Chair Roles

Without doubt, the department chair has one of the most demanding jobs on campus. You are a gate-keeper, a role model, a mentor, a liaison, and a visionary. Oh, and you are also expected to excel at teaching and maintain an active research program. Tired yet? The passages below from the University of Memphis Faculty Handbook delineate a chair's many responsibilities.

After you read the 'official' list of duties, we'll address some chair survival strategies.

University of Memphis 2011 Faculty Handbook, Chapter 2

Some of the chair's specific administrative responsibilities include:

• Organizing the department in such a way that the total program will be served effectively
   
• Developing a set of department policies, supplementary to and consistent with those of the college and University
   
• Providing leadership in departmental planning
   
• Assisting in developing a continuing education program
   
• Developing and administering the department's budget
   
• Supervising the department's secretarial and support staff
   
• Preparing class schedules and teaching assignments
   
• Supervising and managing the physical facilities under the department's jurisdiction
   
• Promoting positive interpersonal relations
   
• Serving as a link between the department and the university administration
   

The chair's faculty responsibilities include:

• Recruiting capable faculty members (in concerted effort with the faculty and with the concurrence of administrative officers)
   
• Encouraging and rewarding excellence in teaching, research and creative endeavors, and service
   
• Assisting and encouraging faculty in securing outside funding for research
   
• Evaluating faculty performance annually
   
• Recommending faculty members for tenure, promotion, salary adjustments, continuing education assignments, and graduate faculty memberships
   
• Serving as a link between faculty and University administration
   

The chair's student responsibilities include:

• Establishing an effective advising system
   
• Ensuring that students meet degree requirements
   
• Administering a graduate assistantship program
   
• Conferring with students about policies and practices of the department, the college, and the university
   
• Assisting students in solving problems relating to academic matters
   
• Assisting in student recruitment