Undergraduate Dept. Chair/Graduate Program Director Responsibilities
The undergraduate academic dean in consultation with the provost and departmental faculty appoints undergraduate department chairs. The graduate dean academic deans, in consultation with the provost and program faculty appoints graduate , appoint program* directors. For the ongoing effectiveness of administration, department chairs and graduate program directors generally serve a multi-year term subject to periodic review. Exceptions would be a one-year or temporary appointment to fill a vacancy or to meet some other special need. Responsibilities include the following:
Overall Management of the Department or Program
a) Hold regular departmental meetings and ensure that minutes are recorded with distribution to dean, provost, president, and archives.
b) Ensure a well-prepared and effective faculty in collaboration with the dean. Includes assisting in faculty recruitment and orientation, encouraging professional development, and conducting regular faculty evaluation.
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Program Management
Responsibilities shared between Dean & Director
- Keep school members informed of relevant decisions
- Organize teaching assignments in consultation with the dean
- Participate in developing the program budget
- Manage the program budget in collaboration with the dean
- Plan and carry out program review in collaboration with the dean
- Work together to promote a culture of equity, anti-racism, and inclusion among faculty, staff, and students in the program and within the program curriculum and activities.
Director Responsibilities
- Maintain a vital and appropriate curriculum within budget
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- Be responsible for program quality, monitoring grading patterns and student outcomes
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- Be aware of student retention issues
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- Handle student grievances within the program
- Collaborate with Undergraduate and/or Graduate admissions on enrollment
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g) Enhance faculty morale by a spirit of encouragement and sensitivity.
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- Collaborate with Marketing to develop marketing plans for the program
- Maintain responsive and adequate academic advising services to students
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- Communicate
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- program activities to students
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j) Keep departmental or program members informed of administrative decisions.
k) Organize teaching assignments in consultation with the dean.
l) Participate in developing the departmental or program budget.
m) Prepare annual institutional effectiveness report (AIER).
Ongoing Responsibilities
a) Manage the departmental or program budget in collaboration with the dean.
b) Handle student grievances within the department or program.
c) Manage space and facility needs in consultation with the dean.
d) Maintain equipment or other departmental properties.
e) Oversee the acquisition of library and instructional resources for the department or program. Refer to the Information Systems: Technology Resource Allocation Policy found in the appendices.
f) Coordinate the requisitioning of supplies.
Representation of the Department or Program in Broader Institutional Contexts
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- Oversee PACE with regard to program planning and assessment, outlined in the Institutional Effectiveness Policy and Procedures
- Facilitate CORE curriculum assessment
- Recruit, hire, and evaluate contingent faculty
- Provide program-specific orientation for new faculty
- Maintain equipment or other program properties
- Coordinate the requisitioning of supplies
- Keep program section of catalog up to date
- Work with Financial Aid to determine scholarship recipients, program awards, etc.
Representation in Broader Institutional Contexts
- Manage relations with external partners for internships and student placements
- Convey program goals and objectives to the
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- dean
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- Represent
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- program needs in long-range planning processes
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- Communicate
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- programs and activities to the marketing services and admissions offices
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d) Serve on Undergraduate Council (undergraduate department chairs) or Graduate Council (graduate program directors) to represent the interests of the department and to participate in policy making for the undergraduate or graduate unit.
e) Other duties as may be specific to the department (e.g. external relations, agency contracts, etc.)
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- Participate on search committees as requested
- Participate on or chair the Colleague Review Committee as requested
- Review course evaluations for program and consult with the dean if necessary
The director may delegate responsibilities as needed
* A “program” is defined as any degree or credential in a particular field. Individuals may direct multiple programs as decided by the school dean, in consultation with the faculty. Examples include the MDiv program, the Writing Studies major, Photography major, Peacebuilding major.
Review of Responsibilities
This document will be reviewed by the Provost Council and Faculty Senate at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year, and every 3 years thereafter.
Draft Submitted May 1, 2020
Reviewed by Provost's Council April 30, 2020
Approved by Provost's Council September 15, 2020