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Division Chairs (in Academic Units without an Academic Dean)

Division Chairs report to the Vice President for Academic Affairs and are responsible for directing all aspects of an academic division or school. Each Division Chair serves as the point of contact for all instructional staff, students and parents for their specific academic unit and collaborates with Program Coordinators and Graduate Coordinators to ensure that the academic component of each program is meeting expectations. The Division Chair sets a professional tone for the program and serves as a positive role model for staff and students.

Qualifications and Appointment

The Department Chair shall be a tenured, full-time Faculty member, wherever possible. A non-tenured faculty member who takes on the responsibility of Department Chair may request to stop the tenure clock for a period of one year. Faculty from each school or division recommend to the Vice President for Academic Affairs candidate(s) for the Division Chair position. Selection of candidate(s) occurs by closed ballot with all tenured and tenure-track divisional faculty eligible to vote. The results of the vote, including the vote tally, are reported by the division’s administrative assistant to the Vice President for Academic Affairs prior to the last day of spring semester classes. The Vice President for Academic Affairs considers the voting results and makes a recommendation to the President, who has ultimate authority for appointing the Division Chair. Division Chairs are selected for a three-year term with a limit of two consecutive terms. The term of office begins on July 1. The outgoing Chair completes the Division’s Annual Report; the incoming Chair assumes all summer Chair duties. Duties listed below may be delegated to other division members when necessary.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Division Chair

  1. Schedules all academic unit course offerings, course projections and all Faculty teaching assignments.
  2. Coordinates the evaluation of transcripts, course offerings, scheduling, and registration with the Registrar.
  3. Conducts divisional meetings and establishes specific work groups and subcommittees as needed.
  4. Writes annual reports, planning and budgetary documents, and other reports requested by the Vice President for Academic Affairs.
  5. Assists with division-related revisions to the College catalog and departmental brochures.
  6. Prepares necessary divisional correspondence.
  7. Oversees divisional activities such as honorary societies, lecture series, career colloquia, student receptions, etc.
  8. Supervises work-study students.
  9. Communicates divisional needs to the administration.
  10. Participates in and staffs the appropriate activities of the Admissions Office for the recruitment of students in all programs of the academic unit.
  11. Meets regularly with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and other members of Academic Affairs.
  12. Serves as the divisional point of contact for outside groups and organizations.
  13. Initiates program reviews, as necessary.
  14. Proposes divisional curriculum changes.
  15. Facilitates discussions on teaching.
  16. Coordinates division-specific assessment activities.
  17. Arranges suitable staffing for all courses.
  18. Supervises searches for full time faculty positions in the academic unit and makes recommendations for Faculty appointments to the VPAA.
  19. Recruits, interviews, hires, and supervises adjunct faculty.
  20. Regularly observes and evaluates the work of adjunct and untenured faculty, including review of student evaluations each semester.
  21. Works with faculty throughout tenure, promotion, and sabbatical processes.
  22. Writes letters of support for faculty.
  23. Encourages and assists professional development and scholarly activities of all faculty.
  24. Mentors Faculty members in their teaching duties and development.
  25. Responds and seeks to address faculty concerns.
  26. Provides orientation for new division faculty members to clarify the College’s policies and procedures.
  27. Coordinates and insures advisement of departmental majors and minors.
  28. Approves independent study projects in accordance with College guidelines.
  29. Resolves individual issues related to departmental requirements or offerings.
  30. Processes complaints related to classes or faculty.
  31. Department Chairs shall be eligible to serve on faculty governance committees during their terms as Department Chair.

Division Chair Compensation

The Division Chair is primarily a member of the teaching Faculty. For their service as Division Chair, they will receive a teaching load reduction and/or stipend, depending on the size of the Division and the extent of the tasks (student enrollments, full and part-time Faculty, facilities, number of disciplines represented, number of majors/advisees, discipline-specific accreditation-related responsibilities, etc.). The specifics of the teaching load and/or stipend, which is determined by the VPAA, will be made clear prior to appointment. A minimum of one course release per semester will be provided.