The Department Chair Primer: What Chairs Need to Know and Do to Make a Difference

Preface to the New Edition vii PART ONE: WHAT NEW CHAIRS NEED TO KNOW 1 1 Why Department Chairs Are Important 3 2 The Chair s Role as Department Leader 9 3 The Chair s Ecosystem 16 4 Handling Stress and Conflict 26 5 What Kind of Chair Will You Be? 30 PART TWO: GETTING STARTED: HOW NEW CHAIRS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE 35 6 Before You Begin 37 7 Planning 42 8 Budget, Resource Management, and Development 52 9 Curriculum, Scheduling, and Instruction 67 10 Professional Development, Personnel Management, and Handling Challenging Personnel 76 11 Departmental Communication 85 12 Student Development 92 13 Strategic Positioning 97 14 Understanding Your Institution and Your Role as Department Chair 102 Resources 107 References 109 The Author 111 Index 113 This book is dedicated to those who hold most dear honor, loyalty, service, and integrity: to my parents, who taught me these principles to my children, who carry forward these virtues and to my wife, Janine, whose love reminds me why they are so important.