — and the most important role in the university. Walter H. Gmelch has served as chair of three different departments and dean at three …
Building Credibility And Consensus As Newly-Tenured Or Junior Faculty Chairs, Carmen T. Skaggs, Jennifer Eimers
Building Credibility And Consensus As Newly-Tenured Or Junior Faculty Chairs, Carmen T. Skaggs, Jennifer Eimers
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
Participants will explore the challenges that newly-tenured or junior faculty department chairs may face. Representing a small, private college and a regional comprehensive university, our panelists will offer recommendations for building credibility and consensus within the department even when there may be a gap of age and/or experience between the chair and faculty.
The Challenges Of Being Chair In 2015: A 28 Year Perspective, Domenick J. Pinto
The Challenges Of Being Chair In 2015: A 28 Year Perspective, Domenick J. Pinto
Academic Chairpersons Conference Proceedings
For 28 years as chair, I have witnessed the evolution of the role of chairperson as entrepreneurial skills, conflict resolution and time management have become increasingly vital to the success of the chair. My session will summarize the challenges that chairs must now face and overcome in 2015. The session will help relatively new and new chairs face scenarios and how to problem solve them.