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Committee on Departments, Programs, and Centers: How to be An Effective Chair/Director: What No One Teaches You

Fri, November 10, 9:00 to 10:30am, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Acapulco, Ballroom Level West Tower

Session Submission Type: Non-Paper Session: Dialogue Format

Abstract

It happened. You’re the chair of the program. What now? This hybrid round table plus discussion groups will engage the pressing questions facing new and seasoned program administrators. What is the secret to budget management? How can I increase student recruitment and retention? Who should I seek out for strategic partnerships? What does upper administration really want? How can I increase student learning? How to best engage in the hiring and tenure process? The panel will leverage the expertise of program administrators from large and small, public and private, domestic and international institutions.

Following brief presentations from each panelist , participants will have the opportunity to join topic-based small group discussions of issues raised by the panel. This will be a place for informal mentoring and frank discussions. Participants are encouraged to come prepared to discuss the specific challenges they are facing.

Carmen Birkle will represent the American Studies program experience abroad. Department Chair is very differently defined outside of the U.S., which has to do with the type of education and career most people in academia in Germany (and in some countries in Europe) go through. The Bologna process has increased a chair's responsibility for the development of study programs, such as the BA and MA programs, and implies the need for an effective management of teaching, administration, and research.

Caroyln Thomas will speak from her role as Vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education to the power good department chairs have to make the university a better place. Chairs must understand and empathize with their colleagues. They must have their colleagues trust. At the same time, they need to make decisions that serve the long-range mission for their department, on behalf of students, staff, and faculty. These two roles are complex to inhabit at the same time: confidant and colleague, on the one hand, and steward for the long-range goals of the department, college, and even campus, on the other hand.

Elizabeth Duclos-Orsello will focus on five items that she has found to be essential to any new director, chair or coordinator especially for those taking up the reins in a climate where there is no precedent for American Studies or the program needs a major revamp and there is little by way of resources. These are: Alignment with institutional agendas; developing a unique focus for your program; developing allies on campus and off; be willing to hustle!, and use the ASA resources.

Wendy Kozol: In the current economic climate, small interdisciplinary programs often garner resources and greater visibility in their institutions through strategic partnerships with more established departments. Wendy Kozol will address ways to advance those partnerships as well as consider the challenges that programs confront when negotiating curricular changes and personnel initiatives.

June Howard will address the complexities of hiring, promotion and joint appointments. She will discuss best practices as well as pitfalls to be avoided. This process is critical to creating the faculty necessary for a strong program.

Eric Sandeen will focus on developing relationships beyond the normal bureaucratic structure of the university. This would include humanities institutes, public humanities entities, and non-university organizations.

Sub Unit

Chair

Panelists