Academic department chairs serve as front-line managers and leaders who perform a wide variety of tasks. These tasks may include mundane chores, such as ordering office supplies, or important ones, such as changing the department culture to one that embraces assessment. Too often, however, individuals take on the chair position with little to no…

Currently, two-year colleges are teaching the lion's share of college composition classes, mainly consisting of developmental writing and first-year composition courses; however, those same two-year colleges have been slow in embracing the composition theory and practices that are studied and implemented at four-year colleges. One way to…

This article is concerned with the status of middle management in the community college. Aspects discussed include the dual role of the chairman and alternative models of departmental organization which attempt to reduce separatism within the college. Community Colleges is a monthly supplement to Change magazine. (RN)

The role of science division chairmen in regionally accredited public and private junior colleges is derived from the results of a national survey. Personal data and background, official job title, and teaching demands are the major aspects of the position discussed. (AL)

Thirty-three division chairmen from community colleges across the United States participated in an August 1970 conference whose purpose was to serve specific personal and interpersonal, group, and instructional systems objectives and to prepare specific guidelines for leadership in improvement of curricula and instruction in community colleges.…

Since collective bargaining is so closely tied to a department chairman's duties involving hiring, evaluation, promotion, tenure, assignment of duties, and discipline, the chairman can play an effective role as an administrative functionary only if he is excluded from the faculty bargaining unit. (NHM)

The effect of environment factors in producing change in the management/personality styles of department chairpersons was examined in this study. The study group, consisting of department chairpersons at Valencia Community College (Florida), and a comparable control group, were administered pre-tests and post-tests on the Myers-Briggs Type…

With the intent of presenting significant items on the subject rather than an exhaustive listing, a thorough examination was made of entries on the role of the community college division/department chairperson catalogued over the last 11 years by Education Index, Resources in Education, Current Index to Journals in Education, and Dissertation…

A survey was conducted to determine current practices in selecting/electing division chairmen at community colleges nationwide. An inquiry was sent to 58 colleges asking how division/department chairpersons were chosen, to whom they were accountable, term length, the advantages and disadvantages of the system in use, and which system (election or…

The contractual duties of the department chairman at Rhode Island Junior College (RIJC), as at most public community colleges, place him in three roles: administrator, spokesman for his department, and teacher. Because, as a teacher, he is also a member of the collective bargaining unit, a conflict of role assignments occurs whenever the chairman…

During April and May 1977, individual interviews of all division chairpersons and House advisors and of selected administrators and House clerks (22 total) were conducted as part of a multi-phase, multi-method study of the House Plan at Cypress College. The interviews were intended to gather suggestions for reorganizing the administrative…

Community college department chairs are central players in realizing the mission of the community colleges. They can identify the central elements and practices of good teaching and create a climate to foster good teaching by focusing on active learning strategies, cooperative learning, and diverse learning styles in students. By identifying the…

Six division chairpersons at Central Virginia Community College participated in a study designed to develop a problem situation set which can be used to examine academic managers' preferred decision processes; to identify the existing preferred decision processes of chairpersons within the community college setting; and to ascertain how problem…

One of the most important responsibilities of academic leaders is to encourage and provide continuing professional development opportunities for themselves, faculty, and staff. Retreats are very effective vehicles for professional growth, providing an opportunity to discuss their experiences and different issues. For over 25 years, the most…

North Carolina's community colleges recently went through a reengineering process and a conversion from a quarter to a semester system--the result of several studies as well as a mandate by the North Carolina State Legislature. With these changes came review, restructuring, and a degree of standardization of all curriculum programs. Department…