Chairs and directors provide leadership for the academic unit through multiple roles that connect them to faculty, staff,
administrators, students and numerous external constituencies. They are the most direct and influential link between the curriculum
and the University's vision to become a premier learning community within the rapidly changing context of higher education.
Effective communication, decision making and planning empower chairs and directors in their expanding responsibilities. The
success of these leaders in constructing mutually beneficial relationships presents far-reaching opportunities for the academic
unit within and beyond the University.
Internet Sites
Academic Leadership
An online newsletter that publishes articles about leadership issues for higher education administrators.
Asking the Right Questions at the Right Time: A Key Role for Effective Academic Leaders, by Kina S. Mallard (Union University)
An article about transforming meetings into useful sessions by asking the most appropriate questions.
A Collection of Planning Corner Articles (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
A collection of articles about strategic planning in universities. Some of the articles are aimed at chairs and directors.
College and University Strategic Plans (Higher-ed.org)
Links to strategic plans from a variety of colleges and universities.
Department Level Assessent Plans (Winona State University)
Guide for assessing the effectiveness of an academic department.
Lending an Ear: The Chair's Role as Listener, by Kina S. Mallard (Union University)
A summary of good listening techniques for department chairs.
Management by Walking Around and the Department Chair, by Kina S. Mallard (Union University)
An article that urges chairs to improve their communication with faculty through informal means.
SCUP Knowledge Finder (Society for College and University Planning)
A searchable database of links to sites about planning in colleges and universities
Strategic Planning (American Council on Education)
Links to reports, articles and web sites about the role of the department chair in strategic planning.
Strategic Planning (in Nonprofit or For-Profit Organizations), by Carter McNamara
An overview of the strategic planning process.
A Strategic Planning Primer for Higher Education, by Alexandra L. Lerner (California State University, Northridge)
A summary of the strategic planning process for universities.
Useful Tools for Developing and Updating Plans (Texas State University - San Marcos)
An overview of tools for developing strategic plans, including SWOT analysis, benchmarking, environmental scans, etc. Although
this was written for a local audience, it contains much useful information for any department chair.
Books in the Jerome Library
The Academic Chairperson's Handbook, by John W. Creswell et al. LB 2341 .A217 1990
A guide to using leadership to promote faculty growth and professional development. Useful chapters include: Reflect on Your
Role as an Academic Leader and Build an Agenda. Academic Leadership: A Practical Guide to Chairing the Department, by Deryl R. Leaming LB 2341 .L269 1998
A guide to being a department chair, including: Providing Leadership; Communicating; and Managing Change. Chairing an Academic Department, by Walter H. Gmelch and Val D. Miskin LB 2341 .G555 2004
A guide to being a department chair. See particularly: Resource Decisions: Planning Directs the Action; and Chair as Leader:
Facing the Challenges. Effective Communication for Academic Chairs, ed. by Mark Hickson III and Don W. Stacks LB 2341 .E43 1992
An examination of communication for academic department chairs. See particularly: Departmental Leadership and Departmental
Culture. Jossey-Bass Academic Administrator's Guide to Conflict Resolution, by Sandra I. Cheldelin and Ann F. Lucas LB 2331.68 .C54 2004
Includes strategies for identifying and managing conflict between people and between departments. Among the useful chapters
are: Interpersonal Conflict: Helping People Who Don't Get Along and Collaborating With Other Departments to Manage Conflict. Leading Academic Change: Essential Roles for Department Chairs, by Ann F. Lucas et al. LB 2341 .L82 2000
A guide to the role of department chairs in managing change. Useful chapters include: A Teamwork Approach to Change in the
Academic Department; Handling Resistance to Change; and Transforming Departments into Productive Learning Communities. Managing the Academic Department: Cases and Notes, by John B. Bennett LB 2341 .B47 1983
Cases that illustrate leadership and challenges of department chairs. See: Roles, Responsibilities, and Leadership Styles
and Departmental Goals: Change, and Decision Making. Strengthening Departmental Leadership: A Team-Building Guide for Chairs in Colleges and Universities, by Ann F. Lucas LB 2341 .L83 1994
A guide about leadership and faculty development for department chairs. Useful chapters include: Strengthening Leadership
at the Departmental Level; Leading the Academic Department; Team Building Through Supportive Communication; and Personal Strategies
for Strengthening Leadership Effectiveness.
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