Invited Presentations

Concurrent Sessions

Evaluation/Assessment

Papers

Legal Issues in Evaluating Department Faculty: Promotion, Tenure, or Termination?

Friday, February 12, 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Salon 13
Jon Dalager
Georgetown College

At most academic institutions, the Department Chair is responsible for evaluating department faculty and recommending them for promotion, tenure or termination. Because any decision may result in significant legal problems for the chair and their institution, it is essential for deans and chairs to be aware of the rights and responsibilities of all involved.

Effective Strategies for Leading Your Department’s Reaccreditation

Thursday, February 11, 3:30 – 4:15 p.m., Salon 11
Suzanne Prestoy
East Stroudsburg University

This presentation will describe successful leadership and management strategies utilized by the chair to coordinate the department’s reaccreditation process. This project required team development, project management, department committee restructuring, faculty education and participation, attainment of university resources, and motivation in order to prepare a detailed self study report and facilitate a program evaluator visit.

Using Faculty Learning Communities for Department Assessment: A Case Study

Thursday, February 11, 3:30 – 4:15 p.m., Salon 14
Gary Shulman
Miami University

The chair formed a faculty learning community that developed and then assessed a critical thinking rubric as part of a long-term project to assess student learning outcomes in the major. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the favorable circumstances under which such a transformational model can be used.

Workshops

Self Assessment: The Cornerstone of Lifelong Learning and Institutional Assessment

Thursday, February 11, 1:15 – 3:00 p.m., Salon 9/10
Jill L. Ferguson
San Francisco Conservatory of Music

This workshop explores the importance of self-assessment and provides the building blocks for faculty and staff to assess themselves, who then, in turn, can teach constructive self-assessment to students, who can use it in their life-long learning. Self-assessment is the foundation for institutional assessment and for the accreditation process.

Academic Program Evaluation in Higher Education

Friday, February 12, 1:30 – 3:15 p.m., Salon 9/10
Tolulope Filani
Tamara Hughes
South Carolina State University

This workshop will offer strategic methodological approaches to the development of and differentiation between curricula goals and objectives, combined with vital discussion of approaches to assessment, data collection and analysis, data integration, and curricula improvements. Specific approaches to program modification and enhancement will be presented via hands-on instruction, simulations, and problem solving sessions in small, interactive, group activities.

Challenges and Change: Motivational Interviewing and Evaluating of Teaching Performance

Friday, February 12, 1:30 – 3:15 p.m., Salon 11
Debra Murray
Glena Temple
Viterbo University

Evaluation of teaching performance is a necessary, but often stress-inducing process between chairs and faculty members. Through the integration of motivational interviewing techniques this process can become more effective and collaborative. This workshop will provide an overall of communication strategies that can reduce resistance and increase action.

Faculty Development

Papers

Faculty Development in an Accountability Era: Promoting Scholarship through Self-Study

Thursday, February 11, 1:15 – 2:00 p.m., Salon 12
Jill Farrell
Catheryn Weitman
Barry University

In an era of accountability, departmental chairpersons must ensure that faculty continues to enhance their teaching practice while also engaging in scholarly work. This parallel track can be more or less challenging when the focus of scholarly work emanates from the teaching/learning environment.

Implementing Service Learning Across the Curriculum: A Catalyst for Change

Thursday, February 11, 2:15 – 3:00 p.m., Salon 13
Marie Huff
Linda Stanford
Western Carolina University

The presenters will provide information to enable chairs to support faculty in developing and implementing service learning activities across the curriculum. Research from the professional literature, specific examples of service learning activities, and the presenters’ own experiences with faculty and students engaging in service learning will be shared.

Deadwood-Rejuvenating the Aging Professoriate

Friday, February 12, 1:30 – 2:15 p.m., Salon 14
Kathleen Marr
Lakeland College

“Deadwood” refers to faculty, who at the end of their careers have seemed to place themselves in a coasting mode i.e. just getting by until they retire. Students recognize this and so do their Chairs. This paper addresses the growing need to find ways to re-invigorate our aging Professoriate.

