PART ONE: WHAT NEW CHAIRS NEED TO KNOW 1

1 Why Department Chairs Are Important 3

2 The Chair’s Role as Department Leader 9

3 The Chair’s Ecosystem 16

4 Handling Stress and Conflict 26

5 What Kind of Chair Will You Be? 30

PART TWO: GETTING STARTED: HOW NEW CHAIRS CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE 35

6 Before You Begin 37

7 Planning 42

8 Budget, Resource Management, and Development 52

9 Curriculum, Scheduling, and Instruction 67

10 Professional Development, Personnel Management, and Handling Challenging Personnel 76

11 Departmental Communication 85

12 Student Development 92

13 Strategic Positioning 97

14 Understanding Your Institution and Your Role as Department Chair 102

Resources 107

References 109

The Author 111

Index 113

This book is dedicated to those who hold most dear honor, loyalty, service, and integrity: to my parents, who taught me these principles; to my children, who carry forward these virtues; and to my wife, Janine, whose love reminds me why they are so important.