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Outline. Creating and Implementing a VisionQualities of a good chairTransparent Decision Making. Vision. Creating a vision statement for the department helps faculty staff and graduate students understand the mission of the department.Understand the priorities that drive the departmentBuild a set of Goals which reflect the
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1. The Role of the Department Chair James L Rosenberger
Professor of Statistics
Penn State University
2. Outline Creating and Implementing a Vision
Qualities of a good chair
Transparent Decision Making
3. Vision Creating a vision statement for the department helps faculty staff and graduate students understand the mission of the department.
Understand the priorities that drive the department
Build a set of Goals which reflect the “Ends” you wish to achieve.
4. What is a Vision Statement A statement to encapsulate the motivating forces behind the department:
Should meet: The SMART and GLUE tests
S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timebound)
G.L.U.E. (Guide, Legitimize, Unify, Energize)
What does the department want to achieve and become?
5. Example from Penn State Vision Statement
The Eberly College of Science is the home of the basic biological, physical, and mathematical sciences at Penn State. We are proud to be a vibrant scientific community that has emerged as a premier center of education and research. We are proud of our students, our alumni, our staff, and our faculty. We are the Penn State Eberly College of Science and we are making a difference in the world.
6. Mission Statement The Eberly College of Science is the home of the basic sciences at Penn State, one of the nation’s leading research universities. The college’s fundamental mission is to generate and disseminate knowledge in the basic sciences to further the physical, economic, and intellectual well-being of the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world.
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7. Mission Statement (cont) This mission includes advancing the frontiers of knowledge in the physical, biological, and mathematical sciences; providing access to a rich educational experience that will motivate and enable all of our students to seek the highest levels of intellectual achievement and personal growth; and sharing our knowledge, discoveries, and inventions with the people of the Commonwealth, the nation, and the world.
8. Example from Penn State Goals (Eberly College of Science)
Enhance academic excellence
Improve the quality of the student experience
Promote world-class science
Enhance outreach
Build a more considerate and civil community
Release resources to support growth and improvements, and find new sources of funds
9. Goal 1 from Penn State (cont) Develop strategies to achieve the goals
E.g. Enhance academic excellence
Strategies
Make ECOS the college of choice for outstanding faculty
Make ECOS the college of choice for outstanding students
Make ECOS the college of choice for outstanding staff
Build a broad sense of intellectual community
Maximize reputation through publicity about success
Awards for faculty and students
Invitations of eminent speakers and guests
Continue program of external reviews
Improve the quality of the department facilities
Computing, offices, lounges, appearance
10. Goal 2 from Penn State (cont) Develop strategies to achieve the goals
E.g. Improve the quality of student experiences
Strategies (used by the department of statistics)
Increase the number of quality tenure track faculty
Add or revise courses and programs to remain current
Undergraduate major and minor
Professional Master of Applied Statistics program
Improve student advising (graduate and undergraduate)
Improve teaching and learning by sharing instructional innovations and resources
Hire an instructional designer to assist with course materials (online and resident instruction)
Develop online courses for certificate program, which improve in class course material and resources
Work to increase diversity of students (e.g. more US grad students)
Improve the climate for minority and underrepresented students
11. Qualities of a good chair Consistency
Know the basis for decisions
Salary,
course buyouts,
teaching assignments
Transparency
Faculty and staff should understand the basis for decisions
Decisions should withstand scrutiny by all
12. Qualities (cont.) Integrity
If you say it, mean it.
Walk the talk
Be trustworthy
Because of your role, every word is noted and remembered.
I saved my email so I could remember what I promised.
13. A Healthy Department Know your mission
Research
Teaching
Outreach/collaboration/consulting
Service
Build on Strength
Hiring
Recruiting
Assigning committee duties and teaching
14. Healthy (cont) Celebrate
Recognize and celebrate achievements
Faculty,
Promotions, Grants, Honors, Publications
Staff,
Promotions, new skills and achievements
Students
Awards for teaching, etc
Nominate (or charge a committee) for awards
Local and national awards
15. Healthy (cont) Examples of building on strength
Re-energize faculty members in transition
Increased teaching load
Travel fund between grants
Faculty who all love their work
“Make ‘your department’ the department of choice for outstanding faculty”
Appropriate salary
Realistic teaching loads for adequate time for research
Support (computer, staff, etc.)
Recognition for contributions
16. The Engaged Department Goal: The engaged department
All members pulling toward the same goal
Faculty who want to do their part
Staff who understand the mission and priorities
17. Faculty Meetings Held Monthly (my style), should be fun.
Has a social aspect – people see each other.
Analogy with Boards of Directors (faculty)
Reports, Robert’s Rules,
Celebrate events
Include student reps, and staff member
Strategic Planning sessions
Evenings, meals, group discussions.
Include staff, student reps,
18. Accessibility How to be accessible without becoming mired
Email efficient for much communication
Respond within a reasonable time (24 hours?)
If final answer not known, respond with what you know, and promised by when you will find out.
If on vacation, use auto-response with a substitute named.
Have predictable times your door is open
Or have your secretary schedule appointments
Walk around on occasion to signal availability
19. Difficult decisions and people How to handle difficult decisions and complex issues
Discuss it in person
Walk down the hall and inquire first
Be sure to make clear your limitations (financial, etc.)
After a discussion, immediately confirm in writing by email, ending with:
Please let me know if this is not your understanding, or
Please confirm my understanding of how we agreed to resolve this.
It is hard for someone to get angry at your for something they agreed to.
20. Development – fund raising How to raise funds - What can a Dept Chair do?
Develop the case for support - set priorities.
Know your development officer.
Communicate with your graduates
Spend gifts - in ways that reflect well on you.
Be a talent scout
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21. Development (cont) What can a Dept Chair do?
Meet with donors and prospective donors
Provide and demonstrate good stewardship
Establish an advisory board
Be a donor yourself
Continue to what you do best
Foster learning and discovery…
Alumni remember…
22. Conclusions Chairing a department provides opportunities for leadership and shaping the culture and success for the future.
Create a climate for success and excellence
Respect for all members of the department
Fairness and trustworthiness in all decisions
Success follows from building a winning team
23. References Higgerson, M.L. (1996) Communication Skills for Department Chairs. Bolton, MA: Anker Publishing Co. Inc.
Tucker, Allan (1984) Chairing the Academic Department: Leadership among Peers. 2nd edit. New York: American Council on Education, Macmillan Publishing Co.
Ferren, A.S. and Stanton W.W. (2004) Leadership through Collaboration. American Council on Education, Praeger.
24. References (cont) John Stahl-Wert and Ken Jennings (2007) Ten Thousand Horses How Leaders Harness Raw Potential for Extraordinary Results. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc.
William P. Chait, William P. Ryan, and Barbara E Taylor. (2005) Governance as Leadership. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.