Hitting the Ground Running: Making Strategic Changes

Friday, February 12, 2:30 – 3:15 p.m., Salon 13
John Paxton
Montana State University

This paper offers advice to new academic chairpersons regarding how to facilitate strategic change during their first two years. The paper provides specific examples of changes made in five potential strategic areas: curriculum, research, development, space and public relations.

New Media, Curricular Innovation, and Accountability

Friday, February 12, 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Salon 14
Janice Rowan
Rowan University

The convergence of traditional media and New Media necessitates change. Issues of accountability require that educators rethink curricula, methods of course delivery, employers’ expectations of graduates, and opportunities for interdisciplinary partnerships. Here is one college’s response to the New Media challenge.

From Talk to Walk: Nurturing Interdisciplinary Scholars

Thursday, February 11, 3:30 – 4:15 p.m., Salon 9/10
Anna Stubblefield
Rutgers University-Newark

Challenging current disciplinary boundaries is important not only within the context of reforming undergraduate curricula, but also for progress in our quest for knowledge. Engaging in interdisciplinary research makes achieving tenure, promotions and status within the university context difficult, however. Best practices for nurturing interdisciplinary scholars will be discussed.

Building Bridges: Strategies for Promoting Faculty Involvement in Recruiting Events

Thursday, February 11, 3:30 – 4:15 p.m., Salon 12
Glena Temple
Deb Murray
Viterbo University

This paper presentation will outline strategies to integrate faculty into the recruiting process. Trends in faculty involvement in admissions will be discussed, as well as strategies for building collaborative relationships between faculty and the admissions office to enhance recruiting.

Workshops

Effective Mentoring: Strategies and Structures

Friday, February 12, 8:30 – 10:15 a.m., Salon 14
Charles Starkey
Alison Stone-Briggs
Bloomsburg University

This workshop will focus on the various strategies chairs can utilize for providing a comprehensive mentoring program for new faculty members. Participants of this session will engage in numerous activities and dialogue that will allow them to explore how they might develop a mentoring program using the Bloomsburg University Model. Real life vignettes in the form of case studies will be used to guide group discussions and explore participant’s point-of view as they relate to effective mentoring skills/activities and the enhancement of professional interpersonal/intrapersonal dynamics.

Leadership/Administration

Panel

That’s Why They Pay Us the Big Bucks!

Friday, February 12, 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Salon 11
Linda Holloway
Tammy Kinley
Melinda Levin
Jeff Sager
University of North Texas

One of the biggest challenges chairs face is managing change in an environment where they have tremendous responsibility yet very little authority. Four relatively new chairs from diverse departments will describe their experience and share strategies that have been effective in a university that is undergoing radical changes.

Papers

The Department Advisory Board as an Academic Partner

Friday, February 12, 10:30 – 11:15 a.m., Salon 13
Dan French
University of Missouri

This presentation draws on the author’s experience with department advisory boards to show how they can be used effectively to contribute to the mission of the academic department.

Using Email Effectively: Academic Communication in a Digital Age

Thursday, February 11, 2:15 – 3:00 p.m., Salon 12
Laura Gurak
University of Minnesota

In academic departments, where constituents are rarely in the same place at the same time, email has become the default communication tool. But features that make email so effective also make it problematic for academic communication. This presentation explores key communicative features of e-mail and offers practical ideas for chairs.

“Meeting” is Not a Curse Word

Friday, February 12, 10:30 – 11:15 a.m., Salon 14
Lesia Holder
Midway College

Departments, councils, teams, and committees. Whether you are preparing for an accreditation visit or deciding who will teach at 8:00 a.m., meetings are a common- and often dreaded- aspect of academic life. Learn how to facilitate meetings that make the best use of faculty talents and faculty time.

The Subtle Role of Sexism and Racism in Personnel Decisions

Thursday, February 11, 1:15 – 2:00 p.m., Salon 14
Andy Karafa
Ferris State University

Contemporary forms of racism and stereotyping are likely to influence personnel decisions, regardless of the setting. Given the current focus on diversity and accountability on college campuses, understanding these subtle sources of bias is critical. This session will provide an overview of these influences and ways of combating them.

