1. Gaps: Identifying Questions and Sources of Support
New Chairperson Alliance
Charleston, SC
February 3, 2016
Katherine Frank
Dan Wheeler

2. Questions
What questions do you have that emerged throughout the course of the day or that you brought with you and remain unanswered?
Take a few minutes to write.
Share out at your table.
Select one question to present to the large group.

3. Sources of Support
With these questions in mind, what/who are your sources of support for ideas, questions, partnerships, help, etc.?
Consider new areas of potential.
Consider relationship building.
Consider audience.

4. Working with Deans
Work to assure that your department and its programs fit with the College and Institutional plans.
Reinforce the dean’s and administration’s ideas and activities and fit them into your departmental plans.
Understand your duties and how success will be measured in your situation (student credit hours, grants, student job success rate, reputation).

5. Working with Deans
Provide some talking points (success stories, breakthroughs, pressing needs) for the dean and others – they don’t want extensive information.
With the goal of making the dean look good, what do I know about this person’s preferences and priorities:
Determine the dean’s style of communication: (a) personal visits, s, phone calls (b) frequent updates vs. once a month (c) what “counts” – tier-one pubs, student credit hours, grants etc. (d) Data (numbers) vs. oral/written reports (e) Invitation to events vs. Don’t bother me (f) Preference to hold resources centrally and receive bids vs. hand them out and let departments decide

6. Working with Deans
Know the reporting structure within academic affairs and the relationship dynamics.
No surprises – especially bad news!
Understand and accept your role – both as a faculty advocate and the voice of administration.
Be credible. Take responsibility, be timely on requests, do your homework and respect administrative decisions.

7. Working with Deans
Determine who can help you with your relationship with the Dean. Dean’s assistant? Other chairs? Faculty? Others?
Be solution oriented – if you have a problem or bad situation think through possible solutions to present to the dean.
Maintain a positive orientation as part of the dean’s team.
Give yourself time before responding or hitting ‘send.’ Unless an emergency, most responses don’t need to be sent immediately.