The Department Chair Primer: Leading and Managing Academic Departments (Anker Resources for Department Chairs)

What do chairs need to know from their very first day on the job? Research has shown that most chairs receive little or no training to prepare them for the demands of their new roles. They may not understand the tasks they will need to perform, how much time they will have to spend on parts of the job, and what the emotional and social requirements are.

The Department Chair Primer provides the practical information that chairs need to do their jobs well. Many of the book’s ideas come from practicing chairs and are proven strategies for dealing with a variety of issues.

This book is divided into three parts:

• What chairs need to know to understand their departments and their new roles
• What chairs need to know to do their jobs
• Leading, managing, and changing the academic department

Chapters address topics ranging from department climate, politics, and budget, to time management, legal considerations, professional development, and more. Each chapter details a particular problem chairs face, includes a brief introduction to the topic, provides tips on how to deal with the situation, and concludes with study questions. Its concise format is ideal for busy chairs who need a brief but informative resource they can turn to for solutions to particular problems. The book can also serve as the basis for group discussions on campus.