Problem Solving and Information
Exchange: Chairs 201
Robert E. Hanyak, AuD
University of the Pacific
Kenn Apel, PhD
University of South Carolina
Overview of Topics
• Intent is to cover three topics
– Challenges and effective strategies for optimal
division of administrative duties
– Dealing with challenging colleagues
– Tenure and promotion decision-making strategies
• We will introduce the topic, open it up for
discussion, and provide roughly 30 minutes
before moving to the following topic
Challenges and Effective Strategies for
Optimal Division of Administrative
Duties
• Serving as department chair and also program
director
• Handling the increasing demands from central
administration and/or the dean’s office:
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Recruitment
Admissions
University/accreditation issues
Budget
Philanthropy
Challenges and Effective Strategies for
Optimal Division of Administrative
Duties
• Balancing chair duties with continuing
expectations for teaching and research
• Determining what duties can be shared with
other faculty
– Challenges when most faculty are at the junior
level
Dealing with Challenging Colleagues
• Tips learned from working with HR and lawyers
• Resurrecting your “counseling skills”
– Use active listening
– Develop and verbalize hunches
– Use constructive confrontation
• Use of I vs. you statements
• Descriptive and inferential language vs. evaluative
language
• Be open and ready to make difficult but
appropriate decisions that are best for
department
Tenure and Promotion DecisionMaking Strategies
• Role of the department chair in supporting
junior faculty in achieving T&P
• Knowing when to counsel/advise junior faculty
to seek another position