Practically focused, easily accessible, this book is directly relevant to the academic environment in which department chairs operate. The authors—internationally known experts in academic administration—conducted interviews with department chairs and heads at 38 academic institutions from across the U.S. and Canada, public and private, two-year and four-year. The extensive interviews resulted in four thematic patterns that covered the overarching issues department chairs face: quality, change, culture, and leadership. Each chapter is packed with practical advice and concludes with questions and resources to help chairs develop constructive responses to the myriad issues facing them.

Table of Contents:
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