Chair as Leader

Department

Create a department vision with your faculty.
Develop departmental goals.
Encourage interfacing of programs with other academic departments.
Facilitate the development of research programs.
Mentor junior faculty and make sure they progress toward tenure and promotion.
Assist faculty in meeting professional goals and, if possible, remove obstacles.
Consult with faculty about plans for upcoming academic years.
Encourage faculty professional development.
Keep faculty informed about university and college operations and decisions.
Devise recruitment and retention plans for students.

Maintain personal, professional competence in order to set a good example in teaching or research.
Maintain confidentiality of decisions and actions when appropriate or required by law.
Be accessible and listen to your faculty, staff, and students.
Attend commencements, university functions, and department events.
Be flexible.
Maintain a sense of humor and dont sweat the small stuff.

Provide leadership toward the achievement of excellence in the teaching, research and service activities of the department.
Encourage and motivate your faculty to be successful researchers and submit grant proposals.
Promote collaboration and interdisciplinary teaching and research.
Manage personnel problems and conflicts.

Create a forum in which faculty can express ideas freely, promoting healthy discussions among the departmental faculty members.
Initiate policies as needed within the department for discussion, approval, and implementation.
Maintain positive working relationships and an environment that encourages productivity.
Maintain a climate that is hospitable to creativity and innovation.

Maintain up-to-date academic programs.
Take a leadership role for curriculum evaluating, planning, revising, and implementing changes.
See that the department's program-related goals are well articulated.
Coordinate the academic offerings to provide a program that is both pedagogically sound and uses available resources maximally.
Develop and implement specific methods of improving instruction.

Represent the departments faculty and the needs of the department to the dean and other administrative authorities.
Establish effective relationships with the non-instructional portions of the university.
Link the department to professionally-related relevant communities (e.g., corporations, foundations, health care facilities.) outside the University.
Maintain contact with alumni, working closely with the alumni.
Develop and nurture relationships with relevant outsiders who can produce advice and support (Advisory Committees).
Occupy a position of stature on and off campus.
Participate in the college and universitys committees and Council of Chairs.
Assist in gaining support and recognition for the department.