Structuring Chair Work for Long-Term Productivity and Personal Satisfaction

Thursday, February 11, 2:15 – 3:00 p.m., Salon 14
N. Douglas Lees
Indiana University - Purdue University at Indianapolis

The multiple responsibilities of academic department chairs have been on the rise creating additional pressure on time available for personal work and creating situations that negatively impact satisfaction and longevity. Many of the pressures of chairing can be relieved through prioritizing work, delegating responsibility, identifying new scholarly outlets, and developing support structures.

Leveraging Your Library: Partnerships Can Bring New Possibilities

Thursday, February 11, 3:30 – 4:15 p.m., Salon 13
Laurel Littrell
Kansas State University

There may be experts on your campus that you haven’t considered! Working with your library colleagues can help you stretch your budgets, accomplish enhanced educational opportunities for your students, and further your faculty members’ research projects.

Managing Student Complaints: The Millennial Student and Practical Approaches

Friday, February 12, 1:30 – 2:15 p.m., Salon 12
Jan Maville
Karen Chandler
University of Texas-Pan American

Managing student complaints requires patience, process, and professionalism. The millennium student entering higher education has unique characteristics that impact the number and types of complaints in higher education. This presentation will cover practical approaches to facilitate resolution of complaints including a feedback loop for quality improvement for the department.

Incivility to Civility in the Department: Here Comes the Bully

Thursday, February 11, 3:30 – 4:15 p.m., Salon 3/4
Loretta McGregor
Don Maness
Arkansas State University

The major focus is reporting incivility in departments and colleges and how department chairs and deans may deal with the issue of incivility. The presentation will report the findings of faculty member’s perceptions of their observations of incivility in universities in Arkansas.

Innovation and Inertia: If You Build It, Will They Come?

Friday, February 12, 2:30 – 3:15 p.m., Salon 12
Wallis Metts
Spring Arbor University

Department chairs often experience some pressure to create new revenue streams. This case study examines the challenges and rewards of developing a new online only program while waiting for the institutional support one needs and expects.

Building a Cohesive Department during Challenging Times

Friday, February 12, 2:30 – 3:15 p.m., Salon 14
Cheryl Stevens
Xavier University of Louisiana

Building a cohesive department requires a goal oriented approach to managing faculty contributions. Factors affecting the development of a cohesive department include understanding the department’s mission and expectations, and identifying faculty interests and strengths. A team approach in which all faculty contribute through teaching, scholarship, and service sets the tone for the expectations required of department faculty.

Workshops

Beyond Systems: Technical and Moral Engagement of Accountability

Thursday, February 11, 1:15 – 3:00 p.m., Salon 3/4
Grady Bogue
The University of Tennessee
Jean Eledge
Lee University

Accountability in higher education is both systemic/technical and moral/ethical. Accountability turns on the acquisition of performance intelligence and evidence, but also turns on the effective engagement of faculty in accountability measures. Assisting chairs in linking cultures of evidence and cultures of caring is the theme of this session.

Promoting a Departmental Culture of Collegiality and Professionalism

Friday, February 12, 8:30 – 10:15 a.m., Salon 13
Jeffrey Buller
Florida Atlantic University

One of the greatest challenges every chair faces is how to promote a culture of collegiality and professionalism. This workshop consists of tips, exercises, simulations, and ideas that can help any department to break destructive habits and work together effectively and with greater harmony.

Better Search Committees: Selecting for Retention, Diversity and Fit

Friday, February 12, 8:30 – 10:15 a.m., Salon 11
Christopher Lee
SearchCommittees.com

It is not enough that your campus search committees hire qualified candidates, but rather candidates who will fit into your organization’s culture, who represent the demographics of communities that your institution serves, and who are engaged and committed to your school’s mission. Learn how to structure and support selection processes in such a way as to improve their decision making. Better define HR’s role with faculty and staff search committees that add value to process.

