The fifth annual series of spring Workshops for Department/Division Chairs sponsored by CIC will focus on the theme of “Effective Strategies for Leading the Academic Department.” The workshops, designed to serve both experienced and new chairs, will offer opportunities to explore how to conduct strategic planning for programs, handle sensitive communications, practice preventive law, and understand current legal issues for campuses.

Workshop topics will include:

Current Legal Issues for Departments. Experts on legal issues for private institutions will discuss topics such as: confidentiality and disclosure—the two sides of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974; balancing the rights of faculty, students, and parents; reference checks and background checks; and the interrelationship of professional standards and legal/contractual requirements in defining faculty rights and responsibilities.

Effective Communication as Chair. In addition to clarity in writing and speech, chairs need effective communication skills in sensitive situations. Participants will explore strategies for listening and responding appropriately to complaints, persuasive skills to encourage change, and situations that are best avoided.

Lessons from Experienced Chairs. Discussion groups led by experienced chairs will cover topics such as attracting majors to the department, recruiting new faculty members, program review, plagiarism, and working with adjunct faculty members.

Preventive Law. Lawyers familiar with legal issues at private colleges and universities will explain the basic principles with which department chairs should be familiar and situations in which it is necessary to document actions. The emphasis will be on legal planning and preventing legal problems.

Strategic Planning for the Department. Speakers will discuss the processes chairs might employ to improve their departments; how chairs can align institutional mission, faculty members, the curriculum, and other resources with departmental goals; and how to foster a collegial atmosphere.

Speakers will include Carl H. Caldwell, vice president for academic affairs and dean of Anderson University (IN); Katie Conboy, vice president for academic affairs at Stonehill College (MA); Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, principal of CG2 Consulting; Jane Jakoubek, vice president and dean of academic affairs at Hanover College (IN); Marie Joan Harris, CSJ, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Avila University (MO); Carla B. Howery, deputy executive officer of the American Sociological Association; Ferol Schricker Menzel, vice president for academic affairs, dean of the faculty, and professor of psychology at Wartburg College (IA); Kelly Ward, associate professor of higher education at Washington State University; Kent Weeks, principal with the law firm of Weeks, Anderson & Baker; and Cynthia Ann Zane, chief academic officer and dean of the faculty at the College of Mount Saint Joseph (OH).

Institutions are encouraged to send several department chairs to a workshop so they may support one another upon their return to campus. For more information about or to register for the chair workshops, click here.