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