Reforming General Education: A Meeting of the Minds

Thursday, February 11, 1:15 – 3:00 p.m., Salon 11
Nancy Mitchell
Rita Kean
Scott Fuess, Jr.
University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Those working to reform general education will find practical ideas for building consensus. This workshop offers a model, recognizing the critical role of department chairs, which was used to create a new program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A broader discussion lets participants create a plan for their institution.

Strategic Planning, Mission and Goals

Papers

Aligning the Department with Institutional Mission: Reforming General Education

Friday, February 12, 1:30 – 2:15 p.m., Salon 13
Scott Fuess, Jr.
Nancy Mitchell
University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Presently there is a trend for universities to undertake reform of their general education programs. An effort to reform general education provides a unique opportunity for a department to illustrate how its operations align with institutional goals. This paper recounts the University of Nebraska’s experience to illustrate how departments were able to use the reform effort to (1) clarify their strategic planning and (2) improve their alignment with institutional objectives.

Issues in Transitioning Traditional Programs to Online Programs

Thursday, February 11, 1:15 – 2:00 p.m., Salon 13
Mindy Haar
New York Institute of Technology

As online courses offer students increased flexibility and convenience, more schools and departments are considering increasing the number of virtual offerings. Lessons learned by one chair overseeing a program transitioning from traditional format to totally online format over a two year period will be shared.

Workshops

From a Department of Chance to a Department of Choice

Friday, February 12, 1:30 – 3:15 p.m., Salon 3/4
Susan Hannam
Slippery Rock University
Bonni Yordi
MRA-The Management Association

This interactive workshop will focus on empowering chairpersons to effectively engage their department, programs, and faculty. An overview of tools, tactics, and best practices (bench marks) will be introduced to enhance the vision, image, and outcomes of the department. Participants will leave with an engagement action plan of next steps.

Change-Making Conversations through the Excellence in Higher Education Process

Friday, February 12, 8:30 – 10:15 a.m., Salon 12
Adrianne McEvoy
Mike Reid
Robert Timko
Mansfield University

Strategic planning and assessment are intimately interconnected. A workshop based on our experience with the Excellence in Higher Education (EHE) model of assessment will answer the following: What’s the EHE process? How’s it work? What it its value? Our goal is that participants leave with a better understanding of the EHE process and concrete ideas for its successful implementation.

Roundtable Presentations

Sharing Success: Mentors Working with Academic Department Chairs

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Patricia Anderson
East Carolina University

The roles of academic department chairs are among the most complex and challenging in the university environment. Learning from someone who has already demonstrated success in this critical role eases the transition for new chairs as they learn “from the Master’s” in a planned program. Mentoring suggestions are shared, along with suggestions for making the mentor/mentee relationship successful.

Leading Departmental Change in a Rapidly Changing Society

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Sharon Gratto
The University of Dayton

This session will explore change generated by a new department chair and leadership for departmental change in a rapidly changing society. A session goal is to engage new and experienced chairs in a discussion of ideas and strategies for increased effectiveness as leaders and mentors in their own academic settings.

Leadership: Purposeful Change of the Chair's Role for Competitive Success

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
John Groves
Clarion University of Pennsylvania

A discussion intended to generate purposeful, as opposed to passive, redefinition of the department chair role due to increasing conflict between cooperative and competitive expectations within higher education culture.

Successfully Mentoring New Department Chairpersons

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Marianne Hazel
Lock Haven University

This interactive session will focus on mentoring strategies for new department chairpersons to help them to build their leadership skills. Current research, best practices, and resources regarding mentoring and leadership will be shared.

Support Group for Reluctant Administrators!

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Linda Holloway
University of North Texas
Caren Sax
San Diego State University

Academic Chairs have increasing administrative duties and have the difficult task of balancing administration and faculty role, often sacrificing their own research agendas in order to complete all the required tasks. Participants will have the opportunity to discuss their motivation for taking on this challenging role and the impact that it may have on their career.

First Impressions: New Health Sciences Faculty Orientation Program

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Lily Hsu
Aditi Puri
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

A year long faculty orientation program was developed and implemented at a health science college . The monthly two hour sessions covered various topics on teaching, classroom management, grant writing and scholarship. Faculty recommended more attention on teaching strategies and to replicate program format the next year.

