Chairs’ Workshop JSM 2009

1. Chairs’ Workshop JSM 2009 Vijay Nair University of Michigan vnn@umich.edu August 1, 2009

2. Topics – RL & VN • Working with “Administration” • Departmental Activities • Promoting collaborations • Engaging faculty in department operations • Promoting and rewarding excellence • P & T and annual reviews • Faculty recruiting • Setting priorities • Budget models and managing budgets

3. UM Background • UM ~ 38,000 students (28 + 10) • Full service university • Stat, Biostat, ISR, B-school, Eng., … • LSA (18K + grad students) • Stat part of Nat Sc (collaborations with Soc Sc) • One Dean, 3 area assoc deans, for budget + finance, & for ugrad + grad education (Rackham) • ~ 30 chairs and directors • Dean “controls” budget, etc. • Governance –elected ExCo – hiring, promotions, policy, … • Two meetings a semester – Deans + all C + D; • monthly meetings with Dean, Assoc Dean and NS chairs + directors

4. Dept Background • Started in 1969 • About 18 FTE + 5-6 lecturers/teaching faculty • 3 grad programs (Ph D, Applied Master’s, Dual degree masters) ~100 grad students ~ 55 TA positions • Ugrad major (~25 grad per year) + 2 minors (about 90 students) • Large service teaching (ugrad and grad) • Joint courses with Biostat, Econ, IOE, Math • New interdisciplinary ugrad concentration in Informatics • VN  chair for 11 years.

5. Working with the Deans • Type of college/school and the administrative structure • Academic affairs, budget, research, … • Who controls the $$ • Develop personal relationship and trust; understand their personality; what works and what doesn’t; remember it’s not about you but the dept. • Frequent e-mail contact, off-line one-on-one contact more effective than making cases in group settings, • Understand Dean’s major agenda and see how department can fit in; get involved in (lead) key initiatives; Stats smaller discipline and can often be on the outside; • Talk up the dept and faculty, make sure they know of achievements, nominate faculty for key internal committees, … • First couple of years are key … find a mentor (senior chair) who you trust to bounce questions off … relationships with other departments are important

6. Setting Priorities • Task varies with state of the dept when you take over • Engage faculty in developing long-term plan and priorities early on – retreat or other forum for internal planning  some use consultants to facilitate discussion and develop consensus  not for everyone • Plan beforehand with informal discussions with key players • Make sure junior faculty views are heard (separate junior faculty retreats) • Take on only 2-3 major activities initially (focus your energy on a few and hopefully ones that you enjoy) • VN experience  5-year plan and external reviews; make dept fully integrated into the college; interdisciplinary collaboration; exploit strength of UM

7. Managing the Budget • Different budget and funding models  also vary with Deans and economic conditions • VN experience • “Begging” is part of the job! • Get a really good Department Manager • Don’t keep a surplus!

8. Faculty Review Process at UM Statistics • Annual reviews and discussion with chair and mentor • 3-year review and feedback • End of 5th year, P&T committee set up – chair and committee works with candidate to develop a casebook – includes CV, research teaching and service documentation -- names of external letter writers (number)? • Dept selects from candidates list and own list – some in your area, others a bit more general, usually full prof’s – college committees looks for big names from top universities; Some internal letters • P&T committee writes up evaluation. Candidate has opportunity to respond. • Department level discussions and recommendation. Variation in exact process. • To college-level review -- divisional review committee looks at research case -- college ExCo makes decision based on this review and overall case – Dean vs College ExCo • Provost (usually pro forma) • Negative decisions – dept vs college level; appeal?