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.

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.

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.

A guide to being a department chair, including: Providing Leadership; Communicating; and Managing Change.

A guide to being a department chair. See particularly: Resource Decisions: Planning Directs the Action; and Chair as Leader: Facing the Challenges.

An examination of communication for academic department chairs. See particularly: Departmental Leadership and Departmental Culture.

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.

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.

Cases that illustrate leadership and challenges of department chairs. See: Roles, Responsibilities, and Leadership Styles and Departmental Goals: Change, and Decision Making.

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.