New Chair / Old Self-Study

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Lisa Kriner
Berea College

In my first year as chair of the Berea College Art Department I was responsible for helping the department rework a self-study that had been partially rejected. This paper will address how as a new chair I used the self-study process to learn about, build, and reorient the department.

Alternative Mentoring Programs

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Naomi Larsen
Spring Arbor University

This workshop will draw upon social psychological, gender, communication and leadership theories to assist participants in assessing individual and institutional needs for alternative mentoring programs; defining goals for the program; determining and obtaining program resources; developing, implementing, and coordinating the program; training participants; and assessing the program.

Working with Off-Campus Sites and Programs: The Chair's Role

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Dianne Lawler Prince
Arkansas State University

This session will address the department chair's role in hiring full-time temporary faculty, adjunct faculty, supervising faculty from afar. Participants will brainstorm lessons learned from working with satellite campuses.

Challenges in Replicating Experiential Learning in a Distance Learning Environment

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Michael Londrigan
Dudley Blossom
LIM College

Many colleges and universities consider experiential learning to be a corner stone of their institutional mission. With the ever increasing offerings in distance learning across campuses, this round table explores how we can ensure the same experiential learning pedagogy is applied consistently in distance learning settings compared to traditional face to face environments.

Chairing a Joint Graduate Program: Seeing Double

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Timothy McCarragher
The University of Akron

Chairing a joint program between two universities raises a unique set of challenges. As state resources continue to dwindle, the number of joint programs has increased. This session will provide an overview of specific challenges to consider when chairing a joint program, including budgets, scheduling, technology, staffing, and accreditation.

A New and Innovative Faculty Performance Review System..Does it Work?

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Domenick Pinto
Rose Marie Kinik
Sacred Heart University

The purpose of this presentation is to follow up on a new faculty performance review system recently implemented in our university which is based almost entirely on learning outcomes. The three-tiered evaluation of faculty is centered on teaching and curricular development, scholarship and service with the greatest emphasis on teaching. The presentation will focus on the development and design of this new system and the outcomes as perceived by the department chairs and dean after a complete cycle.

Changing Leaders/Leading Change

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Dorothy Rogers
Montclair State University

How will the transition in leadership from Baby Boomers to GenX, and later to GenY/Millennials, affect the academy? This roundtable treats the presenter’s experience, as a GenX-er and new department chair, as a case study in leadership change.

Fostering Faculty Friendships: Building Department Morale and Ensuring Productivity

Friday, February 12, 7:30 – 8:20 a.m., Ballroom C
Cynthia Schubert-Irastorza
National University

Increasing accountability, shrinking resources and a shaky economy takes a serious toll on faculty morale and motivation. Maintaining a positive attitude becomes a daily challenge. This upbeat, interactive session provides participants with effective relationship building strategies that capitalize on individual strengths, foster collaboration and increase productivity in academic departments.

Panel

Improving Recruitment and Retention in Your Department: Strategies That Work

Friday, February 12, 10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m., Salon 12
Katherine Frank
Colorado State University-Pueblo
Maureen Murphy
Huntingdon College
Bill Withers
Wartburg College
Winnie Yu
Southern Connecticut State University

A panel of department chairs from diverse institutions and departments discuss strategies that work to improve departmental recruitment and retention. These strategies include developing departmental enrollment management plans, using student attributes to project college persistence, exploring the use of emerging campus technologies, and implementing a faculty training program for student recruitment.

Alternate Presentations

Alternate presentations are important to the conference and assure a program full of high quality presentations. Alternate presenters agree to be at the conference in case they are called upon to present in the case of a cancellation.

Faculty Development Paper

Moving Beyond the Mythology of Teaching in Higher Education

Thomas Rosebrough
Ann Singleton
Union University

Teaching in higher education is too often based on mythology. Everyone inside and outside the profession has an opinion, informed or not, because everyone has had a teacher and everyone has learned something. Workshop leaders will present an exercise that contrasts conventional wisdom (myths) in teaching and learning with pedagogical “facts.”