Effective department chairs are the unsung heroes of higher education. It is easy for a chair to fall into the trap of believing that... Click for more
Effective department chairs are the unsung heroes of higher education. It is easy for a chair to fall into the trap of believing that his/her position is thankless and powerless, with no influence on the direction of the department. There is much evidence to suggest, however, that productive, innovative departments and their high-achieving faculty owe a lot to the vision and leadership of an excellent, active chair. Those chairs who thrive in the role are those who make a conscious effort to support the work of the department through setting consistently high goals and standards, through the careful hiring and mentoring of new faculty, through effective communication, and through persistent community-building in the department. Click for less
